Applying for passport-Obtaining passport in India

July 4th, 2012| How To, In India, Obtaining Passport.


Apply for passport

 

Consular, Passport and Visa Division working under Ministry of External Affairs is the authority that should be approached by Indian citizens for obtaining passport and consular services. These services are offer through Central Passport Organization or CPO. Indian national staying abroad and foreign national should approach the visa and consular wings of Indian Missions and Posts abroad.

Central Passport Organization has 37 Regional Passport Offices that look after all the matters related to passport in India. It also has 15 Passport Application Collection Centers in remote areas. The 495 District Passport Cells and 1154 Speed Post Centers in various locations also work as application collection centers.

People can visit the website http://passportindia.gov.in for obtaining complete information about what are the services offered and how the services should be availed. Each passport office in India offers the convenience of checking the status of the passport application online. The file reference number has to be entered to get the details. Applicants can also submit their grievances online.

Applying for passport in India can be done is two ways. They can either submit the filled in passport applications online. They can get an appointment for personally appearing before the authorities along with required documents. The second method of applying for passport in India is the applicant need to approach the designated passport seva Kendra in their area. In this way they have to submit their proof of residence, date of birth, ECNR documents, passport size photograph and change of name certificate if any to the designated officials.

When the applicants personally appear before the passport authorities along with all self attested copies of documents, all these documents would be checked with originals. The applicant will be issued the passport normally within five to six weeks from the day of submitting the application. Candidates who want the passport urgently can apply through ‘Tatkal’ scheme for fresh or duplicate passport.

Fee for obtaining passport under ‘Tatkal’ scheme in India requires that the applicant pays the additional money above the normal passport application fee. Passports under ‘Tatkal’ scheme is issued only in such cases where there is no necessity for police verification report or in those where police verification can be done after issuance of passport. Minors under 15 years of age, government servants with NOC and their wives/husbands are few people who can get the passport immediately. Eligibility rules and the instruction for filling the passport application can be obtained from the website www.passportindia.gov.in

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