The Passport is a document issued by your government certifying your identity and your nationality. This is the most essential document you need when you travel abroad, though this alone cannot entitle an entry into another country. The passport allows you to travel to another country and get back to your own, subject to you obtaining the required visa.
The Process
The Passport Process is much more simplified than it used to be. A first look at the passport form may intimidate you, but don’t let it. It really isn’t that bad. In fact it’s a bit repetitive and simple. The repetition is present because the same details that you submit are retained by the passport office and sent to your local police station for verification.
Application
The Application form can be obtained from the passport office or you can download the form through their website: http://passport.nic.in/
This website is a completely comprehensive one. It includes the list of all the passport offices all over India. You can download the forms, get a complete overview of how to complete your form and details of all the documents required are also mentioned.
Online registrations are also available which in fact print your date and time of appointment on the form itself. The website for that is: http://passport.gov.in/pms/OnlineRegistration.jsp
The application form consists of :
Application Form No. 1
Form No. 1 is to be used for Fresh/ Reissue/Replacement of Lost/Damaged passports/ Change of Name/ Appearance/ Exhaustion of pages . The same application form is used for passports for minors as well.
New passport means applying for a passport for the first time or applying for a passport if you have never held any passport earlier. A New passport is also issued in lieu of a lost/damaged passport.
Reissue means an application for another passport in lieu of an existing one which has either expired or is about to expire. An applicant may apply for a new passport in lieu of an expired/ about to expire passport upto 3 years after and 1 year before the expiry of the Passport. Re-issue of passport should not be mistaken for renewal of passport. Renewal of passport means that a passport which was originally issued for a short validity - under certain emergency conditions on the part of the applicant - is now required to be extended to its full validity of ten years from the date of issue of the passport. (Renewal is a zero fee service and the application should be made in Form No. 2).
Application Form No. 2
Application Form No. 2 is for making application for Police Clearance Certificate, Deletion of ECR Stamp, Inclusion of Spouse's name and change of address. The same Form is used for renewing a short term validity passport to its full term validity.
Personal Particulars Form (PP Form)
PP Form is used for Police Verification Report. This is a part of Application Form No. 1. This can be filled up separately if required by the Passport Office for re verification.
Appointment
There are 2 ways of obtaining your appointment. One is you go to the passport office with your documents and take one manually from them. The other is when you get one automatically when you make an online registration.
Try and reach a little early for your appointment because if you are late, you have to wait for the next available date and time.
Documents
The documents required to be submitted depend on the kind of application you are making and will vary accordingly. The documents that you submit must be the original ones, with 2 sets of photocopies. They return your originals after verification. The documents which are a general requirement are :
Proof of Address
Ration card, Telephone and Electricity bills, Statement of Bank of running account, Election Commission ID card, Spouse passport copy
Proof of Birth
Birth Certificate, Date of Birth certified from last school or educational establishment.
Photos
You may not need so many, but 12 photos, 3.5mm by 3.5mm, keep them handy.
Fee Structure
The fees for a Fresh Passport is Rs. 1,000 for an adult and Rs. 600 for a minor. For Damaged or Stolen Passport it is Rs.2,500.
The fees under Tatkal Scheme, for a Fresh Passport is Rs. 1,500 in addition to the above fees.
All fees can be paid in cash or demand draft in favour of the Passport Officer concerned.
Time Taken
It normally takes anything from 4 to 6 weeks including Saturday and Sunday. You can get your passport within 10 days too, if you apply under the TATKAL scheme. The fee structure changes and you will be asked to submit a letter stating your emergency. You will also have to go to the Passport office several times and meet the Public Relations Officer personally to explain your urgency for Passport.
Overview
The above was an overview for you to understand the Passport Process. You have the comfort of registering online for your passport from your home or office and avoiding long queues at the passport office. Or you can also submit your documents through an authorized agent to do the needful on your behalf. Agents generally take anything from Rs.500 to Rs.1,000 approx over and above the passport office fees.
Disclaimer
Information available is subject to change as per changes made by the Govt. of India. It is advised to double check everything. The websites may or may not go through regular updating process. It is best to re confirm just before applying, specially in regards to fee structure. We will keep updating this blog as much as possible regularly.
