Step by step method to apply for passport (Indian) online and document required for it will be explained in this post.
Before applying for the passport, applicants should check documents needed and fees required.
Documents for passport
Documents required for an Indian passport varies from person-to-person. However, citizens should check the document advisor available on the Passport Seva website.
Applicants can check Document Advisor for Fresh Passport (Click here), Re-issue of Passport (Click here) and Diplomatic/Official Passport (Click here).
Apply for passport online
Once ready with documents, applicants can apply online on the Passport Seva website (click here).
While filling the form, applicants need to select Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) where they want to visit to show documents in original. In other words, applicants should book an appointment at PSK.
Locate Passport Seva Kendra
Applicants can locate Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) by visiting the Passport Seva website (click here).
Apart from arranging documents, applicants should locate PSK before applying for passport.
Payment of fee
Fee for passport needs to be paid online. Applicants can make payment through
- Credit/Debit Card (MasterCard and Visa)
- Internet Banking (State Bank of India (SBI) Associate Banks and Other Banks)
- SBI Bank Challan
Check ‘Fee Calculator‘ to know the fee for passport.
What happens in Passport Seva Kendra?
Visit Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) which was selected while applying for a passport. Carry the required documents in ORIGINAL.
Currently, at PSK, there are three stages.
At Stage A, authorities feed applicant’s information in the computer. After that, they will take applicant’s take fingerprints and photograph.
Applicants need to show their original documents at stages B and C. Authorities will check the documents.
Finally, after completion, applicants need to leave the PSK.
Police verification for passport
After visiting PSK, police verification for passport takes place. A cop will visit the applicant’s home and takes signatures of the applicant and two witnesses.
Passport gets delivered to home
Finally, Passport gets delivered to home after cop submits the report.
Apart from the procedure to apply for passport online, it is equally important to know the types of Indian passports.
Types of Indian passport
Broadly speaking, there are three types of Indian passport. They are
- Ordinary Passport
- Official Passport
- Diplomatic Passport
Ordinary passport: It is issued to ordinary citizens of India for ordinary travel. It has either 36 or 60 pages.
Official passport: It is issued to citizens who are on official duty and representing the Government of India.
Diplomatic passport: It is issued either to diplomats of India or top government officials.
Other passports
Apart from three passports, the Indian government also issuead two other types of passport to Indian citizens residing in West Bengal, North-Eastern States, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. They are Indo-Bangladesh and Indo-Sri Lankan passports which are used to travel to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka respectively. However, these passports cannot be used to travel to other countries.
Note: In 2013, GoI stopped issuing Indo-Bangladesh passport.