Maybe you want to study abroad or travel and see the world. Well, one thing is inevitable – you need a passport. And even though you can apply for a passport online (psst! the process is pretty straightforward these days), there are always some questions and doubts that you are going to have. For example, what sort of documents do you need? Or where do you even go for online passport registration?
Well, my friend, wonder no more. You have come to the right place. Stick with us to the end of this comprehensive, no-nonse guide and you will know everything there is to know about applying online for a passport. Let’s jump right in.
Understanding the Types of Passports
First things first, you gotta know what type of a passport you need. Yup, there are different kinds of passports and they come in different colors too. But the one that you will see most often is the navy blue or Type-P (or Personal) passport. It is issued to Indian citizens who need a passport for personal reasons; could be education, business or pleasure. And the eligibility requirements for a Type-P Passport are fairly basic.
The next one is the white or Type-S (or Service) passport. To get this passport, you have to be a person who is representing the country and is travelling overseas in an official capacity. Then, there’s the maroon or Type-D passport. It is for diplomats and high-ranking government officials.
If you haven’t completed your 10th grade and yet need to travel overseas for work opportunities, the Indian government issues an orange passport. But sometimes, people need to fly overseas under urgent circumstances. For those kinds of situations, they need a grey or Tatkaal passport.
Now that you know all types of Indian passports, which one do you need? Well, it sure depends on your eligibility and circumstances but most people need a navy blue or Type-P passport. It is valid for 10 years (5 years, if you are a minor).
If you are applying for the first time, you will get a fresh passport. But if your passport has expired, you are probably looking at passport renewal.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Apply for Passport Online
The online passport application process is 4-key-steps long, each one quite easy and straightforward. Let’s take a walk through all of those, one at a time –
- Registration on the Passport Seva Online Portal: First, you need to head over to the official website of Passport Seva Online Portal i.e. www.passportindia.gov.in. Now, hit the ‘New User Registration’ button. Fill in all the details.
Once you are done and have verified your email address, you must have a valid ID and password. - Filling out the Passport Application Form: Now use your ID and password to log in to the portal. Click on the ‘Apply for New Passport/Reissue of Passport’ button and select your application type.
Now fill out the passport application form ensuring all your information is the same as in your documents. If not sure, double-check everything. - Uploading Documents: It is pretty self-explanatory. However, there is one small hiccup. For this stage, you must have a DigiLocker account with the required documents in it. If you already have one, you are all set up. If not, create one.
Now, log into your DigiLocker account and select documents for upload, basically the ones verifying your identity, address, and date of birth. - Making Payment and Scheduling a Passport Appointment: At this point, you have completed the application form. Now, go to your saved or submitted applications on the portal and hit the ‘Pay and Schedule Appointment’ option.
When prompted, pay the required fee. After you have made the payment, schedule an appointment at a Passport Seva Kendra. Now, pick any date or time you are available. And oh, almost forgot, make sure you save a copy of your payment receipt.
And voila! You have finished your online passport application. Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?
Required Documents for Passport Application
When applying for an Indian passport online, it’s a good practice to keep these required documents (self-attested, if required) handy –
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- Address Proof: It can be any document that verifies your current address. Feel free to use your Aadhar Card, Voter ID Card, Government-issued ID, Bank Statements, or Utility Bills.
- Date of Birth Proof: It is pretty self-explanatory. There are a bunch of documents that you can use – your Aadhar Card, Birth Certificate, School Leaving Certificate from the school you last attended, or your Medical Records.
- Identity Proof: Again, pretty self-explanatory. Here, you also have a bunch of options – an Aadhar Card, PAN Card, Voter ID Card, Driving License, or any other government-issued ID.
- Passport-sized photos: And last but not least, don’t forget a few passport-sized photos (51mm by 51 mm). They have to be recent. Make sure the background is white (if not, then light-colored) for good contrast.
Navigating the Passport Seva Online Portal
The Passport Seva Online Portal is managed by the MInistry of External Affairs. It is a gateway on the Passport India website where any Indian citizen can apply for a passport. Here, you will find getting-started/quick guides, document requirements, fee calculator, Passport Seva Kendra locator, forms and affidavits.
Not just that, the portal also offers visa services. Essentially, you will find pretty much everything related to passports and visas. To get the most out of it, make sure to create a login account.
Filling Out the Online Passport Application Form
The application form can make or break your passport application, depending on how much caution you exercise filling it out.
When doing it, make sure to choose the right application type. It is easy to omit something or make mistakes when putting in rather complex information such as address or contact. If you leave out any fields that are marked mandatory, it may cause issues in processing your application. So, review your application before hitting ‘Submit.’
Also, session timeouts are not something very uncommon on government websites. So hitting ‘Save’ every now and then will save you a tremendous amount of hassle. You can thank us later.
Scheduling a Passport Appointment
As mentioned earlier, upon the successful completion of your payment, the portal will prompt you to choose an appointment slot at a Passport Seva Kendra. Just select the date and time with careful consideration of your availability. If possible, pick off-peak hours. That way, you can curtail your waiting time there. And to ensure that you don’t forget your appointment, turn on notifications or set a reminder on your mobile phone.
After you have scheduled the appointment, you will get a configuration via SMS. Now, you don’t have to carry a printed copy to the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK). But having it on you or even the SMS is advisable.
When visiting the PSK, don’t forget to carry the original and duplicate copies of all the required documents.
Making the Passport Application Payment
Although making a payment on government websites is quite frictionless these days, we thought we could brief you on it, especially if it is your first time.
The payment modes supported by the portal are: –
- Credit/Debit Card (MasterCard and Visa)
- Internet Banking (SBI or any other bank)
- SBI Bank Challan
- UPI
For convenience, UPI payments are the best because filling in those long bank account numbers tends to get on the nerves of most of us. And just to be on the safe side, always save your transaction receipts.
Visiting the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK)
I am assuming you are familiar with the saying – the early bird gets the worm. Well, not a bad piece of advice for visiting the PSK for document submission/verification. If you arrive somewhat ahead of your schedule, it will give you plenty of time to go through security checks or token collection without any headaches.
Preparing your documents days ahead is another piece of advice you might want to take to heart. But in case you forgot to get your photocopies ready, PSKs have self-service kiosks and photocopying services available during service hours. So, you can always rely on them. Hope you don’t have to.
Tracking Your Passport Application Status
Alright, you have done your due diligence and finally, it is time to reap the rewards. Hate to break it to you but processing your passport application can take some time. That’s where tracking your application status comes in handy.
Again, it is quite simple, really. On the Passport Seva home page, there is an option called ‘Track Your Application Status.’ After you click it, simply log into your account and track how far your passport application has been processed. If you don’t want to login again, fine. Just use your Application Reference Number (ARN). Simple as that.
The typical processing time for an Indian passport application is 10-15 days. After your application is approved, you can expect the passport delivery within the next few days.
Common Issues and Solutions
First and foremost, the errors in filling out the application form either cause delays or simply rejections. You can avoid it by being thorough in your process; by double-checking or reviewing everything.
Another common issue is delays in the verification process (police verification). It can be easily avoided by being meticulous with your documents, making sure they are up-to-date.
Although it’s important to be patient with the whole process, many applicants get frustrated with the application status not being updated for days. News flash, it takes a week or two. But if it is still not updated, feel free to contact the PSK.
Bottom Line
Hey, you made it to the end. Now, you know everything there is to know about applying for a passport online. And quite frankly, as you have seen, it is nothing too complicated. Just create an account, fill out the application form, upload documents, make the payment and schedule your appointment at the PSK. Easy-peasy!
Hope you found this article helpful. Now head over the Passport India website and get yourself a passport. Good luck!
FAQs
How to apply for a passport?
Head over to the official Passport Seva portal. Then, complete your registration. Next, fill out the online passport application form.
How long before my application is approved?
Well, it depends, really! But just ballpark, it can take 10 to 15 days.
What documents do I need for this?
It’s mostly the documents verifying your identity, your address and your date of birth. And yeah, make sure to get a bunch of passport-sized photos. The more recent the better.
How to know the status of my application?
Well, it’s easier than you think! Simply head over to the Passport Seva portal. Click on ‘Track Application Status’ and type in your Application Reference Number (ARN). Easy, right?
