Procedure For New Passport Or Reissue of Existing Passport

NOTE: The procedure for applying for a passport has changed considerably since writing this article. I encourage you to visit http://passportindia.gov.in to know the exact procedure.

I've recently applied for reissue of my parents' passports. While there is information available on the passport site http://passport.gov.in/cpv/obtain.htm, it is not very organized. Here I try to organize that information and provide some extra details which might be necessary for applying for a new passport or reissuing an existing passport.

General Procedure

• Download and fill Form 1 available at http://passport.gov.in/cpv/ppapp1.pdf and two duplicate copies of PP Form which are also provided with Form 1. Else you can download the PP Form at http://passport.gov.in/cpv/PPForm.pdf. As per my understanding, two duplicate copies of PP Form are required either for application of new passport or if it has been more than 3 years since the passport has expired (Refer Question 12 in the FAQ at http://passport.gov.in/cpv/faq.htm). Columnwise guidelines for filling the form are at http://passport.gov.in/cpv/column_guidelines.htm. Be sure to read them. Keep the following points in mind as well:
  • Use capital letters only. Particulars given in the form will be printed in the passport. Therefore, please be careful in filling up the form and avoid any mistakes. (If you do a mistake, it should be fine to use white eraser ink and overwrite it).
  • Use black/blue ball pen only
  • Do not fill the form with pencils or ink-pen.
  • While filling up the boxes, kindly leave one box blank after each completed word.
  • Write clearly within the box without touching the boundaries.
  • Adjust the information to fit within the number of given boxes.
  • Do not write anything outside the box. Avoid over-writing.
  • Incomplete application will not be accepted.
• All original documents are to be shown at the time of submission of the passport application form. With the Original Passport Application Form, SELF-ATTESTED copies of all required documents need to be attached. TWO copies of each document might be required to submitted. Documents information which can be submitted is at https://passport.gov.in/cpv/Instructions4.htm. Go through it. Certain points to take note of and are not mentioned in the previous link are:
  • Try to submit at least two residence proofs. Sometimes a single residence proof might not be accepted.
  • If applying for reissue of a passport, submit self-attested photocopy of ALL THE PAGES and not just the first four and last four as mentioned in the website.
  • If it has been more than 3 years since the passport expired and you are applying for reissue of passport, you will have to submit residence proof as there will be Police Verification. In some cases, though the passport collecting officer might insist on two PP Forms and residence proofs even though the passport has not expired or it has been less than 3 years since its expiry. So make sure you always submit residence proofs.
• As per what is mentioned in the site, an application for a passport may be submitted personally OR through a representative carrying an authority letter (http://passport.gov.in/cpv/authority_letter.htm). It should be noted here though that I faced some problem when I tried to submit the application forms on my parents' behalf. He said that such a case is accepted only if the parents are very far away or are sick and cannot travel. It took some convincing to do before he agreed to accept the forms. But it might not work in all cases. Keeping this in mind, I feel it is best to take the applicant along while submitting the application form.
• The final check-list is available at http://passport.gov.in/cpv/checklist.htm. Be sure to go through it once before heading for submission of application form. Passport applications can be submitted at any of the centres below (list taken from http://www.ap.nic.in/passport/HowToApply.htm and http://passport.gov.in/cpv/wheretoapply.htm):
  • Direct submission at counters & through authorised representatives of applicant.
  • Direct submission at the respective Passport Application Collection Centers
  • Passport Application Collection Centres at Post Offices
  • Through Travel Agents approved by IATA and TAAI. Normally public dealing is limited only in the forenoon i.e. from 9.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. Enquiries on status of passport applications can also be had in the afternoon in addition to forenoon meeting time.
  • E-Seva Centres in Twin Cities ( Hyderabad & Secunderabad)
  • Passport Application Collection Centres in all District S.P. Offices
  • Through District Passport Centers (DPCs)
  • Through Speed Post Centres

  I submitted at an e-seva centre and there was absolutely no queue. I think similar might be the case at Post Offices.

Online Registration

Exact procedure for online registration is at http://www.ap.nic.in/passport/How%20to%20register%20online.pdf. Some points to keep in mind are:

• The procedure for online registration is similar to what is mentioned above. Except for that instead of downloading and filling the form, you first visit https://passport.gov.in/pms/Information.jsp, fill in your details, and then download a partially filled form on which the date and time of your appointment are printed. You then need to fill this form and submit it.
• Online registration is used for submitting the passport only at the Passport Office. AFAIK, there is no such facility (online registration) if you would like to submit the passport at any of the other centres such as E-seva or Speed Post.
• You should arrive at Regional Passport Office about 15 minutes before the appointed time and proceed to the respective counter.
• At least in Andhra Pradesh (not sure of other places), Online registration is necessary if you wish to submit your application (Tatkal or ordinary) at the passport office for New / Reissue of Passport. There is no direct walk-in submission of application form for New / Reissue of Passport at the passport office. If you need to apply for New / Reissue of Passport in the ordinary course without going through online registration, consider sumbitting at one of the other centres.

Tatkal

Instructions for applying for Tatkal are available at http://passport.gov.in/cpv/TatkalScheme.htm. Go through them. Summarizing:

• If an applicant desires to obtain his passport under the Tatkal Scheme, a verification certificate as per the specimen at ANNEXURE ‘F’ (http://passport.gov.in/cpv/ANNEXUREF_vc_tatkaal.htm) and standard affidavit as Annexure “I” (http://passport.gov.in/cpv/ANNEXUREI_std.htm) should be submitted along with the TATKAAL fee.
• The applicant also has the option to obtain a passport under Tatkal Scheme on submission of three documents from the Fourteen documents as mentioned below, provided one of the three documents is a photo identity document and atleast one of the three is amongst the documents indicated at (a) to (i) and a standard affidavit (Annexure “I”) (http://passport.gov.in/cpv/ANNEXUREI_std.htm) on non-judicial stamp paper duly attested by a Notary:
  (a) Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC);
  (b) Service Identity Card issued by State/Central Government, Public Sector Undertakings, local bodies or Public Limited Companies;
  (c) SC/ST/ OBC Certificates;
  (d) Freedom Fighter Identity Cards;
  (e) Arms Licenses;
  (f) Property Documents such as Pattas, Registered Deeds etc.;
  (g) Rations Cards;
  (h) Pension Documents such as ex-servicemen’s Pension Book/Pension Payment order, ex-servicemen’s Widow/Dependent Certificates, Old Age Pension Order, Widow Pension Order;
  (i) Railway Identity Cards;
  (j) Income Tax Identity (PAN) Cards;
  (k) Bank/ Kisan/Post Office Passbooks;
  (l) Student Identity Cards issued by Recognized Educational Institutions;
  (m) Driving Licenses; and
  (n) Birth Certificates issued under the RBD Act.
• From what I could infer, at least in Andhra Pradesh, the only way of submitting Tatkal applications for new/reissue of passport is through online registration. The reason for this being Tatkal registrations are accepted only in Passport Offices. And for submitting an application for New/Reissue of passport at the Passport Office, online registration is mandatory. Therefore for submitting Tatkal applications, online registration is required.