Unlock Your Global Journey: Mastering How to Apply for a Passport Online in India!
Team Niyo
Overview
Imagine this: you’re struck with an insatiable wanderlust and an urge to explore every nook and cranny of our magnificent world. But hold up! Before you embark on your epic adventure, you’ll need a trusty companion – a passport! That’s why the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) swooped in back in 2010 with the Passport Seva Project (PSP), introduced to help with how to apply for a passport online.
Let’s break it down: the Passports Act of 1967 gives us different passports based on our travel purposes and the legalities involved- the condition being the possession of a valid passport and other approved documents. This blog will tackle how to apply for a passport online in India. This makes you wonder if getting a passport is mandatory. Some people can travel without a visa, i.e., if they are visiting countries such as Thailand, or Hong Kong, while others need their trusty passport to make their travel dreams come true.
Share
This Blog
Overview
Imagine this: you’re struck with an insatiable wanderlust and an urge to explore every nook and cranny of our magnificent world. But hold up! Before you embark on your epic adventure, you’ll need a trusty companion – a passport! That’s why the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) swooped in back in 2010 with the Passport Seva Project (PSP), introduced to help with how to apply for a passport online.
Let’s break it down: the Passports Act of 1967 gives us different passports based on our travel purposes and the legalities involved- the condition being the possession of a valid passport and other approved documents. This blog will tackle how to apply for a passport online in India. This makes you wonder if getting a passport is mandatory. Some people can travel without a visa, i.e., if they are visiting countries such as Thailand, or Hong Kong, while others need their trusty passport to make their travel dreams come true.
Team Niyo
Introduction
The passport online application procedure (or re-issue of) involves – e-Form Submission registration, done using the Passport Seva Portal, which was introduced to help with how to apply for a passport online, after which you have access to your e-passport download. Validation and saving of this filled form will generate an XML file, which will be uploaded through the e-Form download. Uploading this will cause payment and booking an appointment scheduled for a future date via the Passport Seva portal. This is one of the first and foremost steps in how to apply for a passport online in India. Once the location for an appointment is booked, the payment plan will be generated (through Credit/Debit card, Internet Banking, or Bank Challan). Then, the receipt containing the Application Reference Number (ARN) can be printed. The Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) is to be visited on the scheduled date, along with all required documents, to fulfil all requirements for receiving a passport.
Besides saving a lot of time, the Passport Seva portal provides an easy guide to navigate – how to apply for a passport online. The services are reliable and effective and enable easy delivery of passports and other relevant services. This also saves you the trouble of visiting several offices to drop off the original documents required for passport verification and approval; the online application enables uploading documents and then mailing the original documents to the address provided. PSK also has a biometric record of individuals to prevent/avoid fraudulent applications.
Passport Express: A Step-By-Step Guide On How To Apply For A Passport Online
Embarking on a passport adventure? Get ready to unlock the secrets of applying for a passport online in India with this step-by-step guide!
Step 1: Registration 101
Log in to the Passport Seva portal, locate the “apply” section, and click “register now” to create a new account. Enter a login ID and strong password for future access generation, enter captcha code, and enable registration. Log in with a user ID and password will allow access. The passport website provides details regarding how to apply for a passport online.
Step 2: Mastering the Application Form
Entering personal details and providing login details generates a passport verification link to be sent to provided email ID via approval by the passport office. To activate your account to enable the process of applying for an online passport in India or even applying for an online passport in Chennai, you must click the passport verification link and enter your login ID for confirmation. Once the account has been verified, you must refresh (or relaunch the app) page to generate existing ID access. Log in using the earlier details, and select “Apply for a new passport”. Fill out the form based on the instructions provided, pay the required fees for an Indian passport, and make an appointment for document verification at your desired passport centre.
Step 3: Submitting Your Paperwork
A new passport application, under how to apply for a passport online, requires the following documents –
- Address Proof: Electricity bill, Aadhar Card, Telephone bill, Water bill, Rent agreement, proof of gas connection, Bank passbook, Spouse’s passport – any of these to be submitted for address proof.
- Date of Birth Proof: birth certificate, Transfer Certificate (TC) of school last visited (should be approved by the institutional board), Aadhar card, PAN card, driving license, voter ID, life insurance policy – any of these to be submitted as proof.
For applicants who are re-issuing passports, the following documents are to be submitted-
- Original passport
- Copy of the first and last page of the passport
- Observation page
- ECR or non-ECR page
Documents relating to how to apply for a passport online are to be uploaded only on the XML link download provided via the Passport Seva portal, as it does not support PDF format for uploading files.
Step 4: Making the Payment
No fee for Indian passport is required for Diplomatic/Official passports, although ordinary passports require a certain fee to be paid. This can be checked via the ‘Fee Calculator.’
Online payment, under how to apply for a passport online, has been made mandatory for booking all appointments and can be made using any one of the following modes of payment:
- Credit/Debit Card (MasterCard, Visa)
- Internet Banking (State Bank of India (SBI), other banks)
- SBI Bank Challan
- SBI Wallet Payment
Applicants applying under Tatkaal, under how to apply for a passport online, are to pay the fee for Indian passport applicable under Normal Category through online payment. Once approved, The flat Tatkaal fee will be paid in cash at the Passport Seva Kendra.
Step 5: Seize Your Slot: Appointment Booking
Mandatory biometric checks, apart from document verification, will be done at Passport Seva Kendra. To check the availability of appointment slots, under information on how to apply for a passport online, visit the official passport website and select “Check Appointment Availability.” Then, select desired “Passport Office” and enter the verification code to check for availability based on passport type. Details regarding location, address and date of appointment will be provided. In case of a regular application, a fee for Indian passport of ₹1,500 will be charged, and ₹3,500 will be charged for a Tatkaal application. An automated SMS/email confirmation will be generated.
Applicants are also free to check the PSP portal to prepone already booked appointments in slots freed due to cancellation or rescheduling, included in the How to Edit passport application section, whose information will be released based on availability daily.
Step 6: Visit Passport Seva Kendra (PSK)
On visiting the Passport Seva Kendra, you will be issued a token based on submitting the appointment token (online copy valid) and original documents to the passport official.
Counter A administers the biometric data test and additionally takes care of verifying and uploading all documents. Counter B, handled by a passport official, checks verified official documents and administers stamps on documents and passports. Finally, counter C, headed by a senior officer, holds a short interview upon verification and determines whether the passport application is successful. They are also responsible for confirming whether the police verification certificate is required.
Submitting the token at the exit counter enables PSK personnel to issue a passport application receipt – this contains the passport file number, which allows you to track application status online.
Read more on what documentation to prepare for a breezy application process
Passport Application Made Easy: Tips and Tricks for a Stress-Free Process
Congratulations! You’ve reached the final destination of our passport application adventure. But before we bid adieu, let’s take a moment to highlight a crucial tip that’ll make your journey smooth sailing from start to finish.
Tired of hassle and headaches? Follow these instructions given by the Passport Seva Portal carefully and make the process of passport application breezy.
- Carry hard copies of all documents mentioned and ensure they are organised beforehand.
- Carry multiple copies of documents you have uploaded online.
- Remember to take a printout of the appointment slip, as you will not be admitted into the PSK otherwise.
- The process does not take more than 2 hours – upon submission of all documents, your fingerprints for biometric proof will be taken apart from your photograph, after which passport officials will do a short interview to ensure the final round of passport verification. Finally, their green signal determines passport issuance – passports will be delivered to your doorstep in 3-4 days for Tatkaal applications and 8-10 days for typical applications.
- Be prompt and punctual to your appointment.
Conclusion
As easy as it is to follow instructions on how to apply for a passport online, it is also easy to make errors while entering details. Therefore, reviewing all details provided, including documents to be uploaded, is highly recommended. Following the instructions on the official passport website allows for a practical and convenient new passport application, saving time and making the whole experience less stressful and hassle-free. Timely assistance is also provided via the passport website portal in emergencies (or otherwise). Furthermore, it guides the application of passport procedure, and information on how to delete passport application is readily available.
