Passport Seva 2.0 is here: Eligibility, required documents and how to apply for e-passport in India

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has introduced Passport Seva Programme (PSP) 2.0 in India, affirming the national adoption of e-Passports on the 13th Passport Seva Divas. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), he shared that the rollout of e-Passports is underway. He said that the e-Passport initiative is a significant achievement as its contactless chip-based technology simplifies travel and speeds up immigration procedures. He also noted that the mPassport Police App has brought down police verification time to just 5–7 days.

Notably, the e-Passports service is currently available at Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Jammu, Panaji, Shimla, Raipur, Amritsar, Jaipur, Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Hyderabad, Surat, and Ranchi. It is expected to be available nationwide soon.

From eligibility to the application process, here’s everything that you need to know about the e-passport

ePassport application eligibility

The eligibility criteria to apply for an e-passport are similar to those of a regular Indian passport. Currently, e-passports are being issued in phases; however, soon, they’ll become the standard for all new applicants.

ePassport application: Required documents

Here’s the list of documents you will need to apply for an e-passport:

1. Proof of address, such as Aadhaar, PAN Card, bank passbook, utility bill, etc.
2. Proof of date of birth, such as a birth certificate, Aadhaar, voter ID, driving license, matriculation certificate, etc.
3. Those applying for re-issuance of their passport will be required to submit their original passport, observation page, a copy of the first and last page of their passport, and an ECR or non-ECR page.

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A step-by-step guide to applying for an e-passport in India

Those willing to apply for an e-passport can do so via the Passport Seva Portal or schedule an appointment at local Passport Seva Kendras or Post Office centres for biometric enrolment.

Step 1: Visit the Passport Seva Online Portal and register yourself.

Step 2: Next, log in to the Passport Seva Online Portal and click on the ‘Apply for Fresh Passport/Re-issue of Passport’ link. Those applying for the first time should go for the Fresh Issuance category. Note that the applicant shouldn’t have held any Ordinary Passport, Diplomatic Passport or Official Passport in the past.

Step 3: Now, fill in the required details and submit.

Step 4: Next, schedule an appointment by tapping on “Pay and Schedule Appointment,” which is available under “View Saved/Submitted Applications.” Please note that online payment is mandatory for booking appointments at all PSK, POPSK, and PO locations.

Step 5: Once you’ve completed the application, print the receipt containing the Application Reference Number (ARN)/Appointment Number. You will also receive an SMS with your appointment details. Save it, as you’ll be required to show it at the Passport Office.

Step 6: After completing the passport application form, visit the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK)/Regional Passport Office (RPO), along with original documents, to complete the physical verification process.