Documents required for Indian passport - 2024

Holding a passport is crucial if you want to travel outside India. But passports don't just enable overseas travel, they also act as identity proof. That's why there's such high scrutiny when it comes to issuing passports. The applicant has to submit a range of documents that prove their identity, address, age, and other eligibility requirements to get a passport. The documents required passport vary depending on the type of passport you apply for. To help the people in this regard, the Government of India has streamlined the process of applying for a passport. And you can easily apply for an Indian passport if you have the checklist of documents required. Read ahead for details related to the documents required for new passport.

List of documents required for a new passport in India

• Voter ID card

• Aadhaar card/E-Aadhaar

• PAN card

• Driving licence

• Birth certificate

• Ration card

• 10th standard marks card

• Bank passbook photo

Documents required to apply for a new passport

The list of documents required for new passport varies for different passport categories. Here’s the list of documents required to apply for an Indian passport. Note that this is not an exhaustive list, and the documents for passport might vary on a case-by-case basis. 

1. Proof of Address

The applicant has to submit proof of address. It is one of the mandatory passport documents required for an Indian passport. You will need to submit a copy of any one of the following documents as proof of your address.

• Voter ID card

• Aadhaar card/E-Aadhaar

• Electricity bill

• Telephone bill

• Water bill

• Gas connection bill

• Bank account statement

• Income Tax Assessment Order

• Rent Agreement

2. Proof of Date of Birth

The applicant has to submit proof of date of birth with the application. It is another critical passport document. You will need to submit a copy of any one of the following. 

• Birth certificate 

• PAN card

• Aadhaar card/E-Aadhaar

• Driving licence

3. Photo ID proof

The passport applicant has to submit a photo ID proof with the application. You will need to submit a copy of any one of the following. 

• Aadhaar card/E-Aadhaar

• PAN card

• Driving licence

• Voter ID card

4. Passport-size photographs

You will need to provide two recent passport-size photographs with a white background.

5. Previous passport

If you have an old passport, you need to submit it along with your application form.

6. Other passport documents

Additionally, there may be other passport documents required for an Indian passport depending on your specific situation. It is recommended to check the passport application guidelines on the official website of the Indian Passport Seva to ensure you have all the required documents.

Which documents are needed for a passport appointment?

The documents required for a passport appointment are the same as those mentioned in the above section. 

Documents required for an Indian passport for a minor 

In India, a minor is a person who is under the age of 18 years. Indian passports issued for minors either have a 5-year validity or up to the age the minor turns 18. Typically, documents for applying for a minor’s passport include the following. 

• Birth certificate of the minor

• Proof of parents' citizenship

• Proof of address

• A recent passport-size photograph of the minor

• Annexure 'D' (for both parents/guardians) and Annexure 'C' (for minors between 15 to 18 years of age)

• Any other document specified by the passport office 

Documents required for minors for re-issue of passport

Here is the list of documents required for minors to re-issue passports in India.

Old Passport

The applicant needs to submit the original old passport with the application. It is recommended that parents should also carry their original passports and self-attested copies.

Self-attested copies:

The applicant also needs to submit a copy of the first and last two pages of the self-attested passport. In addition, remember to include the validity extension page, ECR/Non-ECR page and the observation page (if any). For minor applicants, parents can also attest the copies. 

Proof of Address:

Acceptable documents for address include Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Utility Bill (electricity, water, gas), Telephone Bill, Bank Account Statement, Rent Agreement, or Letter from Employer are needed.

Other documents:

The list of documents required for reissuing a minor passport varies a little depending on the reason for reissue. Thus, depending on the reason for re-issuing your passport the applicant will have to submit a few additional documents. 

Documents required for re-issue of passport

There are various reasons why someone might need to get a new passport (re-issue). Some of the main reasons are as follows.

• Change of address of the passport holder

• Exhaustion of pages in the passport booklet 

• The validity of the passport is due to expire

• Validity has expired

• Renewal of Short Validity Passport (SVP)

• The passport has been lost/stolen

• Passport got damaged 

• Change in any existing personal particulars like name etc. 

Here is the list of documents required for an Indian passport re-issue.

1. Old Passport: The applicant needs to submit the original old passport with the application. The old passport must be surrendered if it is damaged, expired or if it has less than one year of validity remaining. Along with the passport the applicant also has to submit a self-attested copy of the first and last two pages of the passport. Also include the ECR/Non-ECR page and the observation page (if any). If your passport is valid for a short period, remember to bring the extension page as well.

2. Proof of Address: Documents such as Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Utility Bill (electricity, water, gas), Telephone Bill, Bank Account Statement, Rent Agreement, or Letter from Employer are needed.

3. Proof of Date of Birth: The applicant needs to submit any one of the following documents as proof of date of birth: Birth Certificate, PAN Card, Aadhaar Card, School Leaving Certificate or Transfer Certificate.

4. Photographs: You need to submit two recent passport-size photographs. The photographs should have a white background and should not be older than 6 months.

5. Other documents: Based on the reason for re-issuing your passport the applicant will have to submit a few additional documents. In some cases, you may need to submit additional documents such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or name change affidavit. In case of a stolen or damaged passport, you will have to submit the original police report along with an affidavit stating how and where your earlier passport got stolen/lost/damaged. 

Documents required for passport renewal

When applying for a passport renewal, individuals are required to submit additional documents alongside the application form. The exact documents required for passport renewal may vary depending on whether the passport being renewed is a regular or tatkaal passport, and also on the applicant's age (whether they are a child or an adult). However, the generally required documents include:

• The original, old passport.

• Self-attested copies of the first two and last two pages of the passport.

• A self-attested copy of the Emigration Check Required (ECR)/Non-ECR page.

• A self-attested copy of any observation page, if made by the Passport Issuing Authority.

• A self-attested copy of the validity extension page, if applicable, especially in the case of Short Validity Passports (SVP).

• Documents proving the resolution of issues that led to the issuance of a Short Validity Passport (SVP), if applicable.

Documents required for Tatkaal Passport

To apply for a Tatkaal passport in India, you will need to provide the following documents.

1. Proof of age (Birth Certificate, School Leaving Certificate, etc.).

2. Proof of address (Aadhaar card, Voter ID card, Electricity bill, etc.).

3. Proof of nationality (Birth Certificate, Voter ID card, etc.).

4. Self-attested copies of the first two and last two pages of your old passport (if any).

5. Annexure E (declaration of citizenship, family details and no criminal record).

6. Two passport-sized photographs (4.5 cm x 3.5 cm) with a white background.

7. Payment of the Tatkaal fee (which is higher than the normal fee).

In addition to the above passport documents, to apply for a passport under the Tatkal scheme you will need to provide any additional documents. Those over the age of 18 will need to submit any three of the documents specified in the List of Acceptable Documents. The list of acceptable documents by the passport authority of India includes the following. 

• Aadhaar card

• PAN Card

• Student Photo Identity Card from a Recognised Educational Institution

• Birth Certificate issued by a government body 

• Ration Card

• Last Issued Passport (if applicable)

• Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC)

• Valid Driving Licence

• Updated Bank Passbook, Post Office Passbook or Kisan Passbook

• Pension Documents

• Service Photo Identity Card from State or Central Government or a Public Sector Undertaking

The list of documents required for a passport may vary depending on the specific case. 

Documents required for availing Diplomatic/Official passport

To obtain a Diplomatic/Official passport in India, the following documents are required.

1. Applicants official identity card is required for application submission.

2. Certificate by the Head of Office is needed. The format can be downloaded from the official passport website. 

3. An Official Request Letter from the Forwarding Officer is required. The format for the same is available on passport seva portal. 

4. If applicable, the applicant needs to submit a Political/PMO Clearance Certificate.

5. For Existing Passport or re-issue of diplomatic passport the applicant needs to submit the original Diplomatic/Official Passport for cancellation or original Surrender/Safe, or Original Cancellation Certificate.

6. In case the official is close to retiring (less than 6 months) from passport application date, the applicant needs to bring an official undertaking from the office. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Here’s a list of common questions and answers related to the documents required for an Indian passport.

Is there a government portal where I can find more information related to the documents required for an Indian passport? 

You can visit the official website of the Ministry of External Affairs for more information.

Do I need to submit proof of age while applying for a Tatkaal passport?

Yes, a proof-of-age document is needed while applying for a Tatkaal passport in most cases. 

While applying for a passport re-issue, do I need to submit my old passport?

Yes, submission of the old passport is needed in most cases while applying for a passport re-issue.

My baby is 2 months old, does the baby require a separate passport? 

According to the new passport guidelines, parents are no longer able to endorse their child's name in their own passports. This means that each minor must now have their own separate passport.

How to change the surname in my passport if I recently got married or divorced? 

If you recently got married or divorced and need to change your surname on your passport, you have to apply for a "Re-issue" of passport. To check the complete list of documents to be submitted along with the application form, please click on the "Documents Advisor'' link on the home page of Passport Seva Portal. 

My passport expired 5 years back. What is the procedure to get it reissued?

If your passport has already expired you can get it reissued by filling the passport application form under "Re-issue of Passport '' category on the Passport Seva Portal. Since your passport expired more than three years ago a new police verification process would be initiated. 

What to do if the documents required for passport application are not available?

In some cases, certain alternative documents might work if the required document is unavailable. Please discuss the same with the passport office.

What documents can be considered as proof of identity in India?

Proof of identity can be shown with a PAN card, an Aadhar card, a driver's licence, a voter ID, an income certificate, a ration card, or any other document issued by the government. 

Can we provide the 10th-grade mark sheet as proof of birth?

Yes, a 10th-grad mark sheet can be provided as proof of birth. 

Is a PAN card mandatory for a passport?

A PAN card is not mandatory, but it can serve as valid ID proof while applying for a passport, along with other documents like an Aadhar card, a driving license and a voter ID.

As proof of birth, what documents can be used?

You can provide a 10th-grade mark sheet, a birth certificate issued by the municipal authority, an SSLC certificate and a school leaving certificate.

Is a marriage certificate required for a passport?

No, the passport officers no longer ask for proof of marriage.

Is only an Aadhaar card enough for a passport?

An Aadhar card is an important document; however, it cannot be the sole piece of paper. You need other documents, like a voter ID, an electricity bill, a gas bill, a water bill and others, to submit while applying for a passport.

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