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Different types of passports in India: Complete Guide

Team AckoDec 8, 2025

A passport is one of the most important identity documents for Indian citizens travelling abroad. It serves as proof of nationality and allows you to travel internationally for tourism, business, work, study, or official purposes. Indian passports are issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) through the Passport Seva system under the Passport Act (1967).

While the majority of citizens receive the regular navy blue passport, India actually issues five main types of passports depending on the applicant’s category, job role, or travel purpose.

In this guide, we will break down all the different passport types in India, what they mean, who can apply for them, and how they differ from each other.

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Contents

Different Types of Passports in India
Physical (Offline) Passports
Online or e-Passports
Eligibility Criteria and Requirements for Different Passport Types in India
- Ordinary (Personal) Passport – Blue (Type P)
- Official Service Passport – White (Type S)
Diplomatic Passport – Maroon (Type D)
- ECR and ECNR Passports
Difference Between an Ordinary Passport and an Official Passport
Documents Required to Apply for an Indian Passport
How to Apply for a Passport in India?
Passport Application Fees
Validity of Types of Passports in India
Benefits of an Indian Passport
Frequently Asked Questions

Different Types of Passports in India

Indian passports can be grouped into two broad categories:

Electronic (Digital) Passports or e-Passports
Physical (Offline) Passports

In the physical passport category, there are four different types of passports issued based on citizenship status, government work, diplomat status, and educational qualifications. Understanding the passport colours and categories in India helps streamline immigration and security processes.

Physical (Offline) Passports

Blue Ordinary Passport

Letter: P, for Personal

The ordinary passport is also known as Type P passport. This is the navy blue booklet most commonly issued to Indian citizens for international travel. You can use this passport for personal trips such as tourism, business visits, studies abroad, or family travel.

Ordinary passports come in two booklet sizes:

36-page standard booklet
60-page (jumbo) booklet, for frequent travellers

Adults receive a validity of up to 10 years, while minors receive a shorter validity based on age. These passports are generally issued within 30 to 45 days, depending on document verification and police clearance.You can also opt for Tatkaal processing depending on how quickly you need the passport.

White Official Passport

Letter: S, for Service

A white official passport, known as Type S, is issued to people who work for the Indian government. These include officials travelling outside India on official duty. Examples include IAS, IFS (Branch B), and Indian Police Service Department officials.

These passports are issued only with the sanction of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and are strictly meant for official travel. If the official wants to travel for personal reasons, they must use their ordinary blue passport.

Maroon Diplomat Passport

Letter: D, for Diplomat

The maroon passport is a diplomatic passport (Type D). This passport is issued to individuals who officially represent India overseas. This includes members of the Indian Foreign Service, consuls, ambassadors, senior government officials, Members of Parliament, Union Ministers, and others designated by the MEA. Certain dependents of eligible officials may also receive a diplomatic passport.

Diplomatic passports holders have specific privileges such as visa exemptions in certain countries and faster immigration processing. However, they are valid only for official assignments and cannot be used for personal travel. These passports are typically valid for up to 5 years or until the completion of the officer’s assignment.

Blue Ordinary Passport (ECR / ECNR Category)

Letter: P, for Personal

Although both ECR and ECNR are part of the blue ordinary passport, they are listed under the ‘Emigration Status’ section inside the passport. The key difference between the two is whether the passport holder needs emigration clearance before travelling abroad for employment.

ECR – Emigration Check Required

The ECR category applies to individuals who have not completed 10th grade or do not meet certain educational or financial criteria. Passport holders with ECR status must obtain emigration clearance from the Protector of Emigrants before travelling to specific countries for overseas employment, especially in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

ECNR – Emigration Check Not Required

The ECNR category applies to individuals who have passed 10th grade or meet the eligibility criteria for non-ECR status, such as being an income tax payer, a government employee, or a professional. ECNR passport holders can travel worldwide for employment, business or vacation without emigration clearance.

Online or e-Passports

India has begun issuing e-passports, which look similar to the regular passport on the outside but contain an embedded electronic chip on the inside back cover. The chip stores your biometric details, making the passport more secure and easier to verify during immigration checks.

What's special about an e-passport?

You can clear immigration and security faster with automated and more efficient verification.
E-passports have biometric data that foils scams, duplicates, and fraud attempts.
The e-Passport is tamper-proof thanks to the embedded security chip.
Your biometric e-Passport contains your biometric data, such as your photograph, fingerprints, and personal information.

Eligibility Criteria and Requirements for Different Passport Types in India

Here’s a brief on the passport category and eligibility in India:

Ordinary (Personal) Passport – Blue (Type P)

Any Indian citizen can apply for an ordinary personal passport. An Indian citizen is anyone who can identify with any of the following categories

Citizen of India by birth
Citizen of India by descent
Citizen of India by registration or naturalisation, as defined under the Citizenship Act

This passport is meant for everyday international travel such as tourism, business trips, studies abroad, or family visits.

Official Service Passport – White (Type S)

Indian government officials or individuals representing the Indian government are eligible for a white Type S passport.

An official service passport is issued to the following people:

Indian Government Officials
IAS Officials
Indian Police Service Department Officials
IFS (Branch B) officers travelling on temporary official duty
Other officials whose foreign visits are authorised by the Government of India

Official passports are meant strictly for government-related travel. Personal travel must be done using the ordinary blue passport.

Diplomatic Passport – Maroon (Type D)

The following people can apply for the maroon diplomatic passport:

Officers from Indian Foreign Services (Branch A)
Selected officers from the Indian Foreign Service (Branch B)
Officers from the Ministry of External Affairs
Officials with a diplomatic status
Officials on Government of India business
Dependents of diplomatic passport holders, including
- Spouse
- Dependent parents
- Dependent children
- Official hostess travelling with the official

Dependents may obtain a diplomatic passport for studying, or working outside of their country of residence as part of the official’s assignment.

ECR and ECNR Passports

ECR (Emigration Check Required) and ECNR (Emigration Check Not Required) are not separate passports. They are classifications inside the blue ordinary passport.

ECR Eligibility

The ECR category generally applies to individuals who:

Have not completed 10th grade, or
Cannot provide acceptable educational documentation

Children under 15 years are also issued passports with ECR status by default.

ECNR Eligibility

Applicants fall under the ECNR category if they meet any of the following:

Completed 10th grade or higher
Worked overseas for 3 or more years (cumulative is acceptable)
Minors under 18 years
Adults over 50 years
Income tax payers from regular professions or businesses

Difference Between an Ordinary Passport and an Official Passport

Here’s a quick comparison between an ordinary passport and an official passport:

Feature	Ordinary Passport	Official Passport
Colour	Blue	White
Type Code	Type P (Personal)	Type S (Service)
Purpose	Personal travel	Official government travel only
Who Can Apply	Any Indian citizen	Government officials authorised for overseas duty
Issued By	Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Regional Passport Office (RPO)	Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
Valid For Personal Travel?	Yes	No

Documents Required to Apply for an Indian Passport

You can expect to receive your passport within 30-45 days after your passport office appointment, provided all documents are filed correctly and all application steps are followed. To apply for an Indian passport, you will need to submit photocopies of official documents including address and age proof.

Category	Documents
Address Proof	Aadhaar Card Utility bill Rent agreement Post-paid mobile bill Bank account passbook or statement Spouse’s passport copy
Proof of Age	Aadhaar Card Birth Certificate PAN Card Voter ID Driving Licence
Non-ECR	Class 10 or higher educational certificate Income Tax return or assessment order Proof of government employment Professional qualification certificates

How to Apply for a Passport in India?

To apply for a passport online, follow the steps mentioned below:

Step 1: Visit the Passport Seva portal and register or log in.

Step 2: Click on ‘Apply for Fresh Passport’ or ‘Reissue of Passport’.

Step 3: Fill in the application form online or download and upload the e-Form.

Step 4: Click ‘Pay and Schedule Appointment’ to choose your Passport Seva Kendra (PSK/POPSK) and make the payment.

Step 5: Download and print the appointment receipt.

On the day of your appointment, visit the PSK or RPO with all required documents for verification.

Passport Application Fees

Passport application fees mainly depend on the booklet size, processing speed, and whether you are applying fresh or for a reissue.

Type of Service	Fee (36 pages)	Fee (60 pages)
Fresh/Re-issue (Normal)	₹1,500	₹2,000
Tatkaal (Fresh/Re-issue)	Approx. ₹3,500	Approx. ₹4,000
Minor (below 18 years)	₹1,000	–
Duplicate (lost/damaged)	₹3,000	₹3,500

Note: Tatkaal fees may vary slightly. Additional charges may apply during document or police verification.

Validity of Types of Passports in India

In India, passport validity depends on the category and the applicant.

Ordinary passports are issued for 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors.
Diplomatic and official passports typically remain valid for up to 5 years or until the officer’s foreign assignment ends.
e-Passports carry the same validity as the passport category they belong to.

Benefits of an Indian Passport

Holding an Indian passport offers several important benefits that make international travel smoother and more secure.

Indian passport holders enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry in several countries.
Allows you to travel to countries across the world for tourism, studies, business, or employment.
Serves as an official proof of identity and is recognised worldwide.
You can seek help from Indian embassies/consulates for emergencies, lost passports, legal issues, or repatriation abroad.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which type of passport should a person without formal education apply for?

People who don’t have any formal education can apply for an orange (ECR) Emigration Clearance Required passport.

Which type of passport should a person who has completed 10th grade apply for?

People who have completed their 10th grade can apply for an orange (ECNR) Emigration Clearance Not Required passport.

Who is Eligible for Different Types of Passports in India?

The table below shows the eligibility criteria for different types of Indian passports:

Different Types of Indian Passports and Who Can Apply

Blue: Regular Indian citizens

Maroon: Diplomats

White: Government Officials

Orange: ECR: People who have not finished schooling past the 10th grade. ECNR - People who have finished schooling past the 10th grade.

Where can I apply for an Indian passport?

You can schedule an online appointment to apply for an Indian passport at the Passport Seva portal. Once you apply online, you will need to visit your closest Passport Seva office to complete the process.

How many types of passports are issued in India?

There are 5 types of passports, including the commonly used dark blue personal passport, diplomatic passport, service passport and emigration passport.

How long does it take to get an Indian passport?

You can expect to have your passport in hand within 30 to 45 days if you have filed the necessary documents and followed the correct procedure. Tatkal or emergency passports may be issued within 2 to 3 days.

Is the application fee across different types of passports the same?

The application fees are the same across all types of passports. Fees for application vary only according to reissue or duplicate copy status.

What is a yellow Indian passport?

The yellow Indian passport in India is an identity card that is most commonly issued to Tibetans seeking refugee status in India.

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Disclaimer: The above content is sourced from secondary sources on the internet and is meant for informational purposes only. It is subject to changes. It is recommended to take the help of an expert before making any related decision.