How to Apply for Passport in India?

Passport is a very important travel document that is a must for traveling abroad. Passport is a travel document that becomes an identity when you are in foreign lands. It tells the foreign authority that you are traveling their country in a legitimate way and are not trespassing the country as an illegal immigrant. In this article, we will provide you with the detailed information on how to apply for the Passport and the various steps involve until you get your passport in your hands.

Document Required for Application of Passport

While applying for the passport you are required to upload at least 4 Documents of different category. The following are the documents that are required for application of Passport-

• Address Proof
  • Rental Agreement or Lease Agreement
  • Voter ID Card or Election Commission Photo ID Card
  • Ration Card
  • Aadhaar Card (UID)
  • Driving License
  • Utility Bills (water, electricity, phone or gas bill)
  • Notarized Sale Agreement
  • Current Passbook
• Proof for identity
  • PAN Card
  •  Domicile Certificate
  •  Ration Card
  •  Driving License
  • Voter ID Card
  • birth Certificate
  • Marriage Certificate
  • Identity card/ document with address, issued by Central/ State Government and its
  •  Govt. service registers extract/certificates issued by Govt. to its employees
  •  Employer’s PF statement
  • ESIS Card ( Employees State Insurance Scheme )
  •  Employer’s certificate
  • Certified School
  • LIC Policy
• Non-ECR Category Proof
  • Follow this link to find the list of Documents for ECR

Online Application for Passport

As online has become a standard way for applying all the applications, Passport is also applied online using the Passport India Portal that is responsible for providing the citizen with the passport. This organization comes under the Ministry of External Affairs. The following are the procedure that you have to follow in order to get the Passport-

• Visit the online Passport portal of India using the link
• Click on the New User tab and a application form will appear
• Fill the application with the adequate information followed by Login ID and Password and press register
• After the registration process is completed you have to log in to the Passport portal of india
• Now a page will appear with a lot of options select the very first one saying “Apply for Fresh Passport/Re-issue of Passport”
• Now you will be provided with two option to choose from
  • Online Method
  • Offline Method
• Online method is recommended as it is easy and fast
• After selecting the online application you will be redirected to a page asking for further information. If you want your passport fast select the Tatkal option and choose the page of passport according to the needs and press Next
• Now applicant details form will appear fill it and press Next
• After pressing the Next Button few other form will appear fill it and continue to press next
• Now go to the applicant home and press on the View Submitted Documents option
• Select the displayed application and then select the upload the supporting Document
• Now upload at least 4 document based on the your passport  
• After the uploading of the document visit the View Saved Form page again and select the displayed form again
• Select the pay and schedule appointment option
• You will be provided with two option to choose form
  • Online banking payment
  • SBI Challan payment
• Select the Online payment as it is more easy and fast. For using this you will be required internet banking or debit/credit card After successful payment you must download the payment receipt
• Now you will be redirected to the schedule appointment page
• Select the nearest Passport Seva Kendra and the date for the visit
• The online registration is completer now you are required to download all the documents like application receipt, payment receipt, submitted form

Passport Seva Kendra Appointment

On the scheduled appointment date and time visit the passport Seva Kendra (PSK) with all documents that are mentioned in the application form. Carry a print out as well as the original document with you. The passport application processing by Seva Kendra is undertaken in four counter

Counter A- Document Upload

Counter B- Document Verification

Counter C-Granting Officer

Exit Counter- Acknowledgement letter

Note- You will be called in the counter according to the Token number that you will receive at the very beginning.

The passport verification process will be conducted in the following steps-

• The very first counter all your documents will be uploaded by the officer
• Now the officer will provide you with the document which has to be signed by you
• After this, you will be guided to the second counter where the verification of the document will take place
• After the verification, you will  be directed to the third counter where your passport application will be approved or denied
• Now at last counter, you will be provided with the Acknowledgement letter that must be kept safe as this will be used to track the application status

Police Verification

Police Verification will be initiated once the application reaches for Passport police verification. You will be called to visit the police station or the police officer will visit you directly for the verification. You will be asked simple questions like name, occupation, etc. After the approval of the police officer, you will receive your passport. Your passport will be sent through Speed Post by India Post and an SMS of Passport approval, and dispatched will be sent to your Registered Mobile Number. It is important for you to be present while receiving the Passport or your family member with some identity card of you.