What is the process for Passport Renewal in India

Issued by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, an Indian Passport is a legal document that allows the person to travel internationally. According to The Passport Act, 1967, the passport also proves the person’s national identity as an Indian citizen. the passport contains important details such as- full name of the individual, sex and age of the individual, country code, passport number, date and place of birth, date and place of issue etc.

There are three types of Indian passports. The Ordinary Passport which is deep blue in colour with golden printings over it is issued to all the ordinary Indian citizens for vacations, business trips, or school trip. It is also referred to as type ‘P’ passport where the P stands for Personal passport.The second type is The Official Passport that is a white coloured passport issued to people on official business abroad. These people represent the Indian government on an international level. It is called the ‘S’ type passport, s is for ‘Service’. The third type of passport is the Diplomatic passport,  also called as ‘ type D’ passport where D is for Diplomats. It is red in colour and issued to top-level government officials and Indian diplomats who need to travel across the country.  

Renewal process

 Indian Passport renewal is a simple process if followed carefully with accurate details. Once the process is completed, it takes approximately 30 days for receiving the renewed passport. The process of renewal is as follows –

• The first step is an online registration of the applicant, which can be done by visiting the official passport Seva website.
• Details will be required to enter such as name, date of birth etc, in order to activate the applicant’s account.
• The next step is to fill out the application form for passport renewal. It is vital, that the applicant fills the form with correct details carefully as some of the information requires police verification at times.
• The final step is to submit the application and choose a preferable slot to get all the documents checked.

Some facts about passport renewal in India

• India had issued approximately 12 million passports in the year 2015, an estimate that was higher than countries like China and the USA.
• Among 199 countries, India ranks 86 in terms of visa-free access, according to the Henley and Partners Passport Index (9^th of January 2018).
• Indian passports were handwritten until the year 2001. They had a validity time period of 20 years.  
• An Indian passport holder is allowed a visa-free entry or visa issued at the time of arrival, into 58 countries an territories such as Maldives, Bhutan, Thailand, Mauritius and so on.
• Unlike most of the governing documents require the change of surname for married women, in India, it is not necessary to do so for passports.
• Among the countries that are considered to have the most powerful passports, India ranks 86 with Japan on top of the list.

In recent time, there was a reduction of 10% for the passport fee for all the applicants that are either above the age of 60 years or below the age of 8 years.         

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HOW TO FILL THE PASSPORT RENEWAL APPLICATION

To continue reaping the benefits of passport, an individual needs to renew their passport before it’s validity expires. In India, a passport is valid only for ten years. A passport is widely accepted as proof for identifying an individual, and it is also considered as an age and residence proof. Having a passport is essential for an individual as it comes in handy at many points in life and has many benefits.

REGISTERING ONLINE FOR PASSPORT RENEWAL

The first and foremost step to applying for Indian passport renewal is the applicant to have an account made on the official website of Passport Seva. The procedure to create an account and renewal of passport is given below:

1. Register for renewal of passport on the Passport Seva website – passportindia.gov.in
2. If you have already made an account on this site, you can log in using the existing user login link.
3. If you are not an existing user, you need to create an account by clicking on the “new user register now.”
4. Next, you need to select the passport office closest to your place from the options that would be given.
5. Mention the necessary details that would include the full name of the applicant, date of birth, address, etc. and create a login ID and password.

An activation link will be sent on your mail. Once you activate the account using the link in the email, you can move to the “apply for fresh passport/re-issue of passport” tab.

FILLING THE PASSPORT RENEWAL APPLICATION

1. After you have created an account, you need to fill in the online form.
2. Click on the “apply for fresh passport/re-issue of passport” link and the application form would appear, fill the form.
3. Once the form has been completely filled, click on the “validate” button to save a copy of the form.
4. It is essential to fill the form very carefully and upload the filled-In form and click “submit.” Make sure you verify the information before submitting the form to avoid any errors.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR PASSPORT RENEWAL

For passport renewal, the applicant is required to submit some documents along with the application form. The Passport Seva Kendra website has a “document advisor,” which helps you select the type of passport( regular/tatkal). Select the age of the applicant(minor/adult); documentation would differ depending on what you have chosen. The general documents needed for most applications are as follows:

1. Original old passport of the applicant
2. Self- attested copy of the first and last two pages of the passport.
3. Identity proof of the individual( AADHAR card)
4. Self -attested copy of the validity extension page in case of Short validity passport(SVP).

BOOKING A SLOT FOR RENEWED PASSPORT

1. After submitting your form, you need to schedule an interview based on the slots available.
2. After logging into your account, go to view applications tab.
3. Click on pay and schedule appointment link. Select a slot and pay the respective fee. Print the application receipt and get the appointment number.

It is crucial to get your passport renewed to extend its validity and avoid inconvenience.

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