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Indian passports are issued by the Ministry of External Affairs through the Passport Seva portal, not by any private agency. Newly issued passports are chip-enabled e-passports with an embedded RFID chip for added security. A fresh adult passport is valid for 10 years; minor passports for 5 years or until age 18. You can now book an appointment at any Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) across India, regardless of your registered address.
Which Service Do You Need?
The portal separates passport services by situation. Picking the right one saves you a rejected application, here’s what each covers.
- You’ve never held an Indian passport before.
- First-time applicants and most minors.
- Read the fresh apply guide
- You already have a passport and it’s expiring, expired, full, or your details changed.
- The portal calls renewal a “reissue”.
- Read the reissue guide
- You need it fast, issued in about 1 to 3 working days.
- Higher fee; police verification usually happens after issue.
- Read the Tatkaal guide
- Apply for reissue under the Lost/Damaged category (file an FIR first if lost).
- Extra declarations and scrutiny apply; Tatkaal is not available for lost or stolen cases.
- Read the lost/damaged guide
Official Passport Fees (2026)
Fees were revised from 1 July 2026 under the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026. These are the standard government fees; always confirm the exact amount using the official Fee Calculator before paying.
The Tatkaal premium is a flat ₹2,500 above the normal fee in every category, so upgrading costs the same whether you take a 36-page or 60-page booklet. Tatkaal replacement rates apply only where the passport is damaged but still legible, since lost, stolen and beyond-recognition cases cannot use Tatkaal at all. A discount applies to eligible fresh applications for minors aged 8 or below and senior citizens above 60. Payment on the official gateway is final; confirm your exact amount with the Fee Calculator on passportindia.gov.in first.
Understanding Police Verification
Police verification (PV) confirms your address and background, and it’s the stage that most often delays a passport. Knowing how it works helps you avoid surprises.
- Police check happens before the passport is printed.
- Common for fresh passports.
- Passport issued after the report is cleared.
- Passport is printed and dispatched first.
- Verification is completed afterwards.
- Often allowed for clean-record reissues and Tatkaal.
- Keep original documents at your registered address.
- Two references who know you should be reachable.
- Be available (or a family member) when the officer visits.
Your file goes to the Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) of the police in your district. The mPassport Police App has cut verification time sharply in many states, sometimes to a few days. Track it separately at passportindia.gov.in under Police Verification Status.
Documents You’ll Generally Need
Exact documents depend on your service type and category, the portal’s Document Advisor gives your precise list. As a general guide:
- Aadhaar Card
- Recent utility bill (electricity, water, gas, landline)
- Bank passbook with photo
- Registered rent agreement
- Voter ID Card
- Birth certificate (mandatory for those born on/after 1 Oct 2023)
- PAN Card
- Aadhaar Card
- Class 10 marksheet / school certificate
- Your existing / old passport (original)
- Self-attested photocopy of its first two and last two pages
- ECR/Non-ECR page copy
- Relevant annexure if details changed
Children born on or after 1 October 2023 must submit a birth certificate as proof of date of birth, no other document is accepted for them.
ECR vs Non-ECR: What It Means for You
This confuses a lot of applicants, so here’s the plain version. ECR and Non-ECR are not different passport types, they’re a status printed inside your ordinary passport, based mainly on your education.
- Emigration Check Not Required.
- You get this if you’ve passed Class 10 or higher.
- Also: income taxpayers, graduates, those above 50, children under 18.
- Nothing is printed on the passport, blank means Non-ECR.
- Emigration Check Required.
- Applies if you haven’t passed Class 10.
- “ECR” is printed on the last page.
- Meant to protect workers in low-skilled jobs abroad.
- Only one thing: taking up employment in 18 named countries (mostly Gulf).
- It does NOT restrict tourism, study, business, or family visits, anywhere.
- For non-work travel, a valid passport, visa, and return ticket is enough.
To convert ECR to Non-ECR, apply for a reissue and submit your Class 10 (or higher) certificate. Most people who worry about ECR never actually needed to, since it only affects employment in those 18 countries.
The Official Passport Portal
All genuine passport services run through the Ministry of External Affairs’ own channels. There is one official portal and one official app; avoid third-party sites that charge extra “service fees”.
The official MEA website for fresh applications, reissue, appointment booking, fee payment, and status tracking.
The official app (Android and iOS) for applying, paying, booking appointments, and tracking status on your phone.
- The only official portal is passportindia.gov.in. Many lookalike sites charge extra “assistance” or “appointment” fees, avoid them.
- No agent can guarantee a passport or “jump the queue”. Appointments and issuance follow the official system only.
- Pay only inside your logged-in application on the official gateway. Never pay a fee to a third party’s bank account or UPI.
- The Passport Office will never call asking for your OTP or payment over the phone.
Help & Support
The Passport Seva toll-free helpline, available in multiple languages.
MEA’s official app on Android and iOS.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a fresh passport and a reissue?
A fresh passport is for first-time applicants who have never held one. A reissue (which the portal also calls renewal) is for anyone who already has a passport and needs a new booklet, because it’s expiring, expired, full, damaged, or their details changed.
How much does an Indian passport cost in 2026?
Since 1 July 2026, a fresh or reissue adult 36-page passport costs ₹2,500 (Normal) or ₹5,000 (Tatkaal). A 60-page booklet is ₹3,500 (Normal) or ₹6,000 (Tatkaal). A minor 36-page passport is ₹1,750 (Normal) or ₹4,250 (Tatkaal). Tatkaal adds a flat ₹2,500 in every case. Always confirm with the official Fee Calculator before paying.
Can I renew my passport before it expires?
Yes. You can apply for reissue up to one year before your current passport’s expiry date. There’s also no penalty for renewing an expired passport, however long it’s been expired, though a long-expired one may need extra documents and fresh police verification.
How long does a normal passport take?
Normal processing typically takes around 30 to 45 days including police verification, while Tatkaal is issued in about 1 to 3 working days (with verification often done after issue). Timelines depend on document accuracy and how quickly police verification clears.
Can I book my appointment at any Passport Seva Kendra?
Yes. The current system lets you choose any PSK or Post Office PSK across India, regardless of your registered address, useful if you study or work away from home. Only your appointment location is flexible; police verification still happens at your registered address.
My passport is lost, what should I do first?
File an FIR at the nearest police station immediately. With the FIR copy, apply for reissue under the Lost Passport category on the portal. Additional declarations and closer scrutiny apply. Note that Tatkaal is not available for lost or stolen passports, so this route runs at normal speed. A passport that is only damaged, with its number, name and photo still legible, can go through Tatkaal; one damaged beyond recognition cannot.
What is an e-passport?
Newly issued Indian passports are chip-enabled e-passports with an embedded RFID chip that securely stores your details, making them harder to forge and faster to verify at immigration. You don’t apply differently, you simply receive the e-passport version.
My passport says ECR, is that a problem?
Usually not. ECR only affects taking up employment in 18 specific countries; it doesn’t restrict tourism, study, business, or family travel anywhere. If you’ve passed Class 10 or higher, you can convert to Non-ECR by applying for a reissue with your education certificate.