Quick Guide

How to Reissue (Renew) Your Indian Passport

Passport expiring, full, damaged, or your details changed? India doesn’t technically “renew” a passport, it reissues a new booklet. This guide covers exactly when you can apply, the online steps, the documents you need, and how long it takes.

Rovin SinghWritten & Verified ByRovin SinghFounder & Editor

When You Can Apply for Reissue

You apply for a reissue when your existing passport:

  • Is expiring within the next 12 months, or has already expired (there’s no penalty for late renewal in India).
  • Has run out of blank visa pages.
  • Is damaged or worn out.
  • Needs updated details, name, address, marital status, or appearance.
The window most people miss: you can apply up to one year before expiry, and any time after. Applying early avoids a last-minute scramble if police verification takes longer. If your passport has been expired for more than 3 years, fresh police verification is usually required.

“Reissue” or “Renewal”, Which Do You Pick?

Pick “Re-issue”, not “Fresh”. The portal officially uses Reissue of Passport for what people call renewal. Choosing “Fresh Passport” by mistake is the single most common reason an application gets sent back at the counter. True “renewal” only applies to short-validity passports, a rare case, so for almost everyone, it’s Reissue.

When reissued, you get a brand-new booklet with a new passport number. Your old passport is cancelled and returned to you. Any active visas on the old booklet stay valid until they expire, so keep it safe.

Step-by-Step: Applying for Reissue

  1. Log in: go to passportindia.gov.in and log in (register first if you’re new, selecting your Passport Office / RPO).
  2. Choose the service: under Services, click Apply for Fresh Passport / Re-issue of Passport, then select Re-issue.
  3. Select the reason for reissue (expiry, change in details, exhausted pages, or damaged), and your booklet size (36 or 60 pages).
  4. Fill the form with your old passport open beside you, several fields auto-fill from your existing file or linked Aadhaar. Cross-check every detail against your current passport.
  5. Preview and submit. You get an Application Reference Number (ARN), note it.
  6. Pay and book: click Pay and Schedule Appointment, pay online (mandatory before booking), and pick your PSK or POPSK, you can choose any across India. See our appointment booking guide if slots are hard to find.
  7. Confirm: you get an appointment confirmation and SMS. Print the receipt with your ARN.
Applying for passport reissue on the Passport Seva portal
Selecting Re-issue on the Passport Seva portal

Documents for Reissue

A standard adult reissue needs four core documents, carry originals plus self-attested photocopies to your appointment:

  1. Your old passport (original), it’s cancelled and returned.
  2. Self-attested photocopy of the first two and last two pages of the old passport (including the ECR/Non-ECR page).
  3. Proof of present address, Aadhaar, a utility bill, bank passbook, or registered rent agreement.
  4. Proof of date of birth, birth certificate, Class 10 certificate, PAN, or Aadhaar.
Tip: the portal’s Document Advisor gives your exact list for your specific reason. If your old passport already shows your current address, address proof may not even be needed, the Advisor confirms this.

Changing Name, Address, or Other Details

Reissue is also how you update details on your passport. A few extras apply:

  • Name change after marriage: submit your marriage certificate, plus Annexure J (or spouse’s passport copy). A name change may also need a newspaper advertisement or gazette notification in some cases.
  • Name change (other reasons): usually needs a deed poll and two original newspaper cuttings, or a gazette notification.
  • Address change: just provide proof of your new present address. Note this may trigger fresh police verification at the new address.

Whatever the change, the new booklet carries the corrected details once approved.

Minor turning 18? A minor’s passport is valid for only 5 years (or until 18). When a minor becomes an adult, or their 5-year passport expires, you apply for a reissue to get a full 10-year adult passport. It follows the same reissue process above, with the applicant’s own documents rather than the parents’.

How Long It Takes

  • Normal reissue: broadly 7 to 15 working days after your appointment, faster if police verification isn’t needed (clean-record reissues often skip pre-verification).
  • Tatkaal reissue: around 1 to 3 working days, verification usually done after issue. See our Tatkaal guide if you’re in a hurry.
  • Expired over 3 years: expect fresh police verification, which adds time.

Track progress anytime with your file number on our status check guide.

Common Questions

Is there a penalty for renewing an expired passport?

No. India has no late penalty for reissuing an expired passport, however long it’s been expired. But if it’s been over 3 years, fresh police verification is usually required, which can add time, so it’s still best not to delay.

How early can I renew before my passport expires?

Up to one year before the expiry date. Many people apply 9 to 12 months ahead if they have travel planned, so a slow police verification doesn’t clash with a trip. Note the six-month validity rule many countries require for entry.

Will my passport number change after reissue?

Yes. A reissue gives you a brand-new booklet with a new passport number, the old one is cancelled and returned. Active visas on the old passport remain valid until they expire, so keep the cancelled booklet safely.

Do I need police verification for a reissue?

Often not, if your record is clean and details are unchanged, reissue can be done on post-verification or without a fresh check. But an address change, a name change, or a passport expired over 3 years usually triggers verification at your address.

Need Help?

For reissue queries, call the Passport Seva National Call Centre at 1800 258 1800 (toll-free), or use passportindia.gov.in. For all passport services, see our Passport hub.