Identity & Documents
Apply for a passport online, and when Tatkal is worth it
The full Passport Seva process from registration to appointment, which documents actually get accepted, how police verification works, and when paying for Tatkal makes sense.
Passport Seva is one of the better-run government systems, but it is unforgiving about documents. Applications are rarely rejected outright — they are held, and each hold costs a fresh appointment and another few weeks.
The two things that decide how smooth your experience is are whether your address proof matches the address you claim, and whether your police verification is clean. Everything else is administration.
Before you start
- Proof of address for the address you are applying from — Aadhaar, utility bill, bank passbook with photo, rent agreement, or gas connection proof.
- Proof of date of birth — birth certificate, class X certificate, PAN, Aadhaar or driving licence.
- Your old passport and its first and last pages, if this is a re-issue.
- For minors, both parents' passports or IDs and a signed annexure.
- Originals of everything. The centre verifies originals and returns them.
Step by step
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Register on Passport Seva
Create an account at passportindia.gov.in, choosing the Passport Office nearest to where you currently live. That choice determines where your appointment and police verification happen, so pick your actual current district.
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Fill the application form
Choose fresh passport or re-issue, and normal or Tatkal. Fill the form online, or download the e-form and upload it. Be exact with names — the passport is generated from what you type, and later corrections are a separate paid process.
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Pay and book an appointment
Payment is online and the appointment calendar opens only after payment. Slots at busy Passport Seva Kendras are released in batches and go quickly; if none are available, check again the following morning rather than paying an agent.
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Attend the appointment with originals
At the centre you go through three counters: document verification, verification by a passport officer, and granting. Carry originals and one set of self-attested photocopies. Reach on time — late arrivals are commonly turned away.
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Complete police verification
For most applications this happens after the appointment, at your stated address. An officer visits, or you are called to the station with originals. Be reachable. A failed visit because nobody was home is a common cause of delay.
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Track and receive
Track status on the portal or the mPassport Seva app. Once printed, it is dispatched by Speed Post and you get a tracking number.
Fees, timelines and key facts
| Where to apply | passportindia.gov.in only. Private 'passport agent' sites charge for a free service. |
|---|---|
| Normal vs Tatkal | Tatkal costs substantially more and compresses issuance, but does not remove police verification — it usually shifts it to after issuance. |
| Fee | Varies by booklet size, applicant age and scheme. The portal shows the exact fee before payment; confirm there. |
| Police verification | Pre-issuance for most fresh passports; post-issuance for many re-issues and Tatkal. |
| Delivery | Speed Post, tracked. |
| Helpline | Passport Seva national call centre, listed on the portal. |
If something goes wrong
No appointment slots
Slots are released on a schedule. Check early morning. Never pay a third party for a slot — slot-selling is against the rules and the appointment can be cancelled.
Address proof does not match your current address
Use a rent agreement plus a utility bill, or apply from the address you can actually prove. Applying from an address you cannot substantiate guarantees a hold at police verification.
Police verification marked adverse
You are informed and can respond with documents. If it is a case of mistaken identity or an old resolved matter, provide the disposal order. Do not ignore it.
Name changed after marriage
Carry the marriage certificate and, where applicable, a gazette notification. A spouse's name addition is a re-issue, not a fresh application.
Questions people ask
Is Tatkal worth the extra money?
Only if you genuinely need the passport within weeks. Tatkal speeds up issuance but not police verification, which is usually just moved to after you receive the booklet. If your travel is months away, normal is fine.
Do I need an agent?
No. Every step is self-service on the portal. Agents cannot get you a slot faster and cannot influence police verification.
What if I have lived at my current address for only a few months?
Apply from there with a rent agreement and a utility bill or bank statement. You may also be asked about your previous address; declare it honestly on the form.
Can I apply for a passport with only an Aadhaar?
Aadhaar works as both identity and address proof in many cases, but you still need a date-of-birth proof, and the exact acceptable combination depends on your category. The portal's document advisor lists what applies to you.
Official pages for this task
These are the only sites that can actually do this for you. Everything else is a middleman.