Passport — Apply, Renew, Tatkaal and Police Verification

1. Register on passportindia.gov.in and log in.
2. Choose Apply for Fresh Passport, or Re-issue if you already hold one.
3. Complete the form, either online or by downloading the e-form and uploading it.
4. Pay the fee online and book an appointment at a Passport Seva Kendra or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra.
5. Attend the appointment with your original documents and the printed application receipt. Documents are verified and biometrics captured.
6. Police verification follows, either before or after issue depending on your case.
7. Track the application status on the portal or the mPassport Seva app.

Tatkaal is a faster processing scheme, not a shortcut around verification. It attracts a higher fee and requires additional documentation, including a verification certificate in the prescribed format in many cases.

It is not available for every category of applicant. Certain cases — including some minors, applicants with unresolved police verification issues, and specific categories set out in the guidelines — are excluded.

Check eligibility on passportindia.gov.in before paying the Tatkaal fee, since an ineligible application will simply be processed as normal.

Police verification is a standard part of passport issue. Which variant applies to you depends on your circumstances.

• Pre-issue verification: the passport is printed only after the police report is received. This is the default for a fresh passport.
• Post-issue verification: the passport is issued first and verification follows. This applies in defined cases, including many reissue applications.
• No verification: applies to a narrow set of cases, such as certain government employees submitting an identity certificate.
• The police visit your stated present address. Being unavailable repeatedly delays the report, so keep the address current and be reachable.

Indian passports are not renewed in the sense of extending the existing booklet. When a passport expires or its pages are exhausted, you apply for reissue, which produces a new passport with a new number.

Apply well before expiry. Many countries require at least six months of validity remaining on the date of entry, so a passport that is technically valid may still not be accepted for travel.