FAQs - Miscellaneous

Q1:	The applicant is staying at Bangalore for the last two years and permanent address is in Kerala. Can he/she endorse his/her permanent address instead of present address in the passport?
A:	Only the present address will be endorsed on the passport and not the permanent address.
Q2:	I have stayed at three different addresses during last one year. Will the police verification be done at all the places?
A:	Yes. The police verification will be done at all the three addresses where the applicant has resided in the last one year.
Q3:	While applying for fresh passport, the applicant mentions his paying guest address as present address in the application form. If the applicant shifts to another address before police verification, what should he/she do?
A:	He/She should intimate the Department In charge of Police Station.
Q4:	I am a self employed person and have recently shifted to Bangalore from Delhi. I want to apply for passport on Tatkaal basis, but I don't have any address proof. What should I do?
A:	It is mandatory to submit proof of address to apply for passport. For Proof of Address attach one of the following documents: Water/Telephone (landline or post paid mobile bill)/Electricity bill/Statement of running bank account (Scheduled Commercial bank excluding Regional Rural banks and local area banks)/Income Tax Assessment Order/Election Commission Photo Id card/Gas connection bill/Certificate from Employer of reputed and widely known companies on letter head. Spouse's passport copy (Pages mentioning personal particulars including family details), (provided the applicant's present address matches the address mentioned in the spouse's passport) Parent's passport copy, in case of minors (Pages mentioning personal particulars) Applicant's current and valid ration card Aadhaar Card Registered Rent Agreement (for a period of more than one year) Note: If any applicant submits only ration card as proof of address, it should be accompanied by one more proof of address out of the given categories.
Q5:	A mentally retarded person wants to go to abroad for treatment. He does not have any address proof. Will he be able to get passport? If yes, then what is the procedure?
A:	The applicant has to apply for passport and submit parent's/legal guardian's address proof along with his/her date of birth proof. Passport would be granted to the applicant subject to approval of Competent Authority. Assistant Passport Officer's /RPO/ CPV Division.
Passport Seva Kendra Working Hours
Q6:	What are the timings of Passport Seva Kendra? Also, what are the lunch timings?
A:	The timings of Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) are as follows: Working Days Monday-Friday Working Hours 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM Token Issuance 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM Lunch Hours 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Short Validity Passports
Q7:	In what cases Short validity passport (SVP) is issued? What documents are required to be submitted?
A:	Short Validity passport (SVP) is issued in following cases: In case of urgency, students can be issued a SVP on production of admission letters if they are to appear in examinations, such as TOEFL, SAT etc. Such applications can also be processed under the Tatkaal Scheme, if they are accompanied by verification certificate as prescribed, and proof of urgency is furnished to the Passport Office(PO). There are instances of non-delivery of passports to the applicants due to loss in transit in the post offices. In case of urgency, a SVP may be issued to the applicant, the validity to be extended to full term on completion of the formalities. Indians residing abroad and visiting India for a short period: SVP can be issued immediately, valid for one year, on production of return ticket to the country from which the applicant came and/or a document of identity such as driving license, Green Card, employment permit, social security card, health card, labour card etc. indicating the applicant's identity and nationality. If the application is for issue of duplicate passport in lieu of damaged passport, the damaged passport itself may be accepted as proof of identity provided the personal particulars are clear and legible. If a criminal case is pending against the applicant in any Court, he/she can be issued a passport subject to the condition that a written permission granted by the court allowing the applicant to travel abroad is enclosed. Normally a SVP valid for one year is issued, subject to conditions if any, mentioned in the Court order as per GSR 570 (E) dated 25 August, 1993.
Q8:	What will be the validity of passport if I apply for renewal of Short Validity Passport?
A:	The validity of passport would be decided by Assistant Passport Officer/RPO , if you apply for renewal of Short Validity Passport.
Passport with incorrect details printed
Q9:	Incorrect details have been printed on my passport. What should I do?
A:	If you find any mistake/error in the particulars printed in the passport booklet and the application form you submitted, please return the passport for necessary rectification. Any additional fees required to be paid would depend on the merits of the case to be decided by the Assistant Passport Officer (APO)/RPO. If there is a misrepresentation of facts, then penalty could also be imposed. However, applicants are requested to apply online with the view to ensure that the passports are delivered without any typographical errors since applicants have themselves fed the data.
Others
Q10:	What should be the value of the Stamp paper on which the various affidavits are to be executed?
A:	An affidavit needs to be prepared on non-judicial stamp paper of minimum value.
Q11:	My mother is old and infirm. She cannot come to the Passport Seva Kendra. Can I apply for her through an agent? OR I am a very busy executive. Can my office boy submit the application on my behalf?
A:	Under the new system it is mandatory for all applicants to be physically present while submitting the passport application form at the Passport Seva Kendra.
Q12:	What are Special Passports?
A:	India used to issue Special Passports to citizens of India who intend to travel to Bangladesh or Sri Lanka. These passports are only good for travel to the specified destination country. The government ceased issuing Indo-Bangladesh passports in 2006, although those already issued are usable until their expiration dates. These passports allow travel to Bangladesh without requiring a visa, which ordinary passport-holders need to obtain.

FAQs - Identity Certificate

Q1: What is an Identity Certificate? A: Identity Certificate (IC) is normally issued to Tibetan Refugees residing in India, from the Regional Passport Office, Delhi (RPO Delhi) on recommendation by the Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (HHDL), New Delhi. In addition to Tibetan refugees, Stateless people residing in India may also apply for Identity Certificate at the Passport Office within whose jurisdiction they are currently residing. IC issuance is subject to clearance by Ministry of External Affairs (Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) Division). In addition, clearance by State Government (Department of Home Affairs / Police) / FRRO is also required for grant of No Objection to Return to India (NORI) to be stamped on the Identity Certificate. Q2: Where can I get the Application Form for Identity Certificate? A: You can download the Application form from the Passport Seva website (www.passportindia.gov.in). Q3: Where can I submit the Application Form? A: Tibetan Refugees residing in India need to apply at RPO Delhi. Stateless people residing in India need to apply at the passport office within whose jurisdiction they currently reside. Q4: What would be the validity of an Identity Certificate? A: Identity Certificate is generally issued for 10 years. Q5: What is the fee for an Identity Certificate? A: To know the fee details, please click on "Fee Calculator" link on Home page.

FAQs - Tatkaal Passports

Q1:	What is the fee for issue of Tatkaal Passport?
A:	To know the fee details, please click on "Fee Calculator" link on Home page.
Q2:	How long will it take to get a Tatkal passport?
A:	After successful application form submission, with final status as "Granted", you can expect your passport to be dispatched as follows: Type of Application Type of Police Verification Expected Time To Dispatch Passport Tatkaal Police Verification is not required Within one working day excluding the date of submission of application. Police Verification is required on a Post-Passport Issuance basis On third working day excluding the date of submission of application - without waiting for the Police Verification Report.
	Note: In complex cases, such as adoption, application on behalf of a minor from single parent, major change in name, duplicate passport, doubtful documentation, the processing time will be approximately 30 days excluding the date of submission of application. Mandatory Pre Police Verification cases such as Indian citizens of J&K and Nagaland would also need additional processing time. Issue of passport is subject to data check in the system and finding no adverse entry/report.
Q3:	Can I apply for passport under the Tatkaal scheme?
A:	The final authority for the issuance of passport under the Tatkaal scheme lies with the passport office. But there are list of applicants who cannot apply for passport under the Tatkaal scheme. To check the list of applicants who cannot apply under the Tatkaal scheme, please refer instruction booklet. Click Here to download Instruction Booklet.
Q4:	My passport booklet is damaged. I want to go abroad on urgent basis. What should I do?
A:	In case your passport has been damaged but recognizable, i.e. passport number is readable, name is legible and photo is intact, then you can apply for re-issue of passport under the Tatkaal scheme. But, if passport has been damaged beyond recognition, then you cannot apply under the Tatkaal scheme. In that case, you need to visit Passport Officer at your nearest Passport Seva Kendra to get the passport on urgent basis.
Q5:	If parents have passport with adverse Police Verification Report or they have a criminal background, can passport be issued to minor on an urgent basis?
A:	In such cases, minors can be issued passport under the Tatkaal scheme subject to Passport Officer's (POs) approval.
Q6:	Can Indian citizens belonging to Nagaland apply for the passport under the Tatkaal scheme?
A:	NO
Q7:	For Tatkaal applications, while booking appointment I am asked to choose appointment quota. What is appointment quota?
A:	Two appointment quota 'Normal' and 'Tatkaal' are available for 'Tatkaal' applications. Tatkaal applicants who are not able to book an early appointment under Tatkaal quota may consider booking appointment under Normal quota also. However, Tatkaal fee will be charged irrespective of the quota under which appointment was booked byTatkaal applicant. A Tatkaal application is not only to get an early appointment but also for faster processing. For example, a Tatkaal application would be processed under post (police) verification. The print queue is also separate thus ensuring faster print of Tatkaal passports i.e. a Tatkaal passport would be dispatched within 1-3 days of applicant visiting PSK as against a Normal application which would take longer.