A passport application in India is made online on the Passport Seva portal, followed by one visit to a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office PSK and a police verification of your address. With the right documents, a normal passport usually reaches you within a few weeks. This guide covers fees, documents, the appointment, how police verification works and what to do if it is delayed.
Quick answer
Apply at passportindia.gov.in (or the official mPassport Seva app), pay online and book a PSK or POPSK slot. Carry originals on the day.
Fee: ₹2,500 for a 36-page adult passport (₹3,500 for 60 pages); Tatkal costs ₹5,000 (₹6,000 for 60 pages); minors pay ₹1,750. These fees apply from 1 July 2026.
Police verification is free. An officer checks your address and identity; the report goes online to the passport office. All new passports are now chip-based e-passports.
What is a passport application under Passport Seva 2.0?
Passports are issued by the Ministry of External Affairs under the Passports Act, 1967 and the Passport Rules, 1980. In May 2025 the ministry moved all 37 passport offices to Passport Seva Programme version 2.0, with a new portal and app, auto-filled forms, easier uploads and UPI payment. India now issues e-passports: a regular booklet with an embedded chip holding your photo and fingerprints. Existing passports remain valid until they expire, so there is no need to replace yours early.
The same passport application process applies to a fresh passport and to a re-issue (renewal, change of particulars, or exhausted pages). Only the documents and police verification rules differ slightly.
Documents for a passport application
Proof of date of birth
- If you were born on or after 1 October 2023, only a birth certificate issued under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 is accepted (Passport (Amendment) Rules, 2025).
- If you were born earlier, you can also use a school leaving or Class 10 certificate, PAN card, driving licence, voter ID, a government service record or an LIC policy bond showing your date of birth.
- If your birth certificate has an error, fix it first; see our birth certificate correction guide.
Proof of present address
- Aadhaar, water, electricity, gas or telephone bill, bank passbook with photo, income tax assessment order, election photo ID, or a registered rent agreement.
- Spouse’s passport (with your name in it) or parents’ passport for minors.
- Your present address must be where you actually live; police verify it in person. If your Aadhaar shows an old address, finish the Aadhaar address update first.
Other documents
- Proof of non-ECR status if applicable (for example Class 10 or higher qualification).
- For government employees: the identity certificate or NOC / prior intimation in the prescribed annexure.
- For a re-issue: the old passport with its first and last pages.
- For a name change: gazette notification or marriage certificate, as relevant.
Passport application step by step
- Register. Create an account on passportindia.gov.in, choosing the passport office for your address.
- Fill the form. Select Apply for Fresh Passport / Re-issue of Passport, choose Normal or Tatkal and 36 or 60 pages, and fill the form online. Names and dates must match your documents exactly.
- Pay and book. Pay the fee online (UPI, card or net banking) and book the earliest slot at a PSK or POPSK. Print or save the appointment receipt.
- Visit the PSK. Arrive 15 minutes early with all originals and one set of self-attested copies. Your documents are checked, photo and fingerprints taken, and a granting officer reviews the file.
- Police verification. The passport office sends your file to the police. An officer visits your home or calls you to the station with originals.
- Track and receive. Track your passport application status with the file number on the portal or app. The passport is sent by Speed Post to your address; sign for it in person.
Passport application fees and timelines
| Passport | Normal | Tatkal |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, 36 pages (10 years), fresh or re-issue | ₹2,500 | ₹5,000 |
| Adult, 60 pages (10 years), fresh or re-issue | ₹3,500 | ₹6,000 |
| Minor, 36 pages, fresh or re-issue | ₹1,750 | ₹4,250 |
| Lost or damaged passport replacement, adult 36 pages | ₹5,000 | ₹7,500 |
| Lost or damaged passport replacement, adult 60 pages | ₹6,000 | ₹8,500 |
| Lost or damaged passport replacement, minor | ₹4,250 | ₹6,750 |
| Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) | ₹750 | — |
After a passport application, normal passports are usually issued within about two to four weeks after a clear police report, depending on your passport office. Tatkal passports are often dispatched within a few working days, with police verification done after issue in many cases. Check the current fee calculator on the portal before you pay.
How passport police verification works
- Pre-verification is the normal rule for a fresh passport: the passport is printed only after a clear report.
- Post-verification applies in some Tatkal and re-issue cases: the passport is issued first and police check afterwards. An adverse report can lead to revocation.
- No verification applies in limited cases, for example some re-issues where earlier verification was clear, and government employees with the right annexure.
In most states the police officer uses the mPassport Police app, so the report goes online to the passport office the same day. The officer checks that you live at the address, verifies your identity and may ask neighbours. Keep originals and two photos handy. Police verification is free; you do not have to pay anyone. If you are away, contact your police station and the passport office in time.
If police verification is delayed or adverse
- If the status stays at police verification for more than three weeks, call the police station and the passport helpline (1800-258-1800), and raise a grievance on the portal.
- An incomplete report usually means a missing document or you were not found at home; the passport office will tell you what to submit.
- An adverse report (wrong address, pending criminal case not disclosed) can lead to rejection. Reply to the passport office with documents; you can appeal under the Passports Act.
New passport fees from 1 July 2026
The Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026 raised passport fees for the first time since 2012. The new fees apply to every passport application submitted on or after 1 July 2026. Tatkal is now a single all-in fee rather than a normal fee plus a Tatkal charge, and the Police Clearance Certificate fee went up to ₹750.
- Concession: children under 8 and senior citizens over 60 get 10% off the passport fee on a fresh passport application. The concession does not apply to re-issue.
- Children under 15: under a further amendment notified in September 2026, a 36-page passport for a child under 15 is valid for five years or until the child turns 18, whichever is earlier.
- Already applied? The fee is the one shown on the portal when you pay. If you paid before 1 July 2026, the old fee applies to that application.
Passport renewal (re-issue): what is different
Renewing an expired or expiring passport is also a passport application, filed as “Re-issue of Passport”. The steps are the same, but a few things differ:
- Carry your old passport in original; it is cancelled and normally handed back to you.
- You can apply for re-issue up to one year before expiry, or when pages run out.
- If your name, address or appearance has not changed, police verification is often done after issue or not at all, depending on your record.
- If your address has changed, the new passport is printed with the new address and police verify it at that address.
Normal or Tatkal passport application
Choose Tatkal only when you need the passport urgently, for example for a job abroad, a medical emergency or a family event. A Tatkal passport application costs about twice the normal fee and needs the same documents (plus, in some cases, an extra proof such as an Annexure or a third ID). Normal passports are usually issued within a few weeks once police verification is clear, so plan early and the normal route is enough for most travellers.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Different spellings of your name or parents’ names across the documents in your passport application.
- Giving an address where you do not actually live.
- Not disclosing a pending criminal case; this is a ground for refusal and later revocation.
- Using agents or fake sites that charge a “service fee”. The only official sites are passportindia.gov.in and the MEA app.
- Missing the passport application appointment without rescheduling; slots can be rescheduled a limited number of times.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a passport application take in India?
A normal passport typically arrives two to four weeks after the PSK visit if police verification is clear. Tatkal passports are usually dispatched within a few working days.
Is an e-passport costlier than an ordinary passport?
No. All new passports are e-passports at the regular fee. Existing passports stay valid until expiry.
Is police verification needed for passport renewal?
For a re-issue passport application, often not, if your earlier verification was clear and your address has not changed. The passport office decides case by case.
Can I give my rented address in a passport application?
Yes, if you live there. A registered rent agreement plus a utility bill or bank passbook at that address is the safest proof.
Is Aadhaar enough for a passport application?
Aadhaar works as proof of address and identity. For date of birth, use a birth certificate or the other listed documents.
Did passport fees go up in 2026?
Yes. From 1 July 2026, a 36-page adult passport costs ₹2,500 (normal) or ₹5,000 (Tatkal), a 60-page one ₹3,500 or ₹6,000, and a minor passport ₹1,750. The Police Clearance Certificate costs ₹750.
What if I miss my passport appointment?
You can reschedule the appointment online a limited number of times. If you do not reschedule or attend within the allowed period, the passport application may lapse and you may need to apply again.
Can I track my passport application?
Yes. Use “Track Application Status” on passportindia.gov.in or the mPassport Seva app with your file number. You also get SMS updates at each stage, including police verification and dispatch.
Where can I get a ready-to-use address proof affidavit?
Use CIVL’s address proof affidavit format for offices that accept one. For a name change before your passport application, see the name change affidavit format.
CIVL format
Fix your documents before you apply
Mismatched names and addresses cause most passport delays. Use CIVL’s name change affidavit or address proof affidavit formats, or Ask CIVL.