Passport Apply Online 2026 — Fresh, Renewal, Tatkal & Police Verification
Passport 2026: Fresh / renewal / Tatkal application on passportindia.gov.in with fees ₹1,500–₹3,500, ePassport rollout, police verification process, slot booking and document checklist.
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Quick summary. Apply for an Indian passport online at passportindia.gov.in → fill the form → pay → book a slot at the nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) / Post Office PSK (POPSK) → visit for biometric + document verification → police verification → passport delivered. Fees: ₹1,500 (36-page, 10-year — adult), ₹2,000 (60-page), ₹3,500 (Tatkal extra). Timeline: 30–45 days normal · 3–7 days Tatkal (for clean profiles). India’s ePassport rollout (chip-embedded) started April 2024 from 10 cities and is expanding nationwide through 2026.
The Passport Seva system is run by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in partnership with TCS for back-office and PSK operations. As of March 2026, 9.7 crore Indian passports are in circulation. The system has 36 Regional Passport Offices (RPOs), 93 Passport Seva Kendras, and 558 Post Office PSKs — making the nearest application point usually within 50 km of any urban / semi-urban resident.
The big technological shift in 2024–26 has been the Indian ePassport — physically identical to a regular passport but embedded with an RFID chip carrying biometric + biographic data, signed by the MEA. The chip enables faster immigration clearance abroad and reduces tampering. ePassports cost the same as ordinary passports; the chip is automatically embedded in fresh issues from cities where the rollout is active.
At a glance
| Service | Pages | Validity | Normal fee | Tatkal fee | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh passport (adult) | 36 | 10 years | ₹1,500 | ₹3,500 | Normal: 30–45 days · Tatkal: 3–7 days |
| Fresh passport (adult) | 60 | 10 years | ₹2,000 | ₹4,000 | Same |
| Renewal / re-issue | 36 / 60 | 10 years | ₹1,500 / ₹2,000 | +₹2,000 Tatkal | Same |
| Minor passport (under 18) | 36 | 5 years (or until 18) | ₹1,000 | +₹2,000 | Same |
| Replacement of lost / damaged | 36 / 60 | 10 years | ₹3,000 / ₹3,500 | +₹2,000 | 30–45 days |
Who is eligible?
Educational Qualification
Not applicable
Age Limit (As on Date of application)
0 to 120 Years
Other Requirements
- Nationality: Indian citizen — by birth, descent, naturalisation or registration
- Resident in India OR holding Indian citizenship while abroad (apply through Indian Embassy / Consulate)
- Must not be barred by any court order from leaving India
- If under 18, application must be by parents / guardian — both parents' consent required
- Existing passport must be ECNR (Emigration Check Not Required) status — auto-applied if you have any of: graduate degree, PAN, income tax filing, age above 50
- Naturalised citizens require renunciation of former citizenship before passport issue
Documents required
While filling online form
- Proof of Identity — Aadhaar / Voter ID / PAN / Driving Licence (any one)
- Proof of Date of Birth — Aadhaar / Birth Certificate / 10th Certificate / Passport (existing) / school transfer certificate
- Proof of Address — Aadhaar / utility bill (≤ 1 year) / bank passbook (≤ 1 year) / rent agreement / electricity bill / Aadhaar in same address
- Self-attested copies of all three above
- For minors — both parents' passports (if any), school certificate, Aadhaar of parents, Annexure-D / Annexure-G
- For renewal — original old passport + Annexure-I (declaration of changes since last issue)
- For Tatkal — additional Verification Certificate (Annexure-F) from Group-A officer / Annexure-J for self-declaration if eligible
How to apply
Step 1 — Register on Passport Seva
- Open passportindia.gov.in → New User → Register with mobile + email.
- Login with the verified ID.
Step 2 — Fill the application form
- Click Apply for Fresh Passport / Re-issue → choose 36 / 60 pages, 10-year, Normal / Tatkal.
- Fill: personal details, family details, present address, emergency contact, references (2 in same town).
- For renewal, fill Annexure-I declaring any change in personal details since last issue.
Step 3 — Pay the fee
Click Pay & Schedule Appointment → choose PSK / POPSK nearest to your address → book the earliest available slot (typically 7–14 days for normal; same-week for Tatkal). Pay via UPI / net-banking / card.
Step 4 — Visit PSK on the appointment day
Reach 15 minutes early with all originals + one self-attested photocopy of each. The visit has 3 counters:
- Token + biometric (fingerprint + photograph)
- Verification Officer (VO) check
- Granting Officer (GO) approval
Total time at PSK: 45–90 minutes for clean profiles.
Step 5 — Police verification
For most fresh passports, police verification is post-issue (passport printed first, then verified). For Tatkal in some categories and for re-issues with major changes, verification may be pre-issue. The local police visit your home with the verification slip — show originals + sign the verification report. Typical time: 3–10 days after PSK visit.
Step 6 — Passport printing and delivery
Once verified, the passport is printed at the central facility and dispatched by Speed Post. Track via the passport tracker at passportindia.gov.in or the mPassport Seva Android/iOS app. Delivery: 5–10 days after dispatch.
⏰ Last Date: Open (rolling)
Apply on Passport SevaClicking this button will take you to the official government portal.
Tatkal — what’s different
| Aspect | Normal | Tatkal |
|---|---|---|
| Total time | 30–45 days | 3–7 days for clean profiles |
| Fee — 36-page adult | ₹1,500 | ₹3,500 (₹1,500 + ₹2,000 Tatkal premium) |
| Police verification | Post-issue | Often waived if profile is “clean” (Annexure-J self-declaration) |
| Slot availability | 7–14 days | Same-week / same-day at most PSKs |
| Documentation | Standard | + Annexure-F or Annexure-J |
Tatkal is suitable for travel emergencies, fresh job offers abroad, or urgent medical visits abroad. The PSK officer has discretion to refuse Tatkal if the profile raises any flag (recent address change, pending court case, missing parent’s consent for minor).
ePassport — what’s new
The Indian ePassport, launched in April 2024, has:
- Same physical look and feel as the existing passport (deep blue cover, “Bhārat Gaṇarājya”)
- An embedded RFID chip with the holder’s photograph, biographic data, and biometric template
- A digital signature from the MEA Public Key Infrastructure
- Faster e-gate clearance at participating airports (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Cochin currently)
- Same fee as a regular passport — no extra cost
ePassports are being issued from RPOs in 10 cities (Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Chennai, Nagpur, Goa, Shimla, Raipur, Amritsar, Jammu) since 2024–25, with a phased nationwide rollout by March 2027.
Common rejection / hold reasons
| Reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| Address mismatch with PoA | Update the PoA first (Aadhaar / utility bill in current address) |
| Pending criminal case | Disclose at form-filling; obtain NOC from court |
| Minor application without both parents | Submit Annexure-G (sole-parent declaration) with affidavit / divorce decree |
| Police verification adverse | Submit clarification at the local police station; appeal to RPO |
| Old passport not surrendered for re-issue | Bring the old passport to PSK on appointment day |
Frequently asked questions
1. How long does an Indian passport take in 2026?
2. What is the fee for a 10-year passport?
3. Is police verification mandatory?
4. Can I apply for Tatkal without an Annexure-F?
5. What is an ePassport and is it more expensive?
6. Can I track my passport application?
7. What if I lose my passport abroad?
8. Can a minor get a passport with one parent's consent?
Latest updates
The MEA expanded Post Office PSKs to 558 by January 2026, bringing the system into smaller cities. The mPassport Seva 2.0 app (released February 2026) lets you complete the entire pre-PSK flow on phone — form, payment, slot booking, and document upload. The 2026 budget allocated ₹600 crore for Passport Seva 2.0 modernisation, which adds DigiLocker integration (no need to carry physical Aadhaar / 10th certificate to PSK from FY 2026–27 onwards).
Official links
Disclaimer. SarkariBaba is an independent information publisher. Passport fees, document checklists and Tatkal eligibility are revised periodically by MEA — verify on passportindia.gov.in before depositing fees.
