Which Documents are Required for Passport?

Passport is one of the most crucial documents for any individual. Without a valid passport, an individual cannot travel abroad. In India, this essential document is issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India through a network of 36 offices in different states and UTs. If you are an Indian citizen who is wondering, “which documents are required for passport?” then check out this article.  

Where to apply for a Passport?

You can apply for a passport online through Passport Seva Portal or by visiting Passport Seva Kendra/Regional Passport Office. You will be required to submit certain documents at the time of filing your passport application. Failing to do so might result in passport application rejection. 

Documents Required for Passport

While filing your application for passport, you are required to attach the following documents:

Documents for Identity Proof

You can choose to submit any of the following documents for identity proof:

• Aadhaar Card
• PAN Card
• Driving License
• Ration Card
• Government-Issued Photo ID Card
• Voter ID Card

Documents for Address Proof

You can submit any of the following documents which serve as proof of address:

• Aadhaar Card 
• PAN Card 
• Voter ID Card 
• Water Bill 
• Telephone Bill (recent landline/postpaid mobile bill) 
• Electricity Bill 
• Gas Connection Bill 
• Driving License 
• If the applicant is a minor, their parent’s passport’s first and last page’s copy must be provided, along with family details.

Documents for Proof of Date of Birth

You can submit any one of the following documents as proof of date of birth at the time of passport application process:

• Birth Certificate issued by the Municipal Corporation or any office authorized by the registrar of births & deaths to issue birth and death certificate.
• School leaving certificate/secondary school leaving certificate/certificate of recognized boards from the school/educational institution last attended by the applicant.
• In case of Illiterate or Semi-Illiterate Applicant, an Affidavit sworn before a magistrate stating the D.O.B.

Other documents required for Passport:

• Multiple copies of Passport-size photographs having a white background.
• Annexure E or Annexure F, whichever is applicable. Annexure E form is required for applicants who cannot provide the required documents as proof of their date of birth or place. On the other hand, Annexure F form is required for applicants who cannot provide any of the documents mentioned under the Proof of Address section. 
• Marriage certificate is required in case of married applicants for specifying their spouse’s name.
• Non-ECR Category Proof is required for applicants who fall under the Non-ECR (Emigration Check Required) category. For ECR-Category Proof, Income Tax Assessment Order, Pay Slip, etc. need to be submitted.

List of Mandatory Documents for Reissuance of Passport

If you want your passport to be reissued, you must provide the following list of mandatory documents:

• Original Copy of the Old Passport
• Page of Validity Extension, if any.
• No Objection Certificate/Prior Intimation Letter
• Page of Observation issued by the Authority Issuing the Passport.
• Self-attested copies of the first two and last two pages of passport.
• Self-attested copies of ECR/Non-ECR Page.

What is the Validity and Expiry of Passport? 

A passport’s validity and expiry is as follows:

• The validity of a passport with 36 or 60 pages is 10 years from the date of issuance.
• Passports granted to citizens under the age of eighteen have a five-year validity period.
• Minors between the ages of 15 and 18 can choose to have a passport that is valid for ten years.
• A passport may also remain valid until the minor turns eighteen. 

Types of Indian Passports

There are four types of Indian passports, namely:

• Blue Passport: It is a common man’s passport. It is open to all Indian citizens by birth, descent, or naturalization.
• Orange Passport: Orange passports are issued by the MEA to individuals who have not completed the 10th grade or lack necessary second education documents.
• White Passport: White passports are held by those who are government officials and individuals who represent the government.
• Maroon Passport: The maroon passport is issued to officers from Indian Foreign Services, MEA and selected government officials.

Conclusion

If you want to travel abroad, you should file an application for a passport as soon as possible! In this blog post, we provided you with the list of documents which are required for a passport. Before you begin the passport application process, make sure all the required documents are in place. Doing so will ensure that your passport process will be smooth and hassle-free.