Passport questions, 28 straight answers

Register on the Passport Seva portal (passportindia.gov.in) or the mPassport Seva app, fill the fresh or reissue application, pay the fee online, book a slot at a Passport Seva Kendra or POPSK, and attend in person with originals and self-attested copies. Police verification follows where applicable, and the passport arrives by Speed Post. Step-by-step detail is on our fresh passport page.

You can fill the downloadable e-Form offline and upload it, but the application itself is submitted through the portal, online fee payment is mandatory for booking the appointment, and the in-person PSK visit cannot be skipped. There is no fully offline route — which is exactly where our ₹499 assistance helps applicants who are not comfortable online.

PSK Vadodara at Aditviya Complex, Ground Floor, behind Arpan Complex, Delux Cross Road, Nizampura, Vadodara 390002, which falls under the Regional Passport Office, Ahmedabad. Nearby POPSKs include Anand, Bharuch, Godhra, Chhota Udaipur, Nadiad and Dahod. Confirm slot timings on the portal when booking — our appointment page has the practical detail.

Indicatively: about 7–10 working days after the appointment where no pre-police-verification is needed, two weeks to 30–45 days where pre-PV applies, and dispatch within roughly 1–3 working days for Tatkal. Printing and Speed Post delivery add about 3–7 working days. All timelines vary; none are guaranteed. Follow your own file via our tracking guidance.

One proof of present address and one proof of date of birth, each from the approved lists — Aadhaar, voter ID, utility bills, bank passbook and others for address; birth certificate, school certificate, PAN, Aadhaar and others for DOB. Carry originals plus one set of self-attested photocopies. The full lists per scenario are on our documents page; confirm your exact case on the official Document Advisor.

No. Since the 2016 rules amendment, a wider list of DOB proofs applies — school leaving or matriculation certificate, PAN, Aadhaar, driving licence, voter ID, LIC policy bond or service records — regardless of when you were born.

Standard declaration formats prescribed by Passport Seva: Annexure D is parental consent for minors, C its substitute where one parent's consent is unavailable, F the affidavit for lost or damaged passports, J the joint declaration for marriage name changes, and G/H the NOC or prior intimation for government employees. Our annexures explainer decodes each; specimens are on the official portal.

Carry both: originals for scanning and return at the counter, plus one set of self-attested photocopies that stays with the file. Exceptions filed in original are the old passport in reissue cases, the police report for lost passports, and sworn annexures.

For most fresh applications, yes — pre-issue verification at your present address is the default. Many reissue cases with clean records get post-issue verification or none, and Tatkal is typically verified after the passport is issued. Your case's mode is decided by the passport office, not chosen by you. The full picture is on our police verification page.

Typically one to three weeks, and faster in states using the mPassport Police app — but it is the most variable stage of the whole process. Being reachable, present at your declared address and ready with documents is the best way to keep it short.

An adverse or incomplete report — applicant not found, address not matching, unsupportive statements — stalls or sinks the application and is hard to unwind afterwards. If it happens, respond to the RPO's communication precisely; better, prevent it with an accurate address and a prepared household. See rejection reasons for the full prevention list.

The minor's DOB proof, address proof in the parents' name, parents' passport copies if held, and Annexure D signed by both parents in the standard case. A minor's passport is valid five years or until age 18, whichever comes first. The minor passport page covers photos, fees and the 15–18 option.

In the standard case, yes, via Annexure D. Where one parent's consent cannot be obtained — single parent, separation, a parent abroad — Annexure C applies instead, and in custody disputes court orders control. A single mother can apply with her name alone; the father's name is not mandatory.

ECR (Emigration Check Required) passports need Protector of Emigrants clearance before taking up employment in the notified ECR countries; it does not restrict tourist travel. Non-ECR goes to matriculates, graduates, taxpayers, persons over 50, minors and other categories. Converting ECR to Non-ECR requires a reissue with proof of eligibility — our ECR vs ECNR explainer has the detail.

Yes. Changing your name or surname after marriage is optional, not a legal requirement — a passport in the maiden name remains fully valid. Update it only if you want your documents to carry the married name consistently; our passport after marriage guide weighs the choice.