Passport Application Process in India (2026): Fees, Documents & e-Passport Guide

• A passport is an official document verifying your identity and citizenship for international travel.
• You can go for an online passport application through the Passport Seva Portal or the mPassport Seva app or offline by visiting a Passport Seva Kendra for assistance.
• A key step in the passport-making process is booking and attending a passport appointment, where you submit documents and undergo biometric verification.
• Once PSP 2.0 went live, processing time dropped to 7–14 working days for normal service and just 1–3 days for Tatkal.
• India has started issuing chip-enabled e-Passports with a built-in RFID chip, switching them on in phases across 544 service centres nationwide.
• Fees went up on 1 July 2026 under the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026. A fresh or reissued 36-page passport now costs ₹2,500 for normal service and ₹5,000 for Tatkal, up from ₹1,500 and ₹3,500
• You can easily complete the passport renewal online using the Passport Seva Portal or the mPassport Seva App.

In today's world, a passport is more than just a travel document. It is an important ID that can be used in many situations. If you're planning to travel, study, or work abroad, having a passport is essential. The process is simple, and with online options, you can apply from the comfort of your home. Let's explore the passport-making process and see how you can apply for a passport online. We'll also look at the application for passport fees and the documents you need.

A passport is an official government-issued document that verifies your identity and citizenship when you travel abroad. It serves as a globally recognized form of identification, legally allowing you to cross international borders and enter foreign countries. In India, the passport-making process is simple so that every Indian citizen can access it easily. The process involves verifying personal details and confirming that the applicant meets the necessary legal requirements.

There are three main types of passports in India.

• Ordinary Passport: This is the most common type of passport issued to regular citizens for travel, business, or educational purposes abroad.
• Diplomatic Passport: It is issued to Indian diplomats or individuals representing the government on official diplomatic missions.
• Official Passport: This is granted to government officials or employees who are travelling for official purposes on behalf of the government.

To apply for any of these passports, individuals can now book a passport appointment online by following the guidelines given in the subsequent sections.

Since 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs has been rolling out chip-enabled e-Passports under the Passport Seva Programme (PSP) 2.0. The programme pulls 37 regional Passport Offices, 93 Passport Seva Kendras and more than 450 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras onto a single cloud-based platform.

An e-passport (sometimes called a biometric passport) is just the regular booklet with a secure RFID (radio-frequency identification) chip tucked inside the back cover. Think of a contactless card: instead of swiping, the chip beams your encrypted identity details to an authorised scanner at the immigration counter, so you clear the e-gates much faster.

The chip stores your biometric details, personal information, and a digital signature, and it complies with the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) security standards used in more than 120 countries. Here’s what the e-Passport changes:

• Chip security: encrypted data on the chip makes cloning and identity fraud far harder.
• Digital address: your address can now be stored on the chip rather than printed in the booklet, which helps if you’d rather your home address wasn’t on public display.
• Faster at the border: it works with the automated e-gates in the EU, UAE, Singapore and Australia, so you spend less time queuing.
• Wider rollout: 544 service centers as of June 2026, with the rest of the country coming online in phases.

You don’t have to apply for the e-Passport on its own. The moment your local Passport Seva Kendra starts issuing them, your next application or renewal automatically gives you the chip version at no extra cost.

Also Read: E-Passport in India: Benefits, How To Apply, and More

Some of the important uses of a passport are listed below:

• International Travel: It is essential for travelling internationally, as you can enter and exit countries legally.
• Identification Document: A passport acts as a key identification document, especially when you are in a foreign land.
• Visa Application: It is required for applying for visas when visiting countries that require pre-entry documentation.
• Citizenship Proof: Your passport can be used as proof of your nationality and citizenship.

The online passport-making process can be completed in two main ways: through the Passport Seva Portal and the mPassport Seva App. These make the passport-making process quick and convenient.

Let's take a look at the different methods for the passport-making process below.

Passport Seva Portal

The Passport Seva Portal is the official government website where you can complete your online passport application. Managed by the Ministry of External Affairs, the portal offers various services, such as filling out forms, booking a passport appointment and tracking the application status. You can access it through the link www.passportindia.gov.in.

1. Visit the Passport Seva Portal and register by providing your basic details. You will need to create a login ID and password.
2. After registering, log in to the portal using your credentials. Go to the "Apply for Fresh Passport/Reissue of Passport" option under the Services tab.
3. Complete the application for a passport by filling in all the required information. Make sure that you double-check the details.
4. PSP 2.0 also lets you upload your ICAO-compliant photo, signature and supporting documents on the portal itself, which cuts down the paperwork handled at the appointment counter.
5. Once you've filled in the form, submit it online. After submission, you will be directed to choose a passport appointment date and time at your nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK).
6. Pay the passport fee online through the available payment methods. You will receive a confirmation email with your passport appointment details.
7. On the appointment day, visit the PSK/POPSK with all the required documents. You will undergo biometric verification, and the officials will process your application for a passport.
8. If your local PSK has gone live, you’ll simply get a chip-enabled booklet instead of the older paper-only one.
9. Track the status of your application for a passport through the portal until your passport is dispatched.

The mPassport Seva App is a mobile-based platform launched by the Indian government to make the passport-making process even more accessible. You can apply for a passport online, download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

1. Download and install the mPassport Seva App from the app store on your mobile device.
2. Register using your mobile number or email. Once registered, log in to access various services, including the option to "Apply for Passport."
3. Complete the online passport application by filling in all necessary personal details. Be sure to upload any supporting documents as required.
4. After completing the form, schedule your passport appointment at the nearest Passport Seva Kendra or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra.
5. Pay the passport fee using the in-app payment gateway. A confirmation of your appointment will be sent to you via SMS or email.
6. On the appointment date, visit the designated center with your documents for verification and biometrics.
7. Track your application for a passport using the app until your passport is ready for dispatch.

Applying for an Indian passport offline is not a common practice anymore in most urban areas. The government is gradually shifting the entire passport-making process to digital methods for efficiency and ease for all applicants. However, in areas where people may not have access to the internet or face technical difficulties, assistance is available.

In such cases, you can visit your nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK). The officials there will help you with the application for your passport. They can assist in filling out the online form on your behalf and guide you through the entire process, including booking an appointment and submitting the required documents.

The POPSK network has grown past 450 locations, so offline help is now closer for people in smaller towns and rural areas.

This option ensures that even if you do not have digital access, the passport-making process remains accessible to you.

Also Read: Types of Passports in India: Ordinary, Official & Diplomatic

The Ministry of External Affairs switched PSP 2.0 on nationwide across all 37 passport offices, 93 PSKs and 450+ POPSKs from May 2025. The overseas version, GPSP 2.0, followed for Indian missions abroad on 28 October 2025. The main changes are as follows:

• Less paperwork: several affidavit annexures have been dropped or merged, so there’s less to get notarised before you apply.
• Digital police verification: requests and reports now move electronically between passport offices and local police, instead of paper files crawling from desk to desk.
• Stricter photo rules: photos must meet full ICAO standards – a plain white background, a neutral expression, and the correct aspect ratio. Get it wrong, and it’s rejected on the spot, with no resubmission at the counter.
• Fewer annexures: routine items like a gazetted officer’s identity certificate are no longer needed for most standard applications.
• e-Passports live: chip-enabled passports are now issued at 544 centres, with full national coverage still being rolled out in phases.

On top of that, your address can be stored digitally on the e-Passport chip instead of being printed on the booklet page, which gives you a bit more address privacy.

As mentioned above, after completing your online passport application for the passport-making process, you will need to schedule a passport appointment at the nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK). This appointment is an important step in the passport-making process.

During the appointment, you will undergo biometric verification, submit your documents and complete other formalities. For a smooth passport-making process, you need to bring the following documents and items with you to the appointment.

• Printed Appointment Confirmation: You must bring the printed appointment confirmation, which contains the date and time of your scheduled visit.
• Proof of Identity: A valid ID proof, such as an Aadhaar card, Voter ID, or driving licence.
• Proof of Address: Documents such as your Aadhaar card, utility bill, or rental agreement to verify your current address.
• Under PSP 2.0, your address can now be stored digitally on the e-Passport chip instead of being printed on the booklet page, giving applicants greater address privacy.
• Proof of Date of Birth: Your birth certificate, secondary school certificate (SSC), or any other accepted document showing your date of birth.
• Passport Application Form: Though you apply online, it's a good idea to bring a copy of the form for reference.
• ICAO-compliant photograph: a recent photo on a plain white background that meets ICAO’s exact size and pose rules. This is the image that goes on the chip, so if it doesn’t comply, it’s rejected straight away.
• Supporting Documents: Additional documents may be required based on your specific case, such as marriage certificates or employment letters.
• The good news is that several previously required annexures have been removed for standard applications, so there are fewer notarised documents to prepare in advance.
• Passport Fee Receipt: Bring the receipt of the payment you made during the online passport application process.

Also Read: What Are the Documents Required for Passport Application?

The fees for your application for a passport depend on various factors, including the type of passport you are applying for, the service speed (regular or Tatkal), and any additional services you might need. The passport-making process also includes charges for both fresh and reissued passports.

Here’s the revised fee structure that took effect on 1 July 2026. The Ministry of External Affairs notified it under the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, replacing Schedule IV of the Passports Rules, 1980, in a notification dated 20 June 2026:

Children up to 8 years and senior citizens above 60 still get a 10% discount on fresh passport fees. Note that this discount only applies to fresh applications, not to reissues or renewals.

One thing to watch: anything submitted before 1 July 2026 is charged under the old rates. Validity itself hasn’t changed: 10 years for adults and 5 years or until age 18 for minors, despite the higher fees.

Once you complete the online passport application and attend your passport appointment, the processing time begins.

Under PSP 2.0, normal applications usually clear in 7 to 14 working days, while Tatkal stays at 1 to 3 working days. A big reason for the quicker turnaround is risk-based, digitally linked police verification. Low-risk, repeat, or already-verified applicants can be cleared faster through data sharing between passport offices and police databases, rather than a manual, physical check for every case.

The processing time may vary based on factors like police verification and regional passport office workload. You can track the status of your passport-making process online through the Passport Seva Portal or the mPassport Seva App.

If your passport is expiring or has already expired, you can easily renew it through the passport online system. The passport-making process for renewal is simple and can be done from the comfort of your home.

Follow the steps below to renew your passport online –

1. Visit the official Passport Seva Portal and log in with your registered account. If you do not have an account, create one by providing your basic details.
2. Once logged in, go to the "Apply for Fresh/Reissue of Passport" option on the dashboard.
3. Select the "Reissue" option and fill out the form with the necessary details, such as your current passport number and expiration date. Ensure that you provide accurate information.
4. With PSP 2.0, a lot of the old renewal annexures and affidavits have been simplified or scrapped. For most people, that means you just upload your proof of identity, proof of address, and old passport.
5. Upload the required documents, such as proof of identity, proof of address and your old passport. These documents are important for the passport renewal online process.
6. After completing the form and uploading the documents, book a passport appointment at your nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK). Choose a convenient date and time.
7. Pay the renewal fee through the online payment gateway and confirm your appointment. You will receive a confirmation email with your appointment details.
8. On the day of your appointment, visit the designated centre with the required documents. Your old passport will be collected, and your biometric data will be verified.
9. After successful verification, track the status of your passport renewal online through the portal or the Passport Seva App until your renewed passport is dispatched.

Worth doing: if your passport is close to expiry or running low on blank visa pages, renew before 1 July 2026 so you’re charged under the earlier, lower fees.

• India has launched a Fast Track Immigration (FTI) scheme to reduce immigration queues for frequent international travellers. It’s run by the Bureau of Immigration.
• What you get: biometric pre-clearance lets enrolled travellers use dedicated e-gates on their return to India, which shaves a lot off the usual wait.
• How to enrol: register on the Bureau of Immigration website or at an FTI desk in a participating airport. They capture your biometrics and verify your documents.
• Where it works: 13 major airports so far, including Delhi (IGI), Mumbai (CSMT), Bengaluru (Kempegowda), Chennai, Hyderabad (Rajiv Gandhi) and Kolkata (Netaji Subhas), among others.

The passport-making process is simpler than ever, thanks to the online systems and easy procedures. As we've discussed, applying for a passport can be done with ease through both online passport application platforms and in-person assistance at Passport Seva Kendras.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind — ensuring that all documents are accurate, booking your passport appointment in advance, and tracking the status of your passport application regularly. Make sure to follow the steps carefully and enjoy the convenience of the modern passport-making process.