What You Need to Know About the New Passport Rules in India
New Passport Rules have been announced as a part of amended passport rules by the Ministry of External Affairs. According to the notification released on 24 February 2025, the Ministry has revised the passport requirements, and the new rule will be effective after its publication in the official Gazette.
Major Changes as per New Passport Rules
The major changes that are already in effect and a few that will soon come into effect are listed below:
- Birth Certificate Requirement: Individuals born on or after 1 October 2023, will need to submit birth certificate issued by the Registrar of Births and Deaths, the Municipal Corporation, or any other authorised body under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act 1969 as per the new passport regulation. The new rule is not applicable for individuals born before this date.
- The Last Page of the Passport will not have the Residential Information: To prevent revealing personal information of the passport holder, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has decided not to print the person’s residential address on the last page. The details of the passport holder can be retrieved by the immigration official by scanning the barcode on the passport.
- Colour Change of the Passport: Passports will be issued in three different colours for the following categories:
- Red: Diplomats , White: Government officials , Blue (Previously Orange): ECR (Emigration Check Required) & ECNR (Emigration Check Not Required)
- Name of Parents will not be Printed: In cases such as children of single parents and names of estranged mother or father, names will not be printed on the last page. Clarity is expected from the parents while applying for application.
- Online Police Verification: The traditional police verification system is replaced by the online process which will be processed by the CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems Project) in association with the MEA.
- Expansion of Passport Seva Kendras: As per the new changes in passport rules, the number of Post Office Passport Seva Kendras will increase from 442 to 600 in the next five years.
Passport Rules that are already in Effect
The major changes done by the MEA that are already in effect are as follows:
- Post Police Verification: This facility is applicable for Tatkal scheme and regular candidates can avail this facility free of cost. The entire process including police verification, application process, and passport issuance takes 21 days.
- Substitute of Birth Certificate: According to the new rules, following documents can be provided as the substitute of birth certificate:
- School leaving certificate, matriculation certificate, or transfer certificate
- Life insurance policy with birth date
- Name of one of the parents or legal guardians
- Reduced Annexes: Annexes are self-declaration form, which no longer needs attestation. Annexes A, C, D, E, J, and K have been removed and some are merged to reduce the processing time.
- Married or Divorced Individuals: Marriage certificate or the name of the spouse is not required as annexure K is removed according to the new passport rules.
- Urgent Passports for Jobs: For urgent passports, government employees can submit a self-declaration form, if the employees are unable to get a No Objection certificate (NOC) or identity certificate from their employers.
Passport Resources
- Passport Infromation
- Passport Application Online
- Passport Login
- Passport Application Form
- Passport Renewal
- Documents for Passport
- Passport Enquiry
- Check Passport Status
- Police Clearance Certificate
- Passport Renewal Process
- Tatkal Passport
- Passport Dispatch Status
- Police Verification for Passport
- Passport Address Change
FAQs on New Passport Rules
- Will an individual's parent's name be printed on a passport?
No. As per the new changes, new passports will be issued without the parent's name of the passport holder.
- What are the changes in the colour of the passport?
Orange coloured passports will be issued to passport holders who have an ECR status.
- Is it mandatory for an applicant to give the names of both parents during the application process?
No, it is not mandatory for an applicant to give the names of both parents during the application process.
- How to get a passport for mentally retarded person without address proof traveling abroad for treatment?
The applicant needs to apply for a passport along with the submission of parent’s address and date of birth proof of the applicant. Passport will be issued after approval of specific Competent Authority.
- If parents have passport with adverse Police Verification Report or they have a criminal background, can passport be issued to minor on urgent basis?
Passports can be issued to the minor in such case, passport to be applied for Takal scheme and passport will be issued only after the approval of competent authority.
News on Passport Rules
Birth certificates will be mandatory for new applicants as per new passport rules
The Ministry of External Affairs has introduced new rules as a part of the amended Passport Rules under which new passport applicants will need to submit proof of birth. This new rule was announced according to a notification released on 24 February 2025 and will come into effect after publication in the official Gazette. As per the new rule people born on or after 1 October 2023 will need to submit birth certificate issued by the Municipal Corporation, the Registrar of Births and Death, or any other authorised body under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act 1969. This new rule does not apply for individuals born before this date.
As per the new rules, the residential address of the applicant will not be printed on the final passport page, and it will be accessed by the Immigration officer by scanning the barcode embedded in the document. Parent’s name will also be removed from the passport’s last page, that aids the children from separated families. The amended passport rule also includes expansion of Passport Seva Kendras from 442 to 600 in the next five years.
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