Most people get a bit confused over whether reissue and renewal of passport mean the same thing in India? But in India, passports are not renewed but instead, they are re-issued. That means, the old passport is cancelled and then a new passport is given to an applicant with a validity of 10 years, starting from the date of issue. That is why passport renewal and passport reissue means the same thing in India, thanks to the fact that both terms can be used interchangeably.
How to reissue passport in India?
You can apply for passport reissue just in case you want another passport or if the existing one has expired. But it is always good to note that a passport cannot be reissued more than a year before its expiry date. Here are some of the reasons that call for passport reissue in India.
- A change in the existing personal particulars
- If your passport’s validity expired / due to expire
- If your passport is damaged
- If you lost your passport
- Exhaustion of pages
Methods of applying for passport through online
Nowadays, the passport renewal application process is available online in most states throughout the country. There are mainly two methods used for passport renewal in India. They are namely-
- Online form submission
- e-form submission
Reissue Of Passport Time Taken
It largely depends on the particular reason as to why you want to be reissued with a passport. But generally, the passport reissue process takes less time. Since all your information is already with the passport office, then the whole process of passport renewal or reissue requires less time. The process further depends on the speed of passport processing by the regional passport office. Normally, the process takes about 20-25 days.
Validity due to Expiry -Renewal Of Indian Passport Before Expiry Date
What should I do when my passport is scheduled to expire in one year?
In such a case, you can apply for passport reissue one year before the expiry of your existing passport, as long as there aren’t any changes in your personal details.
You can apply for your passport renewal anytime although it is always a good idea to apply for passport renewal six months before the expiry date. Most countries don’t issue VISA for applicants whose passports with less than six months of validity.
Passport Renewal after Expiry
First, you need to fill up a passport application form and then apply for reissue of your passport. After that, submit the completed application at the nearest PSK within the jurisdiction of the Passport Office. Remember to carry the original as well as a photocopy of your old passport together with all the supporting documents bearing proof of your current address. And in case your passport got expired more than three years ago, then police verification may be required in such a case.
Important information on the Indian passport renewal process
- Documents needed for Indian passport renewal can vary depending on the application case. Nevertheless, some recommendations are mandatory for all the applicants under the new system. For instance, all applicants including infants are required to show up at the PSK (Passport Seva Kendra) to give out their photographs and biometrics (fingerprints).
- When filling up your passport application form, ensure details such as your full names and proof of identity/address match the ones that appear on your old passport.
- Don’t forget to add the name of your spouse in the passport application form if you are married. Otherwise, failure to include your spouse’s name may be perceived as concealment of information, which could result in criminal prosecution or penalty. Likewise, if the old passport had the name of your spouse yet the reissue application form does not contain the name of your spouse, then ensure the necessary documents (death/ divorce certificate) are attached to the application form.
- While giving references in your application, choose references who reside in the same neighborhood/community as you do. While the passport renewal/reissue website says applicants can give reference of someone from the city, this may not work particularly for applicants from a big city like Mumbai. In most cases, police insist that applicants must strictly give references of their neighbors only.
- Moreover, give the correct police station in your application to avoid any error that may likely delay your police verification. Keep in mind that passport authorities won’t be able to guide you when filling up such details.
- Give as many documents as you can. Although the document advisor on the passport website will usually suggest that you give just a single document as proof of your address, it is however highly recommended you give as many documents as possible for identity/address proof. In most states across India, the Aadhar card that is more than a year old can be used as proof of identity/ address. But ensure the address and the name matches the one on the application form.
- In India, Ration card cannot be accepted as a proof of identity or as a document of proof of residence when an applicant is submitting their passport application. All applicants are supposed to submit their present address only as proof of their address. This is regardless of the date of which the applicant has been living at the given address. But the applicant is required to detail all the places they have resided in for the previous one year.
