The Indian government has begun issuing e-passports equipped with advanced security features across the country. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, all passports issued from now on will be e-passports. This new e-passport is considered to be significantly more advanced than the old passport in many ways. It includes an RFID chip, encrypted biometrics, and other security features that will speed up verification at immigration counters and make counterfeiting a passport virtually impossible.
The e-passport will be similar in appearance to the old passport, with the same number of pages, but with a small electronic chip embedded in its cover. This chip will digitally store the passport holder’s name, photo, fingerprint, and other personal details. A machine at any airport in the world can read this chip within seconds. The data contained within it will be digitally signed and cannot be altered.
Fraud will be curbed, and the process will be simplified
The new e-passport is an excellent solution to prevent fraud and counterfeiting. If someone forges a passport, machines will immediately detect it. In contrast, current passports have all the information handwritten or printed on them. The immigration process with existing passports is also time-consuming. The new e-passport will significantly simplify this entire process. Current passports require waiting in long lines at checkpoints. However, with the introduction of e-passports, waiting in long lines will be reduced, and entry and exit will be much easier for travelers.
What will happen to old passports, and when will they receive a new e-passport
After the news of the new e-passport being issued, many people are concerned about what they should do with their old passports. The government has clearly stated that the old passport will remain valid until its validity expires. You will receive an e-passport only if you personally go to renew it. If you have issued or renewed a new passport on or after May 28, 2025, your new passport will be an e-passport. The government has also clarified that there is no need to immediately replace old passports. The e-passport service was initially launched in a few cities but is now being implemented nationwide. In the coming months, only e-passports will be issued from every passport office.
e-passport progress and digital service centers
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, 8 million e-passports have been issued in India so far, and more than 60,000 e-passports have been issued by Indian missions abroad. The Ministry is also opening Passport Seva Kendras (Passport Seva Kendras) in every Lok Sabha constituency across the country. 511 centers have been opened so far, and plans are to open these centers in the remaining 32 Lok Sabha constituencies soon.
There are 37 Regional Passport Offices, 93 Passport Seva Kendras, and 451 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras operational under the Passport Seva Program version 2.0, launched in May 2025. Its global version, GPSP V2.0, was launched on October 28, 2025. This new system will include AI chatbots, voice bots, and integration with DigiLocker, Aadhaar, and PAN, making document verification even easier.