If you are also planning a foreign trip or keeping an eye on passport-related news, then you must have heard about e-passports. It is a secure and modern form of the Indian Passport, in which your information is digitally protected. If you also have many questions in your mind about it, like how it looks, how it works, and how to apply for it, then this article will prove to be very useful for you. Here we will try to know the answer to almost every question related to e-passports so that your foreign travel can become even smoother and safer.
What does an e-passport look like and how does it work
An e-passport looks exactly like a normal passport. The biggest difference in this is that a small microchip is attached to the cover page of the passport. This is the chip in which the personal information of the person is protected.
This chip contains all your important personal information such as:
Biometric Data:- It includes your facial recognition and other physical characteristics.
Fingerprint:- Your fingerprints are stored in digital form.
Personal Information:- Your name, address, date of birth, and other details are stored in digital format.
This chip appears as a small, golden symbol at the bottom of the passport, which helps to identify that it is an e-passport. The actual chip is safely embedded inside the passport.
Who can apply
Anyone can apply for an e-passport, whether you are making a new passport or renewing your old passport. However, it is important to note that if the e-passport facility has not yet started in your city or area, you will not be able to get it right now. The government is gradually expanding this facility across the country.
Application process for e-passport
Applying for an e-passport is exactly like applying for a normal passport, there are just some technical changes in it. First of all, you have to go to the official website of Passport Seva passportindia.gov.in. This is the portal from where all passport-related services are provided. If you have not yet registered on this portal, then you have to first register yourself by clicking on ‘New User Registration’. Users who are already registered can directly log in with their username and password by clicking on ‘Existing User Login’. After logging in, you have to choose the ‘Apply for Fresh Passport/Re-issue of Passport’ option.
Here you will get an online application form, in which you have to enter all your personal information and details related to the documents. Fill in all the information carefully. After submitting the form, you will have to make an appointment for your nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK). This is where your documents will be verified. Choose the date and time as per your convenience from the available slots for appointment.
On the scheduled appointment date, you will have to visit the Passport Seva Kendra or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra. There all your original documents will be verified. This will include your identity, address proof, and other necessary documents. This is where your biometric data (such as fingerprints and facial photographs) will also be taken. After the document verification and other processes are completed, your e-passport will be printed and delivered directly to your home address by post. To track this entire process, you can also check the status of your application on the website.