e-Passport Sevice- Now your passport has become smart. Actually, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has launched Passport Seva Program 2.0. With this, e-passport has now been implemented across the country. This was announced on the 13th Passport Seva Diwas. Giving information about this, he wrote on his X account that e-passport has been started across the country and this is a big achievement for the country. Let us know every small and big detail about it and find out who can apply for it and how.

What is e-passport?

The e-passport has a contactless chip, with the help of which the immigration and travel process at the airport becomes very fast and easy. Regarding this, Foreign Minister Jaishankar also said that through the mPassport Police App, the time of police verification has now been reduced to only 5 to 7 days. Currently, the facility of e-passport has been started in Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Jammu, Panaji, Shimla, Raipur, Amritsar, Jaipur, Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Hyderabad, Surat and Ranchi. Soon this facility will be implemented in the whole country.

Who can apply?

Every Indian who is eligible to get a passport can apply for e-passport. Actually, this service has started in some cities at present but soon it will be implemented in the whole country and e-passport will become the only standard. To get an e-passport, you will need documents like Aadhar card, PAN card, bank passbook, electricity/water/gas bill etc. To prove your date of birth, you may need documents like birth certificate, Aadhar card, voter ID, driving license, matriculation certificate etc.

How to Apply?

  1. First of all go to Passport Seva Online Portal and register yourself.
  2. Now login to the portal and click on the link “Apply for Fresh Passport / Re-issue of Passport”. Keep in mind that if you are getting a passport for the first time, then choose the Fresh Issuance option.
  3. Now fill in the information asked in the form and submit it. Fill in all the information only after cross checking it.
  4. Go to the “View Saved/Submitted Applications” section and click on “Pay and Schedule Appointment”. Please note that it is mandatory to make online payment here, only then an appointment will be booked at PSK, POPSK or post office.
  5. If you do not want to visit the passport office, you can also call a mobile passport van to your address for verification. Provided that service should be available in your area. To know more about this, visit this link.
  6. After the application is submitted, you will get a receipt which will contain your ARN or appointment number. Apart from this, you will also get appointment details through SMS. Keep them safe, because you will have to show them at the passport office.
  7. Now go to the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Regional Passport Office (RPO) on the appointment date with your original documents and complete the physical verification process. If you have chosen the option of verification at your address, then the passport van will come to your address and verify the documents.