How to Fill in the Indian Passport Application Form

Important Criteria Before Starting Indian Passport Application

Thanks to online facilities, you can complete your passport application from the comfort of your home. Just like booking hotels abroad or buying travel insurance for a country, you can easily apply for your passport from your phone or computer. However, you can do this even more quickly, without any delay if you give some time to understand the process. Here are some tips to keep in mind before you apply for your passport:

Read the 'Getting Started' Section

This may seem like the most basic advice but it will save you a lot of confusion while filling the endless sections later.

What's more, anyone can access this section on the official passport seva website. You don't need to register or have an account to get an overview of the Indian passport application flowchart. Here's a brief overview of what this section will contain:

• Different types of Indian passports and travel documents
• Basic requirements for the passport application, including necessary documents proving your date of birth, ID proof, residence proof, and your nationality proof. You must submit these documents and have them verified at the Passport Seva Kendra.
• A brief about various passport issuing authorities including Central Passport Organisation (CPO), Passport Seva Kendras (PSK), Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSK) and other miscellaneous service providers. Applicants can contact these offices as per their jurisdiction to apply passport or in case of doubts.
• Security protocol and mandatory in-person submission of biometrics, photos and granting decision in applicant's presence.
• Steps for online registration, application filling, passport appointment scheduling and online passport fee payment.
• The section also provides important information about cancelling/rescheduling appointments at the PSK or POPSK. PS: You can only reschedule your Tatkaal appointment once.
• Guidelines regarding fraud alerts, legal implications of false information and ways to track your passport application status.

Register on the Passport Seva Portal

Once you have read all the guidelines, you must register on the Passport Seva Portal. You can create an account by signing up. Using the username and password, log in to your account to start with your passport application.

Select the Service You Need

First-time passport applicants must select the appropriate service they need. They must select the option for ‘re-issuance of a passport or a new passport'. In case you want your passport reissued, pick any of the applicable reasons:

• Exhaustion of pages
• Passport validity lapsed within 3 years or due to expire
• Passport validity expired 3 or more years ago
• Passport damage
• Lost passport
• Changes in personal details in passport. This includes appearance, name/surname, signature, address, delete ECR etc.

Select the Application Type

You can choose between the Normal passport application and Tatkal passport application. Both have different fees.

Select the Passport Booklet

You can choose either a 60-page passport booklet or a 36-page booklet.

Select the Validity

There are multiple options for selecting the validity of your passport:

• Upto 10 years or up to the age of 18 years for minors aged 15-18 years
• 10 years
• 5 years

Provide Applicant's Details

You must provide information in the following fields in the passport application form:

• Name
• Alias or known by any other name
• Any changes in your name
• Date of birth
• Birthplace (country, district and state)* 
• Gender
• Marital status
• Indian citizenship
• PAN & voter card details
• Employment status (Choose from the given options)
• Educational Qualification
• If eligible for Non-ECR
• Any visible distinguishing marks
• Aadhar card number

* Undivided India for those born before August 15 1947

Provide Family Members' Details 

Next, you need to provide the following information related to your family members:

• Name of your Mother and father
• Name of your legal guardian
• Name of your spouse

Provide Important Details for Minor Applicants

Indians below 18 years are considered minors. Minor passport applicants have some additional criteria to fulfil:

• File or passport number of their father/legal guardian
• Nationality details of their father/legal guardian if not Indian citizen
• File or passport number of their mother/legal guardian
• Nationality details of their mother/legal guardian if not Indian citizen

Provide Present Residential Details

Indian passport application also requires:

• Your house number & street name
• Town, city or village details
• District, state/Union territory, police station and PIN code details
• Your contact number & email address
• Specify if your current residential address is the same as your permanent address. Provide details in Column 4 if you select ‘No'

Provide Emergency Contact Details

You must provide the name, residential address, contact number and email address of your emergency contact.

Provide Details of Prior Passport/Application

You must also provide details for the following:

• Identity Certificate Number and details for previous passport if applicable
• Issuance & expiry dates of previous passports
• Place of issue of previous passports
• In the case of a previous passport application but it was not issued. If yes, provide the file number, the month in which you applied, and passport office details.

Provide Misc. Details

• Details of any pending criminal proceedings against you
• Details of any conviction under an Indian court
• If you have been refused a passport
• If you have applied for or been granted a foreign citizenship
• If you have returned to India on an EC (Emergency Certificate)

Provide Fee Details

You must provide the payable fees and the fee payment method of your choice. If paying through a demand draft, provide the DD's issue date, expiry date, number, name and branch of the bank.

Provide Attachments

Attach the relevant documents like Voter ID, birth certificate etc., along with the completed application form.

Self-Declaration

Provide your signature or thumbprint to complete the application form. You also need to provide the place, date, month and year details to complete your online or offline passport application form.

Wrapping Up,

After completing the passport application, you can submit it to the applicable passport office. Once you have received your passport, you can proceed with important international bookings like flights and hotels. As you prepare for your upcoming trip, don't forget to buy overseas travel insurance for your upcoming trip. It will cover a lot of financial emergencies like hospitalisation, medical evacuation, trip cancellation, baggage loss and not to forget – any passport loss!