How to Apply for a Passport online in 4 Easy Steps

In the earlier days, passports served the sole function of being a travel document. Mostly it was only those who went on foreign travels by flight that required passports. It literally took you places by being an irreplaceable necessity. If somebody in the neighborhood applied for a passport, it was assumed that he had plans of flying abroad.

Times have changed. Of late almost everybody has a passport. This deep blue palm-sized booklet with golden letters is issued by the Indian Government and it certifies the nationality of its holder. A passport contains the necessary information to clearly identify its holder. It serves as an ID proof, address proof, and photo ID almost everywhere. It is considered the most reliable proof of identity that is close to impossible to fake.

Wondering How to apply a Passport online? Owing to the increase in the number of applicants, the Indian Government introduced the online application system. This has helped avoid unending queues at passport offices. Instead, there is an Electronic Queue Management System.

All you need to do is to log in to the Passport Seva Kendra website, fill in the required details, upload the necessary documents and pay the processing fee. All of this online! Once done you can schedule an appointment with your Passport Seva Kendra and visit them at the time allotted to you. It is as simple as that!

Before you begin to apply Passport online, there are a few things you will need. A decent internet speed of above 512 kbps without which the process will take way too long. And the applicant’s personal details and documents such as your birth certificate. Here we give you step by step guidance on how to apply for a Passport online.

1. Registering Applicant account

Type in http://passportindia.gov.in on your web browser. You will be taken to the Passport Seva page. On the left side of your screen, you’ll see 4 colored boxes.

A green one for Existing users. A red one for New Users. Blue box to check application status and a yellow box to check appointment availability.

Since you are here to apply for a new passport, first you need to create an account. Click on the red box that says” Register now”.

You will be redirected to the registration page. “Under Register to apply at” select the option that says “Passport office”.  From the drop down menu select the passport that corresponds to your current residential address. For instance, I stay in Kannur but the passport office closest to my location is Kozhikode. So that’s the option I select.

You then enter your Name, date of birth and email id. You can log in with your email Id and create a new password for the account you’ve created.

Click on “Register” button at the end of the form you’ve filled. If you click on “clear” instead, all the details you entered will get erased.

You are now a registered user.

2. Filling in Applicant details

You will be redirected to user home page. Log in and select the option that says “apply for fresh passport”. You will then get two choices.

1. a) You can download the e-form. Take a print out of it. Fill in the details and upload the filled form. Or.
2. b) You can fill the form online whilst connected to the internet.

It will ask you how many pages you prefer your passport to have. It can either have 36 pages or 60 pages. The rate for a 60-page passport is slightly on the higher side. If you will be required to travel frequently, you can opt for a passport with 60 pages.

You will need to fill basic details such as name, surname, and gender on the Applicant Details page. Click on “Save and next”. On the next page, you will be asked for Family details such as mother’s name, father’s name, and details of the legal guardian.

Once you click on save and next, you will be taken to the fourth page which asks for your present residential address. This will require you to fill in the duration for which you have been residing at your current address, the closest police station (for verification) and your contact number.

If your current residential address is the same as your permanent address, choose the option that says yes. If not, you’ll need to enter in details of your permanent residential address as well.

The 6th page you will be taken to is the one for Emergency Contact information. Fill in the emergency phone number as required. This is if in case the number you initially provided is not reachable at the time of police verification. Once entered, save and go to the next page.

In the reference page, you will need to put in name, and address of someone who’ll vouch for you at the time of police verification. This can be a family member, neighbor, employer etc. Save and Next.

The “Previous passport” page will ask for details regarding your previous passport application (if any at all). “Other details” page requires information such as criminal records. On the second last page, you will be asked to verify all the details entered so far.

The final page you need to fill is a self-declaration form.  If you are interested in receiving SMS updates about the status of your passport application, put a tick in the checkbox saying yes by clicking on it.

Submit the form.

3. Making online payment and scheduling an appointment

It will say “Your application has been submitted successfully.” You will be then presented with several options. Choose the one that says “Pay and schedule appointment”. Again, you’ll have options. This time three of them.

You can either make the payment online with the help of your debit/credit card or through net banking.

or

You can get a challan for the amount at your State Bank of India branch

or

You can pay in physical cash directly at the Passport Seva Kendra

If you intend to book a prior appointment to visit the Passport Seva Kendra, it is mandatory to make an online payment.

Those who apply for passport under the Tatkal scheme will have to pay the normal fee online. The rest of the amount payable can be cleared at the Passport Seva Kendra or passport office after the tatkal application is received by the office officials.

You will get your application reference number or ARN.

Select the Passport Seva Kendra that is closest to your location. Fill in the captcha and click on next. Enter your payment details and confirm payment.

You will get to a screen that says “Transaction Successful- Payment made successfully on so and so date”. Take a screen shot of this page.

You will then be redirected to the main page which has the words “Appointment confirmation” with the details you filled earlier below.

Click on “Print Application receipt”

4. Visiting the Passport Seva Kendra office

You need to be at your Passport Kendra office on the predetermined date and time. Carry all your original documents as well as a set of copies of the same. Be sure to self-attest the copies by putting your signature on the pages in the corners.

Be at the office before your scheduled time. Take a token and wait for your number to be announced over the speakers. Make sure that you are well dressed because the photo of yours that they take at the office is going to be on your passport for ten long years.

If you have prior appointments and won’t be able to make it, kindly reschedule your appointment. The new appointment will require fresh payment.

An ordinary fresh passport costs ₹1500. That is the standard sized one with 36 pages and a ten-year validity. Please note that the application process for issue of a fresh passport and renewal of passport is pretty much the same. 

Hope you find the article on How to Apply Passport useful.

This site Complete Details about Aadhar Card may also be useful to you.