Indian passport

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Cover of Indian Passport

Indian passports are issued to citizens of India for the purpose of international travel. It acts as proof of Indian nationality. Indian passport. The Consular Passport & Visa (CPV) Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, functioning as the central passport organisation, is responsible for issuance of Indian passports to all eligible Indian citizens. Passports are issued from 33 locations across the country and 160 Indian missions abroad.

Types of passports

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Types of Indian Passports

• Regular Passport (Navy Blue cover) - Issued for ordinary travel, such as vacations and business trips (36 or 60 pages)
• Diplomatic Passport (Maroon cover) - Issued to Indian diplomats, top ranking government officials and diplomatic couriers.
• Official Passport (White cover) - Issued to individuals representing the Indian government on official business

In addition, select passport offices in India as well as overseas missions are authorised to issue Regular Indo-Bangladesh passports and Indo-Sri Lankan passports, to Indian nationals resident in West Bengal, the North Eastern States, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. These two passports permit travel to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka only and are not valid for travel to other foreign countries. While the Indo-Sri Lankan passport continues to be issued, the Indo-Bangladesh passport is in the process of being phased out, with no new Indo-Bangladesh passports being issued after 2006. Holders of the Indo-Bangladesh passport were permitted visa-free access to Bangladesh by land border crossings, which holders of regular Indian passports were not.

Physical appearance

Indian Passports have a navy blue cover, with the Emblem of India emblazoned in the center of the front cover. The words Hindi: "पासपोर्ट" and English: "PASSPORT" inscribed above the Emblem and Hindi: "भारत गणराज्य" and English: “REPUBLIC OF INDIA” inscribed below the Emblem. The standard passport contains 36 pages, but frequent travelers can opt for 60 pages (as noted above).

Passport holder identity

Indian passports have identity information printed on both front and back cover ends. Both of these pages are laminated to prevent modification.

• The opening cover end contains the following information:

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Personal Data First Page of an Indian Passport

• • Photo of Passport Holder
  • Signature of the Passport Holder
  • Type (P)
  • Country Code (IND)
  • Passport Number
  • Surname
  • Given Names
  • Nationality (INDIAN)
  • Sex
  • Date of Birth
  • Place of Birth
  • Place of Issue
  • Date of Issue
  • Date of Expiry

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Personal Data Last Page of Indian Passport

The information page ends with the Machine Readable Passport Zone.

• The closing end contains the following information:

• • Name of Father/Legal Guardian
  • Name of Mother
  • Name of Spouse
  • Address
  • Old Passport No. with Date and Place of Issue
  • File No.

Passport Note

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Indian Passport Note Page

The passports contain a note from the issuing state that is addressed to the authorities of all other states, identifying the bearer as a citizen of that state and requesting that he or she be allowed to pass and be treated according to international norms. The note inside of Indian Passports states:

These are to request and require in the name of the President of the Republic of India all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance, and to afford him or her, every assistance and protection of which he or she may stand in need.

By the order of the President of the Republic of India

The note bearing page is typically stamped and signed by the issuing authority in the name of the President of Republic of India.

Emigration Check

ECNR Stamp

Most Indians need a stamp by Ministry of Labour certifying suspension of emigration check requirement. It is counter-signed by the Protector of Emigrants.

Languages

The textual portions of Indian Passport are printed in both Hindi and English.

Fees

The cost of obtaining a standard passport

• INR 1000 - Fresh Passport (36 pages) of 10 years validity.
• INR 1500 - Fresh Passport (60 pages) of 10 years validity.
• INR 600 - Fresh Passport for Minors (below 15 years of Age) of 5 years validity or till the minor attains the age of 15 which ever is earlier.
• INR 2500 - Duplicate Passport (36 pages) in lieu of lost, damaged or stolen passport.
• INR 3000 - Duplicate Passport (60 pages) in lieu of lost, damaged or stolen passport .

Visa-free/Visa-on-Arrival Travel Access for Indian Passport Holders

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According to visa and passport information from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), many countries and territories provide visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to holders of Republic of India passports (details in table under).

It is estimated that 45 countries and territories granted visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to ordinary Indian passport holders. Only 20 countries and territories are visa-free accessible. Visa prior to arrival or pre-arrangement required for countries or territories not mentioned below.

Where visa-free access is permitted, such access is not necessarily a right, and admission may technically be at the discretion of border enforcement officers. Visitors engaging in activities other than tourism, including unpaid work, may require a visa or work permit.

Diplomatic and Official Passport Holders

Countries and Territories	Conditions of access
Argentina	Visa Required [1]
Armenia	Visa Required [2]
Bangladesh	Visa Required [3]
Belarus	Visa Required [4]
Brazil	Visa Required [5]
Myanmar	Visa Required [6]
Cambodia	Visa Required [7]
Chile	Visa Required [8]
Colombia	Visa Required [9]
Croatia	Visa Required [10]
Cyprus	Visa Required [11]
Denmark	Visa Required [12]
Germany	Visa Required [13]
Guyana	Visa Required [14]
Hong Kong	14 days Visa free [15]
Hungary	Visa Required [16]
Israel	Visa Required [17]
Japan	90 days Visa free for Diplomatic passport holders[18]
Kazakhstan	30 days Visa free for Diplomatic and Official passport holders[19]
Laos	30 days Visa free for Diplomatic and Official passport holders[20]
Malaysia	90 days Visa free for Diplomatic and Official passport holders[21]
Maldives	90 days Visa free for Diplomatic and Official passport holders[22]
Mauritius	90 days Visa free for Diplomatic and Official passport holders[23]
Mexico	90 days Visa free for Diplomatic and Official passport holders[24]
Mongolia	90 days Visa free for Diplomatic and Official passport holders[25]
Nepal	Visa free for Diplomatic and Official passport holders[26]
Paraguay	90 days Visa free for Diplomatic and Official passport holders[27]
Peru	90 days Visa free for Diplomatic and Official passport holders[28]
Philippines	30 days Visa free for Diplomatic and Official passport holders[29]
South Korea	90 days Visa free for Diplomatic and Official passport holders[30]
Romania	90 days Visa free for Diplomatic passport holders[31]
Russia	90 days Visa free for Diplomatic and Official passport holders[32]
Singapore	Visa free for Diplomatic and Official passport holders[33]
South Africa	90 days Visa free for Diplomatic and Official passport holders[34]
Tajikistan	30 days Visa free for Diplomatic passport holders[35]
Thailand	30 days Visa free for Diplomatic and Official passport holders[36]
Turkey	90 days Visa free for Diplomatic passport holders[37]
Uruguay	30 days Visa free for Diplomatic and Official passport holders[38]
Venezuela	90 days Visa free for Diplomatic and Official passport holders[39]
Vietnam	90 days Visa free for Diplomatic and Official passport holders[40]

Africa

Countries and Territories	Conditions of access
Burundi	Visa issued on arrival[41]
Cape Verde	Visa issued on arrival [42]
Cameroon	Visa on arrival can only be issued to those holding a prior approval from Le Diligue General de L'Immigration [43]
Comoros	Visa issued on arrival[44]
Djibouti	visa required for DJF5,000[45]
Egypt	Visa issued on arrival (Sinai Only) [46]
Eritrea	On arrival 1 month (renewable for 2 months), provided request has been made by sponsor to Eritrea Immigration [47]
Ethiopia	Visa issued on arrival[48]
Haiti	Visa issued on arrival [49]
Kenya	Visa issued on arrival[50]
Liberia	visa issue on arrival if holding telex confirmation from station manager [51]
Madagascar	Visa issued on arrival [52]
Mauritius	Visa issued on arrival [53]
Mozambique	Visa issued on arrival [54]
Seychelles	1 month [55]
Sierra Leone	Visa issued on arrival[56]
Tanzania	Visa issued on arrival [57]
Togo	Visa issued on arrival [58]
Uganda	Visa issued on arrival [59]

Americas

Countries and Territories	Conditions of access
Haiti	Visa not required. 3 months[60]
Jamaica	14 days[61]
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Visa not required. 3 months [62][63]
British Virgin Islands	Visa not required. 30 days [64]
Costa Rica	Visa not required. 90 days if holding a valid visa or permanent residence certificate issued by U.S.A., Canada, Japan, U.K., Schengen Convention countries, Australia or New Zealand [65]
Grenada	Visa not required [66]
Ecuador	Visa not Required.30 days
Bermuda	Visa not requried. 21 days
Turks and Caicos Islands	Visa not requried. 30 days
Cuba	Allowed to visit Cuba with a Tourist Card. Tourist Card can be obtained from the airline that flies you to Cuba

Asia

Countries and Territories	Conditions of access
Bhutan	2 weeks [67]
Cambodia	30-day visa issued on arrival for US$20 (Tourist Visa) US$25 (Business Visa) [68]
Hong Kong	14 days [69]
Indonesia	Visa-on-arrival 7 Day - 10 US$, 30 Day - 25 US$[70]
Iran	Visa-on-arrival 14 Day - 50 US$ [71]
Macau	30 days [72]
Malaysia	5-day Transit visa if transiting through Kuala Lumpur to a third country. Third country destination ticket is required as a proof.
Maldives	30 day visa issued on arrival [73]
Nepal	Free movement of people [74]
Oman	Visa issued on arrival { provided having purchased a tour operator package that includes both hotel accommodation and air ticket (involving a national carrier from Oman) } [75]
Sri Lanka	30 days [76]
Taiwan	30 days if holding a valid visa or permanent residence certificate issued by U.S.A., Canada, Japan, U.K., Schengen Convention countries, Australia or New Zealand. [77]
Thailand	15-day visa issued on arrival [78]
East Timor	30-day visa issued upon arrival for US$30 [79]

New Passport Issuance System

In September 2007, the Indian Union Cabinet approved a new passport issuance system under a project called Passport Seva Project. As per the project, front-end activities of passport issuance, dispatch of passports, online linking with police, Central Printing unit for centralized printing of passports will be put in place. The new system is aimed at 'timely, transparent, more accessible and reliable manner' for passport issuance.

e-Passport (Biometric Passport)

India has just recently initiated first phase deployment of Biometric e-Passport for Diplomatic Passport holders in India and abroad. The new passports have been designed indigenously in India by the Central Passport Organisation, the India Security Press and IIT Kanpur, it contains a security chip with all personal data and digital images. In first phase new passports will have 64KB chip which contains personal photograph of passport holder and subsequently it will have a fingerprint. The new passport has already tested with passport readers in United States and have 4 second of response time which is 2/5th of US Passport 10 second response time. It need not be carried in a metal jacket for security reasons, it will first need to be skimmed through a reader, after which it would generate an access code which then unlocks the chip for reader access.

On 25 June 2008 Indian Passport Authority issued first e-passport to President of India, Pratibha Patil. e-passport is under first phase of deployment and is restricted to Diplomatic Passport holders.In September 2009 it maybe be available to other people.

See also

• Indian Nationality Law
• Overseas Citizenship of India

External links

• Indian Passport Office (CPV official website)
• How to apply for an Indian passport
• IATA Visa guide
• Wikivisa: India
• Delta Visa Guide