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==India-Pakistan passport==
[[File:India-Pakistan passport.jpg|thumb|right|India-Pakistan passport issued in 1963]]
Passport regime only started between the two countries from 1952. Citizens of both India and Pakistan did not need a visa or were issued one on arrival till the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|Second Kashmir War]]. Before the war, citizens of both countries could freely travel to each other's countries, despite the fact that both had gone to [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947|war in 1947]] over the princely state of Kashmir.<ref>https://www.dawn.com/news/1283918</ref> '''India-Pakistan passport''' was a special passport issued for travel between India and Pakistan by the governments for visits, tournaments and pilgrimage. It acted as a special visa meant for visiting Pakistan and India only. Sikhs visiting Pakistan for pilgrimage were also issued this special passport by the Pakistan High Commission, India.<ref>http://thesongbirdonmyshoulder.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-red-india-pakistan-passport.html</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/india/comments/6i7tz3/found_this_rare_indiapakistan_passport_in_my/</ref>


==Gallery of historic images==
==Gallery of historic images==

Revision as of 16:49, 12 October 2017

Indian Passport
भारतीय पासपोर्ट
The front cover of a contemporary Indian passport.
TypePassport
Issued by India
First issued1920 (first version)
1986 (current version)
PurposeIdentification
EligibilityIndian citizenship
Expiration10 years after acquisition for those aged 18 or more; otherwise 5 years
CostAdult (36 pages): ₹1,500[1]
Adult (60 pages): ₹2,000[1]
Minor (36 pages): ₹1,000[1]
Note: If the application for a new passport is made under the Tatkaal (expedited processing), the additional Tatkaal fee of ₹2,000 is to be paid in addition to the regular application fee.[1]

An Indian passport is a passport issued by order of the President of India to Indian citizens for the purpose of international travel. It enables the bearer to travel internationally and serves as proof of Indian citizenship as per the Passports Act (1967). The Passport Seva (Passport Service) unit of the Consular, Passport & Visa (CPV) Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, functions as the central passport organisation, and is responsible for issuing Indian passports on demand to all eligible Indian citizens. Indian passports are issued at 93 passport offices located across India and at 162 Indian diplomatic missions abroad.[2]

In 2014, India issued more than 10 million passports, a number exceeded only by China and United States.[3] Approximately 60 million Indians hold valid passports as of November 2014.[4]

Types of passports

  • Ordinary passport (dark blue cover) is issued to ordinary citizens for ordinary travel, such as for vacation, study and business trips (36 or 60 pages). It is a "Type P" passport, where P stands for personal.
  • Official passport (white cover) is issued to individuals representing the Indian government on official business. It is a "Type S" passport, S standing for service.
  • Diplomatic passport (maroon cover) is issued to Indian diplomats, top ranking government officials and diplomatic couriers. It is a "Type D" passport with D standing for diplomatic.

In addition, selected passport offices in India as well as overseas missions are authorized 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 Puducherry. These two passports respectively permit travel to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka only and are not valid for travel to other foreign countries.

Tatkaal and SVP

Tatkaal passports (for urgent needs),[5] and Short validity passports (SVP)[6] are also available, and these are generally considered Ordinary passports once issued.

Physical appearance

Contemporary ordinary Indian passports have a black or deep bluish-black cover with golden coloured printing. The Emblem of India is emblazoned in the centre of the front cover. The words "पासपोर्ट" in Hindi and "Passport" in English are inscribed above the Emblem whereas "भारत गणराज्य" in Hindi and "Republic of India" in English are inscribed below the emblem. The standard passport contains 36 pages, but frequent travellers can opt for a passport containing 60 pages.

Identity Information Page

Bio-data page of an Indian passport issued since 2015
Bio-data page of an Indian passport issued prior to 2015
  • The Bio data page contains the following information:
    • Type: "P"- Stands for "Personal", "D"- Stands for "Diplomatic", "S"- Stands for "Service"
    • Country code: IND
    • Passport number
    • Surname
    • Given name(s)
    • Nationality
    • Sex
    • Date of birth
    • Place of birth
    • Place of issue
    • Date of issue
    • Date of expiry
    • Photo of passport holder
    • Ghost picture of the passport holder (only passports issued since 2015)
    • Signature of the passport holder
    • The information page ends with the Machine Readable Passport Zone (MRZ).
  • The Demographics page at the end of the passport book contains the following information:
    • Name of father or legal guardian
    • Name of mother
    • Name of spouse
    • Address
    • Old passport number
    • File number

Passport note

The passports contain a note from the President of India addressing the authorities of all territories:

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 order of the President of the Republic of India

इसके द्वारा, भारत गणराज्य के राष्ट्रपति के नाम पर, उन सब से जिनका इस बात से सरोकार हो, यह प्रार्थना एवं अपेक्षा की जाती है कि वे वाहक को बिना रोक-टोक, आज़ादी से आने-जाने दें, और उसे हर तरह की ऐसी सहायता और सुरक्षा प्रदान करें जिसकी उसे आवश्यकता हो ।

भारत गणराज्य के राष्ट्रपति के आदेश से दिया गया

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

Languages

The text of Indian passports is printed in both Hindi and English, two official languages of the Union.

Emigration check

A page in the Indian passport with Emigration check note.

Holders of Emigration Check Required (ECR) type passports need a clearance called an Emigration Check from the Government of India's Protector of Emigrants when going to selected countries on a work visa. This is to prevent the exploitation of Indian workers (especially the unskilled and less-educated) when going abroad, particularly to Middle Eastern countries. ECR type passport holders travelling on a tourist visa do not need a clearance; this is known as an Emigration Check Suspension.

Emigration Check Not Required (ECNR) status passports are granted to:

  • Indian nationals born abroad;
  • Indian nationals holding at least a matriculation certificate;
  • all holders of diplomatic or official passports.
  • all gazetted government servants;
  • all income-tax payers (including agricultural income-tax payers) in their individual capacity;
  • all graduate and professional degree holders (such as doctors, engineers, chartered accountants, scientists, lawyers, etc.);
  • spouses and dependent children of category of certain holders of ECNR passports;
  • seamen in possession of a CDC;
  • Sea Cadets and Deck Cadets who have:
    • passed their final examination on a three-year B.Sc. Nautical Sciences Course at T.S. Chanakya, Mumbai; and
    • undergone three months' pre-sea training at any of the government-approved training institutes such as T.S. Chanakya, T.S. Rehman, T.S. Jawahar, MTI (SCI), or NIPM, Chennai, after production of identity cards issued by the Shipping Master at Mumbai, Kolkata, or Chennai;
  • persons holding a Permanent Immigration Visa, such as visas issued by the UK, USA, or Australia;
  • persons possessing a two years' diploma from any institute recognized by the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) or the State Council of Vocational Training (SCVT), or persons holding a three years’ diploma or equivalent degree from an institution such as a polytechnic recognized by the central or a state government;
  • nurses possessing qualifications recognised under the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947;
  • all persons above the age of 50 years;
  • all persons who have been staying abroad for more than three years (whether in one continuous period or in aggregate), as well as their spouses;
  • all children up to the age of 18 years.

In accordance with a ruling by the Ministry of External Affairs, passports issued from 2007 onwards do not have the ECNR stamp affixed; instead, a blank page 2 of the passport is deemed to have been ECNR endorsed. As a result, only ECR stamps are now affixed to Indian passports. For passports issued before January 2007, no notation in the passport means ECR. For passports issued in or after January 2007, no notation in the passport means ECNR. If Emigration Check is Required, there will be an endorsement in the passport regarding ECR.

Features

Since 25 November 2015, Indian passports that are handwritten or with an original date of expiry extending to 20 years have not been valid under ICAO travel regulations.[7] With more recent Indian passports the personal particulars of the passport holder, that were hitherto printed on the inner cover page, are printed on the second page of the document. Another added security feature in the newer non-handwritten passports is a ghost picture of the holder found on the right side of the second page. Apart from stymieing criminals from printing fake passports, recent changes also help prevent smudging of the document because of inkjet printers.[8][9]

Fees

The price of a standard passport in India:[10]

  • ₹1500- Fresh or Renew passport (36 pages, standard size) with 10 year validity.
  • ₹2000 - Fresh or Renew passport (60 pages, 'jumbo' size) with 10 year validity.
  • ₹3500 - First time applicant or renewal with expedited ('tatkaal') service (36 pages) with 10 year validity.
  • ₹4000 - First time applicant or renewal with expedited ('tatkaal') service (60 pages) with 10 year validity.
  • ₹1000 - Fresh passport for minors (below 18 years of Age) with 5 year validity or till the minor attains the age of 18, whichever is earlier.
  • ₹3000 - Duplicate passport (36 pages) in lieu of lost, damaged or stolen passport.
  • ₹3500 - Duplicate passport (60 pages) in lieu of lost, damaged or stolen passport.

Indian passports can also be issued outside India, for which fees varies by country.

Issuance

Passport Seva Kendra

Further information: List of Passport Offices in India

In September 2007, the Indian Union cabinet approved a new passport issuance system under the Passport Seva Project. As per the project, front-end activities of passport issuance, dispatch of passports, online linking with police, and Central Printing Unit for centralised printing of passports will be put in place. The new system is trying to be 'timely, transparent, more accessible and reliable manner' for passport issuance. The applicant has to apply for fresh/reissue of passport through the Passport Seva system at one of the 77 Passport offices known as "Passport Seva Kendra"s operating throughout the country.

Biometric passport

India has recently initiated the first phase of biometric e-passport for Diplomatic passport holders in India and abroad. The new passports have been designed locally 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 the first phase new passports will have a 64KB chip carrying a photograph of the passport holder and in subsequent phases it will have a fingerprint. The new passport has already been tested with passport readers in the United States and has 4-second response time, while the US Passport has 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 readers, after which it would generate an access code which then unlocks the chip for reader access.[11]

In India the e-passport is under its first phase of deployment and is restricted to Diplomatic passport holders. On 25 June 2008 the Indian Passport Authority issued the e-passport to the then President of India, Pratibha Patil.[12] As of 2016, the Government has plans to issue e-passports to all of its citizens. Also the Government has authorized Indian Security Press to float a global three-stage tender for procurement of ICAO-compliant electronic contactless inlays along with its operating system, which is required for the manufacture of Bio metric Passports.[13] The necessary procurement have been initiated by India Security Press, Nasik by calling for Global tender for the supply of electronic contactless inlays.[14] The actual transition to the new age passport is expected to commence on the successful completion of the tendering and procurement process.[15]

Visa requirements

Main article: Visa requirements for Indian citizens
Visa requirements for Indian citizens
  India
  Visa free
  Visa issued upon arrival
  Electronic/Pre Arrival Authorisation or eVisa
  Visa available both on arrival or online
  Visa required prior to arrival

Visa requirements for Indian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of India. As of 1 January 2017, Indian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 49 countries and territories, ranking the Indian passport 87th in terms of travel freedom (tied with Guinea-Bissauan and Turkmen passports) according to the Henley visa restrictions index, which is based on data supplied by IATA.[16]

Foreign travel statistics

According to the statistics these are the numbers of Indian visitors to various countries per annum in 2015 (unless otherwise noted):

  1. ^ a b c d Data for 2014
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw Data for 2016
  3. ^ a b c d e Counting only guests in tourist accommodation establishments.
  4. ^ Data for arrivals by air only.
  5. ^ Data for 2012
  6. ^ a b Data for 2013
  7. ^ a b Data for arrivals by air only.
  8. ^ Total number includes tourists, business travelers, students, exchange visitors, temporary workers and families, diplomats and other representatives and all other classes of nonimmigrant admissions (I-94).

India-Pakistan passport

India-Pakistan passport issued in 1963

Passport regime only started between the two countries from 1952. Citizens of both India and Pakistan did not need a visa or were issued one on arrival till the Second Kashmir War. Before the war, citizens of both countries could freely travel to each other's countries, despite the fact that both had gone to war in 1947 over the princely state of Kashmir.[97] India-Pakistan passport was a special passport issued for travel between India and Pakistan by the governments for visits, tournaments and pilgrimage. It acted as a special visa meant for visiting Pakistan and India only. Sikhs visiting Pakistan for pilgrimage were also issued this special passport by the Pakistan High Commission, India.[98][99]

  • Indian Empire passport issued during the colonial days
    Indian Empire passport issued during the colonial days
  • Passport issued by the Dominion of India (1947-1950)
    Passport issued by the Dominion of India (1947-1950)
  • Cover of a passport (1986)
    Cover of a passport (1986)
  • Indian Diplomatic passport and Indian Official passport
    Indian Diplomatic passport and Indian Official passport

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d India passport fees
  2. ^ "MEA CPV Division". CPV.
  3. ^ India ranks third in issuing passports accessed 29 January 2016
  4. ^ http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/pdf/Public_Advisory.pdf
  5. ^ Tatkaal passports. "Tatkaal passports". www.passportindia.gov.in. CPV, Government of India. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  6. ^ "Passport Seva Miscellaneous Queries". passportindia.gov.in. CPV, Government of India. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  7. ^ the Times of India website article accessed 29 January 2016
  8. ^ [1]
  9. ^ [2]
  10. ^ "Indian Passport Fees" (PDF). Government of India. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  11. ^ NDTV.com: After US tests, India to get first e-passport
  12. ^ "India to introduce biometric passports next year". secureidnews.com. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  13. ^ "India to introduce biometric passports to all of it's Citizens". Ministry of External Affairs, Parliament Q&A -1724. 27 July 2016.
  14. ^ "Indian Security Press Global Tender for Supply Electronic contactless inlays" (PDF). Indian Security Press- Nashik, Tender No-54/2016-17. 27 July 2016.
  15. ^ "India looks to Biometric Passports". Security Documentworld.com. 28 July 2016.
  16. ^ "Global Ranking - Visa Restriction Index 2017" (PDF). Henley & Partners. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  17. ^ Statistical Yearbook p. 91
  18. ^ Anuário de Estatística do Turismo
  19. ^ [3]
  20. ^ Tourism Statistics for Antigua and Barbuda
  21. ^ Visitors by country of residence
  22. ^ [4]
  23. ^ Number of foreign citizens arrived to Azerbaijan by countries
  24. ^ "Tourisme selon pays de provenance 2016".
  25. ^ [5]
  26. ^ "TOURISM STATISTICS Cumulative data, January – December 2016" (PDF). Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  27. ^ Tourism Statistics Annual Report 2015
  28. ^ "Anuário Estatístico de Turismo 2017 - Ano Base 2016". Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  29. ^ Tourism Statistics Report
  30. ^ Service bulletin International Travel: Advance Information, December 2016
  31. ^ Air Visitor Arrivals - Origin & General Evolution Analysis
  32. ^ [6]
  33. ^ China Inbound Tourism in 2015
  34. ^ The data obtained on request. Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo de Colombia
  35. ^ [7]
  36. ^ Anuario de Turismo
  37. ^ [8]
  38. ^ 2015 Visitors Statistics Report
  39. ^ [9]
  40. ^ [10]
  41. ^ International arrivals 2016
  42. ^ Tourismus in Zahlen 2016, Statistisches Bundesamt
  43. ^ Visitor Arrivals Statistics
  44. ^ TOURISM IN HUNGARY 2016
  45. ^ [11]
  46. ^ VISITOR ARRIVALS(1), BY COUNTRY OF CITIZENSHIP, Central Bureau of Statistics
  47. ^ IAGGIATORI STRANIERI NUMERO DI VIAGGIATORI
  48. ^ Monthly Statistical Report December 2016 Vol xxvi No 12
  49. ^ - 2015 Foreign Visitors & Japanese Departures, Japan National Tourism Organization
  50. ^ Туризм Казахстана. 2.4 Количество посетителей по въездному туризму
  51. ^ Tourism in Kyrgyzstan
  52. ^ [12]
  53. ^ [13]
  54. ^ 2013 Arrivals by nationality Table 10.1
  55. ^ Visitor Arrivals Statistics
  56. ^ [14]
  57. ^ [15]
  58. ^ http://www.tourism.gov.mv/?wpdmdl=10474
  59. ^ ANNUAIRE 2014
  60. ^ Tourist arrivals by country of residence
  61. ^ Visitantes internacionales por vía aérea por principal nacionalidad
  62. ^ Table 4. Foreign tourist arrivals and overnight stays by countries, 2014
  63. ^ "Myanmar Tourism Statistics 2015" (PDF). Central Statistical Organization. Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  64. ^ Tourism Statistics 2015 p.20,31
  65. ^ Toerisme in perspectief 2017
  66. ^ [16]
  67. ^ Number of Tourists to Oman
  68. ^ [17]
  69. ^ [18]
  70. ^ The data obtained on request. Ministerio de Comercio Exterior y Turismo
  71. ^ [19]
  72. ^ 2016 Annual Tourism Performance Report
  73. ^ [20]
  74. ^ Tourism purpose only.
  75. ^ [21]
  76. ^ [22]
  77. ^ [23]
  78. ^ [24]
  79. ^ [25]
  80. ^ [26]
  81. ^ Entradas de turistas según País de Residencia
  82. ^ TOURIST ARRIVALS BY COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE 2016
  83. ^ Tourist Arrivals By Country Of Residence 2015
  84. ^ Swaziland Tourism Statistics - Arrivals by country
  85. ^ Visitor Arrivals by Residence
  86. ^ International Tourist Arrivals to Thailand By Nationality 2016
  87. ^ [27]
  88. ^ [28]
  89. ^ "Foreign citizens who visited Ukraine in 2016 year, by countries".
  90. ^ General statistics for the Emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai
  91. ^ Abu Dhabi Statistics
  92. ^ Dubai Statistics, Visitor by Nationality
  93. ^ Overseas Residents Visits to the UK 2016
  94. ^ Yearbook of Immigration Statistics
  95. ^ Tourism Statistical Digests
  96. ^ Tourism Trends and Statistics Annual Report 2015
  97. ^ https://www.dawn.com/news/1283918
  98. ^ http://thesongbirdonmyshoulder.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-red-india-pakistan-passport.html
  99. ^ https://www.reddit.com/r/india/comments/6i7tz3/found_this_rare_indiapakistan_passport_in_my/
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