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Government Services

How to Apply for a Passport Online: Steps, Documents and Fees

Register on Passport Seva, fill the form, pay online and book a PSK slot. A 36-page adult passport costs ₹2,500 from 1 July 2026.

VD

Written by Vikram Desai

Published 28 September 2026·7 min read

On this page9 sections
Credsir Government Services guide cover with a id card icon

To apply for a passport, register on the Passport Seva portal, fill in the form, pay the fee online and book an appointment at a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office PSK. Take your original documents to the appointment. A normal 36-page passport for an adult costs ₹2,500 from 1 July 2026, and new passports are issued as chip-based e-passports.

Key facts

Item Detail
Where to apply passportindia.gov.in or the Passport Seva mobile app
Fee, 36 pages, adult ₹2,500 normal; ₹5,000 Tatkaal
Fee, 60 pages, adult ₹3,500 normal; ₹6,000 Tatkaal
Validity 10 years for adults; 5 years or until 18 for minors
Payment Online only, before booking an appointment
Visit deadline Within 90 days of submitting the online form
Photograph Taken at the PSK; bring one only for a child below 4
Helpline 1800-258-1800

Who can apply and passport types

Any citizen of India can apply, whether by birth, by descent or by registration or naturalisation. Most people need an ordinary passport, which has a deep blue cover.

Choose the application type carefully:

  • Fresh: you have never held an ordinary passport.
  • Re-issue: you have held one before, even if it expired years ago or was issued when you were a child. Re-issue also covers a change in personal details, a lost or damaged passport and a booklet with no pages left.

Adults get a passport valid for 10 years. A minor’s passport is valid for 5 years or until the child turns 18, whichever is earlier. Minors aged 15 to 18 can choose a 10-year passport instead.

You can apply at any Passport Office in India, not only the one covering your home. Police verification is still done at the address you give in the form. Post Office PSKs, however, do not accept applicants whose present address lies outside that Regional Passport Office’s area.

Documents: address and date of birth proof

You need proof of present address and proof of date of birth. Carry originals plus one set of self-attested photocopies.

Proof of present address (any one)

  • Aadhaar card or e-Aadhaar
  • Water, electricity, landline or postpaid mobile bill
  • Gas connection proof
  • Election Commission photo ID card
  • Income tax assessment order
  • Rent agreement
  • Photo passbook of a running account with a scheduled public sector bank, scheduled private Indian bank or regional rural bank
  • Letter from the employer, if it is a public limited company, on letterhead with seal
  • Spouse’s passport, if the address matches; parent’s passport for a minor

Aadhaar is accepted as both address and photo-identity proof, subject to validation with the Aadhaar database, and the portal says it speeds up processing. Make sure your Aadhaar details are current; our guide on updating the mobile number in Aadhaar helps if OTPs are going to an old number.

Proof of date of birth

If you were born on or after 1 October 2023, only a birth certificate issued under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 is accepted.

If you were born before 1 October 2023, any one of these works:

  • Birth certificate from the Registrar of Births and Deaths or municipal corporation
  • School leaving, transfer or matriculation certificate showing date of birth
  • PAN card
  • Service record extract or Pay Pension Order, for government servants and pensioners
  • Driving licence
  • Voter ID card
  • LIC or public company policy bond showing date of birth

The PAN card, service record, driving licence and voter ID count only if they show your exact date of birth.

Extra documents in some cases

ItemDetails
Minorsboth parents should sign Annexure D. If one parent’s consent cannot be obtained, a declaration in Annexure C is needed. Address proof in a parent’s name is accepted.
Re-issuethe old passport with self-attested copies of its first two and last two pages.
Name changeproof of the change, such as a gazette notification. See our guide to name change through the gazette.
Tatkaaladults must add any three documents from the Tatkaal list, and minors any two. Tatkaal applicants also sign an undertaking.

Online application steps

  1. Go to passportindia.gov.in and click Register. Create a login ID.
  2. Log in. On the dashboard, click Services, then the Apply for Fresh Passport/Re-issue of Passport card.
  3. Fill in the form sections in order: Passport Type, Applicant Details, Family Details, Address Details, Emergency Contact, Previous Passport and Other Details.
  4. Check the Passport Preview and complete Details Verification, then submit.
  5. On the View Saved/Submitted Applications screen, click Pay and Schedule Appointment.
  6. Pay by credit or debit card, net banking or UPI, then pick a PSK or Post Office PSK and a slot.
  7. Note your Application Reference Number (ARN). The SMS with appointment details is accepted as proof, so a printout is optional.
  8. Visit the centre on the date with your original documents and copies. Staff check documents, take your photograph and capture biometrics.
  9. Wait for police verification and dispatch. Track progress with your file number on the portal.

You can reschedule or cancel an appointment only twice within a year of the first appointment date, and a Tatkaal appointment only once. If you do not visit within 90 days of submitting the form, you must submit it again.

The Ministry of External Affairs warns that fake websites charge extra for filling passport forms. Use only passportindia.gov.in or the official Passport Seva app.

Fees: normal and Tatkaal

The Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026 revised fees from 1 July 2026. Before that, a 36-page passport cost ₹1,500 and a 60-page one ₹2,000.

Service Normal fee Tatkaal total
Fresh or re-issue, 36 pages, 10-year validity ₹2,500 ₹5,000
Fresh or re-issue, 60 pages, 10-year validity ₹3,500 ₹6,000
Minor, 36 pages, 5-year validity ₹1,750 ₹4,250
Replacement of lost, damaged or stolen passport, 36 pages, 10-year validity ₹5,000 ₹7,500
Replacement of lost, damaged or stolen passport, 60 pages ₹6,000 ₹8,500
Police Clearance Certificate ₹750 Not available
  • The Tatkaal charge is ₹2,500 on top of the normal fee.
  • Fresh applications (not re-issues) get a 10% rebate on the basic fee for children aged 8 or below and people above 60.
  • Fees are non-refundable. A payment stays valid for one year from the first appointment date.
  • Tatkaal is not offered at Post Office PSKs.

Use the Fee Calculator on the portal to confirm the amount for your case before paying.

Police verification and time taken

Most fresh passports are issued only after police verification. Tatkaal passports are issued first and verified later, and are dispatched within 1 to 3 days of the PSK visit, according to the portal’s FAQs. Normal applications take longer. If you apply to re-issue a passport that expired more than three years ago, fresh police verification is done.

The e-passport and Passport Seva 2.0

Passport Seva Programme version 2.0 went live across India on 26 May 2025, covering 37 Passport Offices, 93 PSKs and 450 Post Office PSKs. Indian missions abroad moved to the new system on 28 October 2025. The upgrade added AI chat and voice bots, a redesigned website and app, document upload and UPI or QR code payments.

An e-passport has a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip and antenna inside the booklet. The chip holds your personal and biometric details, digitally signed so immigration officers can check them. You can spot one by a small gold symbol below the front cover.

DD News reported in November 2025 that all new passports will now be electronic. You do not need to swap an existing passport: it stays valid until it expires. If you are travelling soon after your passport arrives, our travel money guides by country cover cash and card options.

Frequently asked questions

What documents do I need to apply for a passport?

One proof of present address, such as Aadhaar, and one proof of date of birth, such as a birth certificate or PAN card. Anyone born on or after 1 October 2023 must give a birth certificate.

What is the passport fee in 2026?

From 1 July 2026, a normal 36-page adult passport costs ₹2,500 and a 60-page one ₹3,500. Tatkaal adds ₹2,500.

Can I apply for a passport without Aadhaar?

Yes. Aadhaar is one of several accepted address proofs, though the portal says it speeds up processing.

Do I need to carry a photograph to the PSK?

No. Your photograph is taken at the centre. Only children below 4 need a 4.5 x 3.5 cm photo with a white background.

Should I apply as fresh or re-issue if my old passport expired long ago?

Apply for re-issue. If it expired more than three years ago, fresh police verification will be done.

Do I have to replace my old passport with an e-passport?

No. Existing passports stay valid until their expiry date.

Sources

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