quickly renew your Indian passport
Just last month, we remembered that my son’s passport was expiring and we needed to renew it as soon as possible. We thought of taking the ‘Tatkal’ option which would give us the passport in 3 working days but it wasn’t allowing us to select that alternative. So, we went with the ‘normal reissue’ option. When we received the passport in 1 working day, we were amazed and astonished. We were also proud to experience the fact that India is progressing!
Naturally, I had to gloat about this and inform the uninformed how they can eliminate the use of brokers, middlemen and extra monetary expenses as much as possible. So, here are the 5 simple steps to quickly renew your Indian passport yourself:
I got to know that many citizens are not even aware that our government has a website to apply for a fresh passport or re-issue the same. The official website is Passport Seva where you will have to create an account with your email address and select an appropriate password for it. Once you log in, under Applicant Home, select the right option for your passport work.
Download the Passport Application Form and save it as an XML file once you have filled in your details. Upload the same along with the required documents.
To upload supporting documents, go to View Saved/Submitted Applications, select the Applicant Name, click on the Application tab below and select Upload Supporting Documents. Select the type of document you want to submit as proof. There is a limitation on the size of files that can be uploaded so make sure all your files are saved accordingly.
The Document Advisor service is quite a helpful source to understand what documents you will require to upload as well as take with you to the passport office. Generally, for minors, you will need a birth certificate, address proof of parents, passport of parents, Annexure D, etc. In case you have uploaded the documents wrongly, you can always go to Upload Supporting Documents under the Application tab to delete and re-submit.
Go to View Saved/Submitted Applications, select the Applicant Name, click on the Payment & Appointment tab below and select Pay & Schedule Appointment to pay the fee. More details on the different ways to make payments are given in the NOTES section.
Save the receipt of payment as a PDF file on your laptop just in case. There is no need to print it as you will receive a confirmation of the same as an SMS on your registered mobile number. That is enough proof to show at the passport office entrance. If you need to change the appointment date & location for any reason, you can go back to the Payment & Appointment tab to choose the closest passport office and do the needful. Some of the passport offices DO NOT give you permission to choose the date, so be alert while booking your slot.
Ensure that you carry 2 copies of each document submitted to the website (along with the originals, of course).
Plan your trip to the passport office efficiently. For metropolitan cities, keep in mind the traffic and roadblocks due to construction and leave your house early in order to reach 15 minutes before your appointment time. After you enter the office and go through the security check, the first counter reviews all your documents and gives you a Token Number which will be your identity until you are done with the whole process.
First, you will have to go to Service Area A. Check your Counter Number (against your Token Number) on the screen and stand in line. Submit your papers, get your photograph clicked, give your fingerprints and collect your final documents.
Second, you will have to go to Service Area B to get your documents approved.
Lastly, Service Area C is to check all your submissions, old passports, parents’ current passports (in case of minors), resemblance to photographs and cancellations of the old passports, if any. Amazingly, we were done with this process in exactly an hour as it was in the middle of the pandemic. On other days, the duration will depend on the crowd but the process is all in place.
Believe it or not. We were out of the passport office at 11 am the previous day and our passports were delivered to us at 11.30 am the next day. It took less than 24 hours to get our newly printed passports and we were amazed!
We had no address change or anything, so, it was a smooth process. If you don’t mind visiting the passport office, it is a good way to avoid confusion and unnecessary expenses that occur when a middleman is involved.
We also got emails and SMSs every time we completed our work in a particular service area at the passport office. The whole experience was totally impressive and unbelievable! So, if you’re up to it, and new to all this, follow the step-by-step instructions above to renew your passport or make a fresh one and let me know if my blog helped you. Would love your feedback!
Do you renew your passport with the Passport Seva directly or go through an agent? What were the pros and cons of doing it with a middleman?
25 Comments
Excellent Information Cindy. Would be quite helpful to those who are thinking to mke their Passport
Aha! We did this 2 years ago for my passport! I was bowled over by the simple and hassle free process of renewing the passport without any agent and all on my own! In fact, I got it the next day!
Yup, we too, Shilpa.
We have been renewing our passports online and I like how easy and swift the process has become now. Earlier a daunting task is now so easily doable online.
Very impressive, right, Hansa?
What perfect timing for this blog, I have been googling about it for the last four days. Thank you for sharing this. Bookmarking it and will be sharing it with my better half too.
I hope it helps you, Kavita!
These are some great tips and you have jotted down all the important aspects. Paying and scheduling Most of us know but directly getting the passport renewed once you enter could be very useful for first timers.
Thanks, Swati, do forward it to those who would benefit from the same.
This post came in St the right time. I’m actually looking to renew my passport and i think now is the best time given that you’ve mentioned it takes less time.
I hope it helps you, Sindhu. It was pretty easy.
Hahha! This post is too funny! The mask, though annoying, does have its advantages!
Hehehe! Yeah, true!
I actually killed 2 birds with one stone – when I was pregnant, I changed my official name and also extended the passport! Was so easy to do!
Wow, that’s good, Noor.
With digital booking, passport renewal is a smooth process plus with so many functional counters the time taken is less. Your post is right guide for renewal of passport. I have also recently done it and found the whole procedure easy.
Yes, MeenalSonal, I was too amazed by it and had to write about it.
We too got our passports renewed online, and new one for my son, it was so simple and easy much better than how we got them some 10 years ago. thanks for sharing the details
Anytime, Gunjan, anytime.
We have re new the passport for my little one few months ago and followed all the steps you have mentioned. you have shared the whole process in easy to understand manner. indeed a useful post for those who are not aware of whole process.
Yes, Surbhi, hope you share it with your friends and family.
This is an excellent information Cindy. I am sure, during pandemic, many must be having trouble in passport renewal and then waiting to get it quickly. I am going to share this information with my relatives in India. And yes, it is good to see that India is progressing.
It is, indeed a moment of pride, Alpana.
This Cindy is very helpful.I need to get my daughter’s passport made and I feel encouraged to try online now.
Follow the steps and do it without a sweat, Amrita!