Wondering how to apply for an Indian Passport by NRI?
If you are an NRI of Indian origin or working outside India and wonder how to apply for an Indian Passport by NRI? Then this article is surely meant for you. I will request you to read the article till the end if you are unaware of the procedure for applying for an Indian passport. Without a passport, one cannot travel abroad as passports help in verifying the nationality and identity of a person. Even if you are a person of Indian descent born outside India still you can apply for an NRI passport. The article below comprehensively discusses how to apply for an Indian passport by NRI? So, let’s dive into the discussion without consuming further time.
What is a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Passport?
First of all, you need to know that NRIs are the people of Indian Descent or Indian origin who live outside India. If you fall in the category of NRI and want to get your Indian passport, you can apply for an NRI passport. The NRI passport works as an identity that verifies your nationality. An NRI Passport will verify that you are a Non-Resident Indian who is living or working outside the Republic of India. A passport verifies one’s country of citizenship and it contains important details like the name, Date of Birth, physical characteristics, gender, etc. of a person.
What is a Short Validity Passport?
Short validity passports as the name suggests are the passports issued with a short validity. The validity of a short validity passport can be up to one year to five years and it is issued under special circumstances like the following: –
- If the passport is not delivered.
- If you have any pending criminal case then depending on the charges, permission from the court, and documents the embassy will decide if they want to provide you Short Validity Passport or not.
- It is allotted to the students who are going outside India for International examinations.
- Overseas residing Indians who want to visit India for a short trip.
Guidelines for filling NRI Passport application
There are certain guidelines issued by the Government of India, that one needs to keep in mind while filing an online NRI Passport application. The guidelines are as follows: –
- The applicants who are eligible for an NRI Passport can do online registration to apply for a passport.
- Strictly avoid using any special characters while filling in your online registration form details.
- Enter the date in the prescribed format only and the prescribed format is DD/MM/YYYY.
- Enter all your information very carefully because it cannot be modified once you finalize the application. That’s why it would be best to ensure that the data you are entering at the registration time is correct.
- If you mistakenly register the wrong data at the time of registration then you need to register again with the correct data. Don’t forget to get the printouts with fresh file numbers.
- You should only attach your thumb impression or signature in the prescribed box.
- Always write print fields in block letters only.
- If you are a minor applicant then your parents are not allowed to sign in the box.
- If you forget to take the printout the first time then you can get a copy of the already registered application by tapping on the option of “Reprint Registered Form” by supplying the file number (online registration number) and date of birth.
- You need to fill in “Reprint Registered Form” the file number (online registration number) and date of birth while using the reprint registered form.
How to apply for an NRI passport?
Remember that to apply for an NRI passport you need to have details of your US legal Status and in the case of a minor, the parents need to attest their passport.If you lost your original passport, you need to contact and inform Indian Embassy or consulate in your jurisdiction. Besides this avoid printing documents on both sides it will lead to rejection of your application.
Follow the below-given instructions to apply for an NRI Passport: –
Step 1: You can initiate the passport application process by typing www.passport.gov.in/nri/ in your web browser.
Step 2: The link will navigate you to the official online NRI Passport application portal.
Step 3: Tap on the option of “Online Registration Form”.
Step 4:A new page will open on your device. The online registration portal will ask you some questions, you need to meticulously answer all those questions.
Step 5: The registration page will contain a temporary application ID. Now you will get your document checklist,passport fees, temporary number, and processing time. Carefully read the document checklist as it will contain the documents, letters, and forms you need for your NRI passport application.
The portal will also inform you whether you need the original documents or a copy of the original documents. Besides this, the portal will tell you if you need to self-attest or notarized the documents. Note down your temporary number at a safe place as it will help you in returning to your application later in case you accidentally get disconnected.
Step 6: Next, you need to fill in the necessary details asked by the portal. After filing the details, you need to review and check the completed forms and letters.
Step 7: Navigate to the My Account page and print the form. Now you need to sign the forms and letters at their designated place. Besides this check which documents need to be self-attested and which have to be notarized.
Step 8: Now, attach a photograph to your application. You must attach one photograph to your online passport application form & your change of appearance/signature form & the photographs should be coloured.
Remember to keep your signature or thumbprint under the box as it will be scanned and printed in your passport. The illiterate applicants can put their left thumb impression in the column of signature. In case your left thumb is permanently damaged or is not fit for use then you can put your right thumb impression but you have to inform this at the bottom by making a note stating that it is your right thumbprint. Conditions are the same for minors they also have to attest their signature or thumbprint, parents are not allowed to sign on behalf of their minor kids.
Note: Use only blue or black ball pen for signature.
Step 9:The second last step is the payment for the Indian Passport application. An individual has four payment options i.e. banker’s check, money order, cashier’s check or pay the order. Here you need to remember that each individual has to make separate payments and you cannot bundle together the payments. Besides this, you can make payment only by the above four methods. Payments through cash or personal checks will not be accepted and entertained in any scenario.
The Government Online NRI Application Form portal will provide you with a new application reference number. You can use this number to return to your application if you get disconnected from your application.
Step 10:After completing your application you can switch to Cox & Kings Global Services (CKGS) website. Here you have to use the government web reference number that you received at the time of payment. Besides the web reference number, you will need to provide your E-mail address, Date of Birth, contact number, and current Indian passport number.
Step 11: You can do online registration for an NRI passport but for submitting the application you have two options: An individual can submit an Indian passport application either by walking in or by shipping. So,The next step requires you to choose the method of submitting your Indian passport application.
If you want to submit your application through walk-in then you have two options in that case. In walk-in, you have to choose whether you want an appointment for application submission or an appointment for form filling.
You can confirm your appointment online by selecting your appointment date and preferred time slot. Once your appointment is confirmed you will be receiving confirmation and you can submit your Indian passport application on the confirmed date and time.
In case you prefer submitting your Indian passport application through shipping then you can ship your complete application through International Packing and Crate (IPAC).
Before submitting your application keep the following things in your mind: –
- You need to arrange all your filled forms and signed documents in the format prescribed in the document checklist.
- Check all the documents and confirm that you have self-attested and notarized the respected documents.
- Before putting the documents inside the envelope for final submission tick the boxes in the document checklist to confirm the submission of all the demanded documents.
- And lastly, your Indian Passport application form will be finalized as soon as your physical application package will be received by the authorities.
What is the difference between renewing and reissuing of NRI Passport?
A person is required to renew the passport if the passport is reaching its expiry date. Here you must know that an Indian Passport is valid for ten years and one can renew it for another ten years. So, in case, your passport is reaching its ten-year expiry date it would be best to renew it for another ten years. Keep in mind that you should apply for renewal of your Indian Passport one year before its expiry because the passport is required to have a minimum of six months of validity for hassle-free traveling.
An individual needs to apply for a reissue of an Indian passport if he/she gets fails to apply for a renewal of his passport before 1 year of expiry or Expiring of Passport Validity. In simple words, you need to apply for a reissue of your passport if it gets expires. It means that an expired passport cannot be renewed and only needs a reissue. If you apply for renewal of your Indian passport then your passport number will remain the same but it will change if you apply for reissue. Besides this, you need to apply for a reissue of your Indian passport in case of exhaustion of pages, amendment in personal particulars, or if the passport is lost.
Documents required for renewing and reissue of NRI Passport
The portal will provide you with the list of the documents that need to be submitted with the application form. Still,some common documents are generally submitted along with the application form they are given below: –
Documents required for Renewing NRI Passport
You need to submit the following documents if you are applying for the renewal of your NRI Passport: –
- Firstly, you need to submit your original old passport.
- Proof of your educational qualifications.
- Proof of permanent address in India.
- You need to submit your marriage certificate if you are married.
- In case you want to endorse the name of your spouse in your passport you need to submit their passport too.
- Next, you have to submit a utility bill, residence permit, etc as overseas address proof.
- If you want to change your name, address, or other particulars then you need to submit proof documents of the new details.
- You are supposed to submit travel tickets if you are applying for a tatkal passport.
Documents required for Reissuing NRI Passport
For applying for a reissue of the NRI Passport an individual needs to submit the following details: –
- For the reissue of the NRI Passport, you are required to submit your original old passport.
- Secondly, you need to submit the photocopy of the first two and last two pages that include the Emigration Check Required (ECR) and Non-ECR page, the page of observation (if there is any) made by the passport issuing authority, and lastly validity extension page (if any) in case of short validity passport.
- Remember that the photocopy of the above-given pages should be self-attested.
Procedure for renewing or reissuing NRI Passport
The renewal and reissue of an NRI Passport is a three-step process that includes online application/registration, a physical visit to Passport Seva Kendra (PSK), and lastly police verification. We will discuss all the processes below one by one.
Stage one: – Online Application/Registration
You can apply for renewal or reissue of your passport through the online portal of the NRI passport by typing www.passport.gov.in/nri/ in your search browser. For applying for renewal or reissue you need to have the following details: –
Firstly, you need to select the type of application. You have the option of filling the application online or you can simply download the application and upload it after filling it. After filling out the form you need to book an appointment for a physical visit at the Passport Sewa Kendra (PSK). Lastly, you need to print the application receipt to show it to Passport Sewa Kendra PSK.
Stage 2: – Passport Sewa Kendra (PSK)
For the physical visit to Passport Sewa Kendra, one needs to book an appointment. The PSK will entertain you only if you have any appointments so ensure to select a date and time before visiting PSK. At PSK, the individual will need to verify their documents so ensure that you carry all the stipulated documents. On Counter A your photograph and biometrics will be taken and updated then you need to navigate to Counter B for verification of documents. And lastly, at Counter C you will receive further guidance and approvals for application submission.
Stage 3: – The Police Verification
The police verification is done before the passport issue under normal circumstances but in the case of tatkal applications, the police verifications are followed by the passport issue. It means that in the tatkal application passport is issued first and police verification is done after that. The police verification is mandatory if you are applying first time for the NRI Passport. It means that police verification is not mandatory in case of renewal or reissue of a passport.
Following are the circumstances under which police verification is required: –
- If you are reissuing your NRI passport within three years of expiry and your address and other particulars are unchanged then there is no need to police verification. But if you want to change your permanent address or other details then police verification is must needed.
- Police verification is mandatory if you are applying for a reissue of your NRI Passport after three years of its expiry.
- You will need to have police verification in case your application has any discrepancies.
Fees charged for renewal or reissue of NRI Passport
In India, The fee for application of passport is Rs. 1000 (for minors under Normal option) & Rs. 1500-2000 (for adults under Normal option) and additional Rs.2000 tatkal fee (in case of tatkal applications).If you are applying for renewal of your NRI Passport then you don’t need to provide any charges. However, you will be charged approximately around 2000 Rs. or 4000 Rs. in case of reissue of normal or tatkal NRI Passport.
Processing Time Taken for Passport Renewal
- In Case of Normal Option, it takes around 30-60 Days
- In Case of Tatkal, it takes around 3-7 Days.
Final verdict
That was all about how to apply for an Indian Passport by NRI? we believe you will be easily able to fill out your NRI Passport application form after reading this article. In case you still have any doubts regarding an NRI passport then please feel free to ask your queries in the comment section. We will try to address all your NRI passport-related questions at the earliest. Your comments are heartily invited in the comment section for further improvement in the future. You are requested to subscribe to the website to get updates about more useful articles like this. Till the time wish you all happy reading.