The passport serves two purposes: to regain entry to the country of citizenship (i.e. the United States) and is a requirement by many countries to gain entry to the country you are visiting.

A travel visa is an official government document that temporarily authorizes you to be in the country you are visiting.Proof of identity must be presented with all passport applications.

Acceptable forms of identification include an existing passport, naturalization certificate, driver’s license, military ID card or other current government-issued ID. A photocopy of the identity documents also must accompany the passport application.

Passport is issued to an Indian Citizens as a travel document of their identity such as name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth and Nationality by the Consular Passport and Visa (CPV) Division, which comes under the Ministry of External Affairs.

The Passport is issued under the Passports Act, 1967 and can be issued from more than 37 RPO’s/PO’s across India and over 170 Indian missions abroad.A passport is used to verify one’s country of citizenship.

If traveling outside your country, it is used to regain entry into your country of citizenship. Passports include your photo, name, birth date, gender and physical characteristics. For U.S. citizens, some countries only require a passport for re-entry.

The Three Types Of Indian Passports

The three types of passports available in India are –

• The Regular Indian passport
• The Official Indian passport
• The Diplomatic Indian passport

Differences Between The Three Indian Passports

1. The Regular Indian Passport

This is the variety of passport that is issued to common citizens and even VIPs and is used for regular or ordinary travel on personal grounds.

Also called as Type P or P-Type (P indicating personal), this passport comes in booklets of either 36 pages or 60 pages.

These passports do not provide any special privileges to the holder. Regular Passport has a Navy Blue cover and is issued for ordinary travel, such as vacations and business trips.

2. The Official Indian Passport

This passport is typically issued to Govt. employees who are travelling on national duty, typically to represent the country.

Kindly note, such passports are not issued to individuals traveling for overseas assignments, only to people who travel on internationally for official state Business.

Such passports are also issued to individuals who are fully dependent on officials on the Indian Foreign Service (Branch A & B). No special privileges are enjoyed by the holder of an Official passport.

Official Passport has a White cover and it is issued to individuals representing the Indian government on official business.

3. The Diplomatic Indian Passport

Probably the most elite kind of passport, the Diplomatic Indian Passport is given to top ranking govt. officials, consuls, top officials of the Indian Foreign Service travelling on duty, their dependents and essentially, anyone anointed with the status of a Diplomat.

It is to be noted that carrying a Diplomatic passport does not bestow you with Diplomatic immunity, which is something that is bestowed separately.

Diplomatic Passport has a Maroon cover and is issued to Indian diplomats, top ranking government officials and diplomatic couriers.

 Applying for a passport in India is now a simple process only if you know the procedure correctly. Every State has its own Passport office.

Rules for all passport offices are governed by the Central government and hence they are all same. You can apply for your passport from any state that you are residing in irrespective of your place of origin.

Before applying for a passport, it is important to understand the entire procedure and also be aware of things required so that you do not have to run from pillar to post. In order to ease you with the process, here is a detailed procedure of how to get a passport.

Now let’s go step by step as to how one can get a passport.

1. Filing an application – First you have to fill the application form which can be obtained either online or offline. Fill in all the details accurately, without any spelling mistakes and within the boxes provided for the same. Leave a box when one word or name is complete.

2. Taking appointment – Register online and take an appointment. You will be given a particular date and time to appear in the passport office with your documents and application form.

3. Preparing the documents – A must thing to do is keep all your documents ready to avoid last minute hassles. You will need address proof, ID proof and other supporting documents (if you cannot furnish primary documents) along with their self-attested photocopies.

Affidavits or Annexures are to be properly filled, Notary-attested or Magistrate-attested and enclosed with the application form as and if necessary.

4. Visit the Passport Office – On the day of appointment reach the passport office well before your scheduled time. You would be given a token number and when your number is called you will have to appear before any of the counters with all the above-mentioned documents.

You would be photographed and in case you fail to produce any document or if any of the  documents produced by you is found to be fake etc, then your application would get rejected.

5. Police verification – Following the formalities in the Passport office, you will have to wait for the police verification which may take place within a week’s time.

The policeman from your local area station would visit your home and check for your address proof and ID proof documents.

You need to be present personally at your home. For any reason, if you fail to be present during the police visit, then it is advisable to visit the respective police station and submit your documents personally.

6. Delivery – Once the police verification is completed you will receive a message from the passport office stating that your police verification is cleared and that you will be receiving the passport within a few days. And in a week’s time you will receive your passport.Related:-Difference Between Cash and Profit 2020

Preparing and Submitting the Application Form

Online Application  – For applying online, you can visit the government website by clicking register online and submit the application. For future reference, it is advisable to download and print a copy of the application form.

Direct Application – You can also submit the application directly at the passport office or DPCs or speed post centers.

For your convenience, below listed are few important points to remember while submitting passport application:

• You will have to produce all your original documents while submitting the passport application form, so keep them handy.
• Self-attested copies of all the required documents are to be attached along with the application.
• If the applicant is illiterate, then a thumb impression has to be made in the box given for signature/thumb impression.
• If the applicant has stayed in more than one residential address during the one year, he has to submit two additional copies of the passport form for each additional address.
• The application form along with all the attached documents should be submitted at the Passport office on the day of appointment.

Where to Submit the Application?

Applications can be submitted even at :

• Passport collection centers
• District Passport Cells
• Speed post centers

The Passport application form can be submitted by the applicant. If not, an agent or a close family member can also submit it on behalf of the applicant, along with an authority letter from the applicant authorizing the other person to apply.

Tatkaal Scheme

The Passport office also provides instant passports under the Tatkaal Scheme. Tatkaal scheme can be made use of in issue or reissue of passport.

This is a convenient way to get a passport under emergency situations like death or serious conditions of any near or dear ones.

However, one cannot avail Tatkaal scheme under the following circumstances:

• for lost and damaged passports
• scheduled travel plans
• expired visa status
• passports not renewed for more than 6 months

Tatkaal passports are processed under post police verification. The print queue is different and hence the printing and dispatching of Tatkaal passports are done within 1 to 3 days from the date of applying.

Passport For Minor Children

Passport for minor children can be applied by their parents or guardian. Usually it is assumed that both parents have consented to the applying of passport unless otherwise specified.

In case of no consent from any one of the parents, there are certain Annexures which need to be attached with the application form.

Document for address proof can be the parent’s address proof document for the minor.

If parents possess passport(s), then the original and self-attested copies of the passport should to be produced.

Parents can attest the documents for the minor. Minor applicants are eligible for Non ECR (Emigration check not required). Related:-The Difference Between Debt and Equity Financing 2020

Renewal Of Passport

A passport in India is valid for 10 years from the date of issue. A person can renew his passport before 1 year from the date of expiry or within 1 year after the expiry date.

The expiration date is denoted as Final or F  after the expiration date. Once a new passport is issued to the applicant, the old passport is cancelled and returned to the applicant.

But if there are any pending valid visa, then the passport will continue to be valid until the expiration date of the visa.

For instance, a person possessing a passport with 20 years validity, has to apply for a fresh passport before expiration and not Re-issue. He/she should select the option ‘Fresh Passport’ in the application form.

Damaged Or Lost Passport

A passport may be damaged in two ways-

• Passport number is readable, name and photo are clear
• Passport damaged beyond recognition

If a passport gets damaged then one has to apply for Re-issue of Passport along with . The various documents to be attached with the application form for re-issue of passport include address proof, ID proof, 4-5 photos, explanation letter as to how and when the passport got damaged .

There is no need to lodge a police complaint for a damaged passport.

If your passport is lost, then you have to immediately lodge a complaint with the nearest police station and get an FIR copy.

In this case, while submitting the application for re-issue of passport, you will have to attach the complaint copy, FIR, along with the other documents mentioned in the case of damaged passport. Related:- Unique Business Ideas to Inspire You in 2020

Changes in Passport

You may have got your passport in a particular name or address or date of birth or father’s name etc., but later you may want to make changes in any of these for various reasons like:

• change of name after marriage for women
• general change of name due to spelling mistake or numerology or having more than two names etc.
• change of address
• change in any dates like date of birth, date of marriage etc.
• change in status of the applicant like divorcee, widow, etc.
• change in father’s name, spouse name etc.

What is the Difference Between a Passport and a Visa?

Traveling soon and need to know the difference between a passport and a visa? Before traveling, be sure you know the differences between a passport and a visa because you may need both.

What is a Passport?

The main difference between a passport and a visa is that a passport is issued to a country’s citizens for international travel and identification.

• A passport is used to verify one’s country of citizenship. If traveling outside your country, it is used to regain entry into your country of citizenship.
• Passports include your photo, name, birth date, gender and physical characteristics.
• For U.S. citizens, some countries only require a passport for re-entry. Other countries may require a visa before entry. You should confirm if a country-specific visa* is required before traveling.
• Diplomats and government officials are granted different passports than what’s given to regular travelers.

What is a Visa?

The main difference between a visa and a passport is that a visa is an endorsement placed within a passport that grants the holder official permission to enter, leave or stay in a country for a specified time period.

• The most common visa types are tourist, student, work and transit visas.
• Depending on where you are traveling, a visa can be valid for single or multiple visits.
• Some visas require an application to be filed prior to entering the country and other visas are granted upon entering the country.
• Certain countries require an interview or medical screening prior to applying for a visa.

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