A passport is an irreplaceable document that you need to carry when travelling abroad. Whether your passport is nearing its expiration, has run out of pages, or you need to change any personal details, reissuing your passport is a crucial step.

The following write-up deals with all you need to know when it comes to reissue of an Indian passport. It aims to simplify the reissue process, providing you with a clear, step-by-step guide to ensure your passport is ready for your next adventure.

Reissue of passport refers to such instances where the passport holder requires a brand new booklet. Keep in mind that a reissue and a passport renewal are not the same thing. The major distinction between the two is mentioned below.

Furthermore, passport reissuance can be necessary under various circumstances, which we have elaborated later on in the article.

Let us first understand the points of distinction between reissue and renewal of passport.

Now that you are aware of the differences between these two terms, take a look at the instances when you must consider reissue of your existing document –

• Your passport’s validity is about to expire in the next 3 years or has expired already.
• Your existing passport has suffered considerable damage, or if it has been disfigured.
• All pages on your existing booklet are exhausted.
• You need to enforce changes in certain details, such as date of birth, name, residential address and others.
• If you have misplaced your passport, reissuance is necessary. You would need to submit a copy of an FIR alongside the reissue application in such cases.
• You must also apply for a reissue of passport if your existing one expired at least 3 years ago.

If you are wondering how to reissue a passport, know that you can do so both online and offline. Here are the detailed steps involved in both these methods of application.

Steps to Apply for Reissue of Passport Online

Passport reissue online involves the following steps – 

• Step 1: Visit the Passport Seva portal and register yourself if you do not already have an account.

• Step 2: Once registered, sign in and choose 'Apply for Fresh Passport/Reissue of Passport'.

• Step 3: Next, fill up an online form with all personal details and click on ‘Submit’.

• Step 4: Now, hit the 'Pay and Schedule Appointment’ button to clear all necessary applications fees. Keep in mind that you can make only online payments before scheduling an appointment.

After this, go to the Passport Seva Kendra with all passport reissue documents to complete this process.

Steps to Apply for Reissue of Passport Offline

Even if you want to take advantage of this offline procedure, you would need to visit the Passport Seva website once. 

The subsequent steps are mentioned below – 

• Step 1: Navigate to ‘Forms and Affidavits’ section and select “Reissue of Passport” to download an e-form.
• Step 2: Also download the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from this portal. Take a printout of this PCC, along with the e-form.
• Step 3: Fill in the form, attach all documents required for reissue of passport and submit it at your nearest Passport Office.

Pay for the reissuance online to complete this application process.

Now, lets see the documents required for reissue of passport.

Following documents are mandatory for passport reissue:

1. Self-attested photocopy of first and last two pages of old passport

These pages contain your personal details like name, photo, passport number, and address.

2. ECR & Non-ECR pages

ECR (Emigration Check Required) and Non-ECR status are marked on your passport. ECR is for certain Indian passport holders who need to clear emigration checks. Non-ECR, formerly known as ECNR (Emigration Check Not Required), means no clearance is needed. These pages indicate your status.

3. Page of validity extension

If your passport's validity has been extended, this page shows the new expiry date. It's crucial for confirming that your passport is still valid, especially if the original expiry date has passed. This helps in verifying the status of your passport's validity.

4. Page of observation

Observations by the passport issuing authority, if any, are noted on this page. It may include corrections, amendments, or additional details not included in the main personal information section.

5. NOC or prior intimation letter

A No Objection Certificate (NOC) or a prior intimation letter is required for government employees, public sector employees, or those who need clearance from their employer for passport re-issuance. It's a formal permission or intimation ensuring there are no objections to the passport being reissued.

6. Original old passport

Submitting your original old passport is crucial for verification of your identity and to cross-check the details provided in the photocopies. It also allows the authorities to cancel the old passport to prevent its misuse.

Documents required for passport re-issue in case of minors are the same as adults with additional documents as mentioned in the next table.  However, documents must be attested by parents.

Along with the above mandatory documents that must be submitted for passport reissue, some other documents are required depending on the reason for reissuance. Let's take a look:

In the standard procedure, the entire process can take up to 15 days from start to finish. However, when applying via Tatkal mode, you can complete this process within 7-10 days.

The exact passport reissue time can vary on several factors, such as the need for pre-police verification or post-police verification.

You can check the status of your reissue application online using one of the following methods:

1. Through Passport Seva Website

• Step 1: Visit the Passport Seva website.
• Step 2: Click on the ‘View Saved/Submitted Applications’ bar.

• Step 3: On the following page, select your application.
• Step 4: Click on ‘Track Application Status’ to see how far your application has been processed.

2. Through mPassport Seva Application

Register on the mPassport Seva application after downloading it on your Android or iOS phone. Follow the following steps to track your application:

1. Download and install the mPassport Seva app on your smartphone.
2. Launch the app and complete the registration process by submitting your details.
3. Select the 'Track Application Status' option from the home screen.
4. Choose the type of application, file number and your date of birth.
5. Once you submit all the information, click on the 'Track Status' button to view the current status of your passport application.

3. Through Offline Methods

Additionally, it is also possible to acquire information about reissue status offline. Here are some ways to do the same:

• SMS Tracking – Send an SMS from your registered mobile number to 9704100100. Type ‘STATUS FILE NUMBER’ in the SMS.
• National Call Centre – Call 18002581800 between 8 am and 10 pm for an automated interactive voice response status.

After a successful passport reissue application, you may or may not need to undergo a police verification process. Again, this largely depends on the circumstances for your reissue of passport. Some cases when the police verification is necessary are as follows: 

1. Lost or Damaged Passport

For reissuing a passport lost or significantly damaged, police verification might be required to ensure there's no misuse of the lost/damaged passport and to confirm the identity of the applicant.

2. Change in Personal Details

If there are changes in personal particulars such as name, date of birth, or address, police verification is necessary to verify the updated details provided by the applicant.

3. Minors Turning Adults

When a minor’s passport is reissued upon reaching adulthood, police verification may be conducted to update the records with the current details and to ensure the validity of the provided information.

4. Change of Address

If the reissue involves a change of address, police verification is required to validate the new address.

Thus, police verification validates that all new details furnished for the reissue of passport are accurate.

Here is how –

Now that you know how to get your passport reissued make sure you do not delay applications. With proper knowledge of the process, the reissue of passport shouldn't cause any difficulty for you!