Did you know that police verification for passports is a crucial step in India?

This security measure is conducted after an individual applies for a fresh or a reissue of a passport. However, there are certain exceptions to this rule as well.

This factor would depend on documentation and application. 

Want to learn more?

Keep scrolling to know everything about police verification of a passport.

Police verification for passports checks an applicant’s identity and address proof. Generally, an officer from your local police station conducts this process.

This verification process can differ according to state and norms. A police officer visits your address to confirm the details entered in your passport application. You might have to show documents to support your identity.

Additionally, you can find the nearest local police station on the Passport Seva website. This will help you streamline the process of police verification for passport reissue.

After successful scrutiny, a police officer will provide a clearance report. Following which the passport office would dispatch your passport within 3 days after receiving the recommendatory Police Verification Report (PVR) from a respective police station.

Now, let us learn the types of mandatory police verification.

Ideally, the concerned police station conducts verification after receiving notification from the passport authority. You can also apply for police verification on the Passport Seva website. 

The steps to apply for police verification for a passport are mentioned below.

• Step 1: Visit the Passport Seva website and click on “Register Now”.
• Step 2: Login using your respective ID after completing the registration process.
• Step 3: Select “Apply for Police Clearance Certificate” and redirect to the form. Fill in the form with relevant details.
• Step 4: Click on “Pay and Schedule Appointment” option and make payment.
• Step 5: Select the “Print Application Receipt” option. This will generate a receipt with Application Reference Number (ARN). You also receive a notification via SMS on your registered number.

You need to visit the RPO or PSK on the appointment date. Do not forget to carry original and photocopies of the mentioned documents.

Here is the list of documents for passport police verification-

• Voter ID 
• Aadhaar number
• Affidavit
• Permanent Account Number (PAN)

These documents need to be submitted with your application for police verification after a passport is issued. However, minors below 18 years old do not need to go through police verification.

You should know the process to track the status updates apart from how police verification is done for passports.

Ideally, the police issue different statuses of the verifications. You can track these updates via the Passport Seva website.

Given below are the types of verification statuses -

• Clear- This status indicates that there are no issues in an applicant’s record.
• Adverse- This status indicates that the police have found some inconsistencies in the information provided by an applicant. This can result in withholding or cancellation of the application. To avoid this situation, an applicant should provide the correct information and lack any criminal offence.
• Incomplete- This status shows information provided by an applicant is incomplete. The status can show incomplete if the police haven’t filled in the verification report correctly. In certain cases, the police could label the verification incomplete if an individual doesn’t reside in their current dwelling for a long duration. 

After successful verification, the concerned police officer will draw a report.

An applicant can approach the police station to seek clarity on the published report with an ‘Adverse’ or ‘Incomplete’ remark.

However, there are also cases when no police verification is required.

In certain cases, an individual doesn’t need to go through police verification for new passport applications. However, this depends on the decision of the passport office.

The conditions include -

• Police verification for passports isn’t applicable on the reapplications before the passport's expiry. Applicants should submit No Objection Certificate (NOC) and proof of police verification.
• Moreover, government, statutory body or PSU employees who apply for the passport by submitting a document known as an “identity certificate” through annexure “B” do not need police verification.
• Applicants with diplomatic or official passports do not need police verification for an ordinary passport. However, they need to submit an identity certificate through annexure “B”.

The mentioned pointers will help you clear the doubts regarding what happens in police verification for passports. We suggest checking the official Passport Seva website to find the updated details and regulations.

This will help you in streamlining the process of Police verification for passports.