Gone are the days, where people used to line up outside the Passport Office, waiting for the 15 annexures to get signed up by the officer…shuffling through all the all the documents and IDs. Trust me that was a lot hectic and baffled. Well, the good news is that it’s changed now…Yes, you got to hear that right. The Rules for an Indian Passport is changed, keeping up with the modernization and advance technology, The Ministry of External Affairs has declared publicly about the new changes in the passport process. Now getting a passport issued is much easier and simple as ABC.
Below are the new changes that have been introduced in the Application Process of Indian Passport in 2017: The New Passport will have the personal details printed in both Hindi and English.
Contents
Say Good Bye To The Birth Proof Certificate:
- Then: All the applicants who were born on or after 26.01.1989 was mandatory to submit their Birth Certificate as the Proof of Date of Birth.
- Now: The submission of the Birth Certificates is not mandatory, you can submit either one of the following documents during the Passport Application.
- Birth Certificate- The Birth Certificate issued by the Registrar of Birth or the Municipal Corporation or any Government authorized organization who has been empowered under the Registration of Births and the Death Act, 1969 to register the birth of a child in India.
- A transfer/school leaving certificate/ matriculation certificate issued by the school which was last attended/ recognized educational board containing the date of birth of the applicant.
- Aadhaar Card or E-card having the Date of Birth of the Applicant mentioned.
- Pan Card issued by the Income Tax Department, which the date of the birth mentioned of the applicant.
- A clone copy of the extract of the service record of the applicant [specially for the Government employees] and pay pension orders [for the Retired Government servants] duly attested/ certified by the officer/ in charge of the Administrative of the Concerned Ministry/ Department of the applicant, having his/her Date of Birth.
- Driving License issued by the Transportation Department of the Concerned State Government, having the Date of Birth of the Applicant.
- Election Photo Identity Card [EPIC] or Voter ID card issued by the Election Commission of India having the Date of Birth of the Applicant.
- Policy Bond issued by the Public Life Insurance Corporations/Companies having the Date of Birth of the Holder.
Mentioning the Name of the Parent or the Legal Guardian
This is a big change that is introduced, it is a lot beneficial for a single parent. Lately, a lot of internal reports were examined where the mother/children have demanded that the father name should not be mentioned in the passport, and the passport should be easily issued to the children with a single parent and to adopt children.
- Then: At the time of applying for a passport, it was mandatory to provide the names of both the parents.
- Now: The new passport rule announces that from now onwards, the applicants can provide either the name of their father or mother or the legal guardian. This will enable the single parents to apply for the passports for their children and also in the case of issuing passports where the name of the father and mother is optional.
Reduction in Number of the Annexes:
- Then: There was a total of 15 annexes in the Indian Passport which was mandatory.
- Now: The annexes are reduced from 15 to 9. The annexure- “A”, “C”, “D”, “E”, “J” and “K” has been removed and certain annexes have been merged. The following annexes states as follows-
- Annexure “A”- Identity Certificate
- Annexure “C”- Declaration of Parent/Guardian for Minor Passports (one parent not given consent).
- Annexure “D”- Declaration of the Parent, Guardian for the Minor Passports.
- Annexure “E”- Standard Affidavit
- Annexure “J”- Specimen Verification Certificate.
- Annexure “K”- Marriage Proof Certificate.
No Requirement of the Attestation
- Then: Earlier, all the annexes that were provided had to be attested by the Notary/Executive/Magistrate/First Class, Judicial Magistrate.
- Now: All the annexes that are required now, would be in the form of a self-declaration on a plain paper.
Marriage Certificate
- Then: The married applicants were required to provide the marriage certificate.
- Now: The latest Passport Application does not require the applicant to mention or provide his/her spouse name if they are separated or divorced person. Such applicants are not required to provide their divorce decree.
Some Other Additional Changes in Application Process of Indian Passport
- Orphaned Children who do not have a Date of Birth Certificate or any other proof such as Matriculation Proof etc., may now submit a declaration given by the Head of the Orphanage/Child Care Home on their official letter head of the Organization confirming the date of birth of the applicant.
- For Senior Citizens who are over the age of 60 years and the applicant who are below 8 years of age can successfully achieve 10% of the discount on the passport fees.
- Passports will be available in both Hindi and English, instead of only English. This is aimed to receive a Passport in a much easier way.
- During the application for Tatkal Passports, the applicants are required to submit their ration cards rather than submitting the Pan Card. This will help the people of the rural areas who do not have Pan Cards.
- In case of the issuing of passport for an adopted child, submission of the registered adoption deed is no longer required. The applicant can directly give a declaration on a plain paper, confirming the adoption.
- For the Government employees who are unable to obtain their Identity Certificate (Annexure “B”)/ No objection certificate (Annexure “M”) from the concerned employer can now get the passport on urgent basis, by submitting a self declaration note saying that he/she is given prior intimation letter to his/her employer informing that he/she is applying for an ordinary passport to a Passport Issuing Authority.
Was the long tiresome process of acquiring a Passport holding you back? Not anymore. Get your Passport ready and pack your bags up for an ultimate adventure with these new set of rules for issuing an Indian Passport which made it easier and less time consuming.