INDIAN PASSPORT

'Indian passports' are issued to citizens of 'India' for the purpose of international travel. It is proof of Indian nationality. The Consular Passport & Visa (CPV) Division of the Ministry of External Affairs is responsible for issuance of Indian passports to all eligible Indian citizens. Passports is issued from 28 locations across the country and 160 Indian missions abroad^[1].

Contents

Types of passports

Physical appearance

Passport holder identity

Passport Note

Languages

Fees

Visa Free Travel for Indian Passports

Europe

Asia

Pacific

South & Central America

Africa

New Passport Issuance System

See also

External links

References

Types of passports

★ 'Regular Passport' (Navy Blue cover) - Issued for ordinary travel, such as vacations and business trips (36 or 60 pages)

★ 'Diplomatic Passport' (Maroon cover) - Issued to Indian diplomats, top ranking government officials and diplomatic couriers.

★ 'Official Passport' (White cover) - Issued to individuals representing the Indian government on official business

Physical appearance

Indian Passports have a navy blue cover, with the Emblem of India emblazoned in the center of the front cover. The words Hindi: "पासपोर्ट" and English: "PASSPORT" inscribed above the Emblem and Hindi: "भारत गणराज्य" and English: “REPUBLIC OF INDIA” inscribed below the Emblem. The standard passport contains 36 pages, but frequent travelers can opt for 60 pages (as noted above).

Passport holder identity

Indian passports have identity information printed on both front and back cover ends. Both of these pages are laminated to protect from modification.

★ The opening cover end contains the following information:


★
★ Photo of Passport Holder

★
★ Signature of the Passport Holder

★
★ Type (P)

★
★ Country Code (IND)

★
★ Passport Number

★
★ Surname

★
★ Given Names

★
★ Nationality

★
★ Sex

★
★ Date of Birth

★
★ Place of Birth

★
★ Place of Issue

★
★ Date of Issue

★
★ Date of Expiry
The information page ends with the Machine Readable Passport Zone.


★ The closing end contains the following information:

★
★ Name of Father/ Legal Guardian

★
★ Name of Mother

★
★ Name of Spouse

★
★ Address

★
★ Old Passport No. with Date and Place of Issue

★
★ File No.

Passport Note

The passports contain a note from the issuing state that is addressed to the authorities of all other states, identifying the bearer as a citizen of that state and requesting that he or she be allowed to pass and be treated according to international norms. The note inside of Indian Passports states:
::''These are to request and require in the name of the President of the Republic of India all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance, and to afford him or her, every assistance and protection of which he or she may stand in need.''
The note bearing page is typically stamped and signed by the issuing authority in the name of the President.

Languages

The textual portions of Indian Passport is printed in both Hindi and English..

Fees

The cost of obtaining a standard passport

★ INR 1000 - Fresh Passport (36 pages) of 10 years validity. (including 15-18 year minor, with 10 years of validity)

★ INR 1500 - Fresh Passport (60 pages) of 10 years validity.

★ INR 600 - Fresh Passport for Minors (below 15 years of Age) of 5 years validity or till the minor attains the age of 15 which ever is earlier.

★ INR 2500 - Duplicate Passport (36 pages) in lieu of lost, damaged or stolen passport.

★ INR 3000 - Duplicate Passport (60 pages) in lieu of lost, damaged or stolen passport.

Visa Free Travel for Indian Passports

Around 60^[2] countries and territories offer 'visa free travel' or 'visa on arrival' facilities to Indian citizens as per the latest count.

Europe

★ Visa on arrival (if holding confirmation from Albanian Ministry of Interior stating that visa will be available on arrival. Confirmation must be obtained before departure to Albania)

★ 90 day visa free entry for Indian citizens. (must enter from France or Spain)

★ 5 days visa free transit (if holding schengen visa type C,D or residence permit of any schengen country and ticket to final destination in Schengen Zone)

★ 90 days (if holding valid multiple entry visa for UK)

★ 90 days on arrival for 60 Georgian lari ($40 ) available for Indian citizens. (as per latest rules)

★ - Airport transit visa not required (if possessing any type of valid visa from the UK)

★ 5 days visa free transit(if holding schengen visa type C,D or residence permit of any schengen country and ticket to final destination in Schengen Zone.^[3])

★ 5 days visa free transit(if holding schengen visa type C,D or residence permit of any schengen country and ticket to final destination in Schengen Zone)

★ - If holding a diplomatic or service passport, visa not required. (90 days)^[4]

★ - 90 days visa free travel (only for holders who have residency permit in any EU nation, Canada or USA and having a return ticket)

Asia

★ - 30 days (Visa on Arrival can be purchased)^[2]

★ - Visa on arrival for private and business purpose which requires invitation from Kazak national for 1 month. (A visa can be issued on arrival at Almaty/Astana airports; provided pre-arranged and approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan)

★ - free movement of people

★ - 7 day Visa on Arrival for Indian travelers.

★ - 14 days free visa on arrival

★ - 15 days free visa on arrival

★ - visa on arrival (30 days)

★ - visa on arrival (30 days)

★ - visa on arrival (30 days)^[6]

★ - visa on arrival (15 days)

★ - visa on arrival (30 days)

★ - visa on arrival (30 days)

★ - visa on arrival (15 days)

★ - 14 days

★ - 21 days

★ - 96-hour visa free transit facility^[7]

★ - 28 days ^[8]

★ - 30 days

★ - Visa on arrival (if travelling in a group of 10 or more passengers and holding prior approval from Ministry of Interior; visa can be obtained on arrival. Fee: USD 80,- per person OR formal national who gave up their nationality.)

★ - visa on arrival at airports (7 days)^[9]

★ - 1 month (Visa on Arrival)-can be extended for further 30 days.

★ : 1 month (Visa on Arrival with conditions)^[2]

Pacific

★ 31 days

★ - visa on arrival (120 days)

★ - 30 days (extend able upto 120 days)

★ - 30 days

★ - 30 days

★ - 30 days Visa-free entry

★ - 30 days (Visa on Arrival and can be extended)

★ - 60 days (Visa-free entry)

★ - 30 days (Visa on Arrival)

South & Central America

★ - 21 days visa on arrival as per current info.

★ - Visa free travel as per current info.

★ - Visa not required (max upto 180 days)

★ - 90 days for diplomatic and official passports only

★ - 90 days if holding valid US/ EU visa

★ - 21 day visa on arrival for Indian citizens

★ - 3 months (extendable to 6 months)

★ Haiti - Visa free for 3 months.

★ Turks and Caicos Islands - 30 days visa free entry

★ - 30 days visa on arrival.

Africa

★ - On arrival visa can be issued at Bujumbura airport for Indian citizens

★ Visa on arrival up to 60 days

★ visa on arrival 90 days

★ 30 days visa on arrival for $30

★ - 60 days visa on arrival

★ Madagascar: 90 days (Visa on Arrival)

★ - 7 days visa on arrival which can be extended

★ Mozambique: 45 day Visa on Arrival. cost $25.

★ - 30 days visa on arrival

★ 3 month visa issued upon arrival

★ - 90 days visa on arrival

★ - 90 days visa on arrival

★ - 90 days visa on arrival- can be extended to 1 year.

★ - 14 days visa on arrival for South Sinai resorts

★ 30 Visa on arrival for Indian citizens

★ 30 day visa upon arrival for Indian citizens and can be extended 2 months

New Passport Issuance System

In September 2007, the Indian Union Cabinet approved a new passport issuance system under a project called Passport Seva Project. As per the project, front-end activities of passport issuance, dispatch of passports, online linking with police, Central Printing unit for centralized printing of passports will be put in place. The new system is aimed at 'timely, transparent, more accessible and reliable manner' for passport issuance.^[11]

See also

★ Indian Nationality Law

★ Overseas Citizenship of India

External links

★ Indian Passport Office (CPV official website)

★ IATA Visa guide

References

1. National Portal of India CPV
2. KLM Visa and Health Information
3. Transit through Poland
4. No visa for diplomatic and service passports
5. KLM Visa and Health Information
6. Chennai visitors no longer entitled to visa-on-arrival programme
7. Conditions for Indian passport holder for free transit facility
8. Myanmar immigration information
9. Iranian visa information
10. KLM Visa and Health Information
11. Centre approves new passport issuance system