Online submission of passport application

Online submission of passport application

The Passport Seva Project, a Mission Mode Project under the National e-Governance Plan, has been implemented by the Government with a view to comprehensively overhaul passport issuance system. As part of this citizen-centric Project, 77 Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) have been set up and operationalised as extended arms of the existing 37 Passport Offices across the country. In the new system, the applicants are required to log on to the passport website www.passportindia.gov.in; create their user ID and assign a password; fill & submit the application form online or download the e-form, fill & upload the same at the portal (applicants may scan and upload supporting documents, if they so desire); schedule an appointment after making payment of passport fee online through debit/credit card or State Bank of India (SBI) net-banking or SBI Challan; note the Application Reference Number (ARN) or take a print-out of Appointment Slip/Challan; and along with ARN, original documents and photocopies visit the concerned PSK for submission of application.

2. The online appointment system has been introduced to reduce congestion at PSKs and minimize waiting time for applicants. Appointments are allotted according to handling capacity of PSKs and are based on electronic queue management system. The number of public dealing counters has been increased from the erstwhile 350 to 1610 in the new system and public dealing hours have gone up from 4 hours to 7 hours a day.

3. The entire process is online and streamlined including interface with the Indian police for verification of personal particulars of applicants and with India Post for tracking delivery of passports. Status of applications can be tracked through the passport website or through mPassport Seva. For assistance, one can call toll-free helpline 1800-258-1800.

4. Applicants’ presence in person at the PSK enables the Passport Issuing Authority to capture their photograph and fingerprints to prevent the incidence of impersonation. The applicants also get full opportunity to see and affirm their personal particulars to be entered in the passport to avoid unnecessary correspondence later. An e-mail based helpdesk facility and a 24×7 National Call Centre has been set up to provide requisite information to citizens in 17 languages. An SMS message is sent to the citizen as soon as the passport is dispatched.

5.  In order to address digital divide in this regard in the country, the Government is considering redefining the role of District Passport Cells/Speed Post Centres and co-opting Common Service Centres to provide more access points to apply for passport services online.

6.  A limited number of passport applications are also accepted physically at District Passport Cells.

The above information was submitted by Min of External Affairs in reply of undermentioned Rajya Sabha Q&A:-

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

RAJYA SABHA

ANSWERED ON-29.08.2013

(a) whether it is a fact that it has been provided to submit application for passport only through online process;

(b) whether only prescribed number of applications are being accepted through online process;

(c) despite the fact that the use of technology is a good thing, whether all the people throughout India understand/know this process, and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether proposal to accept application through passport forms is also under consideration, details thereof?