Many major changes have been made by the Government of India in regard to the procedures for obtaining a passport effective from 2025. The obtaining of a passport is certainly more convenient and faster for citizens than it was ever before. Be it an applicant for the first-time passport or an old passport due for renewal; the new guidelines have eased the process of passport application. Let us now proceed to highlight the new rules concerning passports that are sure to make the whole matter much easier.
Improvement Of The Online Application Process
The process of applying for a passport has now been simplified like never before. Applicants needing to apply for the passport must visit the official website of Passport Seva, fill in their form online, and upload the required documents. In this new setup, Aadhaar card and PAN card verification is done automatically, thus speeding up document verification. Additionally, applicants will also now be able to submit their supporting documents online, thus avoiding several trips to the passport office.
New Options For Identity Proof
As for the amended rules, now applicants are allowed to provide either an Aadhaar card, a voter ID card, a driving license, or a PAN card as their ID proof for passport purposes. If a person does not possess any of these, an identity card issued by the Gram Panchayat or Municipal Corporation may be used. The new guidelines ensured that no person is deprived of applying for a passport on being short of proper identification.
Change In Police Verification Process
Police verification is a very important procedure before the issuance of the passport. This will now be much more transparent in 2025. Afterward, the police will visit the residence of the applicant, verify, and upload the report directly online. This will, therefore, set in motion the elimination of the lag. Also, the passport issuance will take seven days if the applicant does not bear any criminal records.
New Guidelines On Tattoos And Religious Symbols
According to the new rules, if an applicant has a tattoo on his body or wants to show any religious symbol, it will be permitted to show it in passport photographs, provided it is not covering the face. Earlier, there were many controversies reigning the area of tattoos or religious symbols; now, they are clearly allowed.
Easier Process For Children’s Passports
Nowadays, applying for children’s passports has become super easy-namely, submitting a photocopy of the parents’ passports along with the child’s birth certificate. In addition, if the child is below 5 years, there is no requirement for biometric taking. The process is thereby greatly simplified for applying for a passport for infants and young children.
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