New Delhi. You should also have a passport. If not, your passport will no longer be like a traditional paper book. In fact, India has launched e-passport (Indian e-passport) so that both the identity and security of the passport holder can be clear and better.
E-passport means electronic passport, which is made with advanced technology and is completely different from the traditional paper passport.
In fact, the Government of India had launched the pilot project of e-passport on 1 April 2024 under the Passport Seva Program (PSP) version 2.0. It was initiated by the Ministry of External Affairs. Let us tell you about this e-passport in detail and also know how to make it?
What is an e-passport?
Although the e-passport looks like a traditional paper document in shape, it contains an electronic chip that contains the passport holder’s personal and biometric data. You can see it on the cover page. This new technology provides better protection against fraud and makes identity verification easier.
In which cities of India are e-passports being issued?
The e-passport is currently available for people in Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Jammu, Goa, Shimla, Raipur, Amritsar, Jaipur, Chennai, Hyderabad, Surat, Ranchi and Delhi. The service will gradually be rolled out to other cities in the country. The Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that it will be rolled out across the country and currently the service is available in these cities in the first phase. According to the ministry, it will be rolled out across all Passport Seva Kendras across India by mid-2025.
What are its benefits?
Improved security: The digitally signed chip significantly reduces the risk of passport duplication, forgery, and identity theft.
Ease of international travel: Immigration officials can quickly verify passports using the chip, which speeds up border checks.
Data security: Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) ensures that sensitive data encrypted on the chip cannot be accessed or altered by anyone through fraud.
Do you need to upgrade your old passport?
No, if you have an old traditional passport, there is no need to convert it to an e-passport. Traditional passports will remain valid till their expiry date. After this, you will have to upgrade to an e-passport. There is no compulsion to upgrade it immediately.
How to get an e-passport?
You can now apply for an e-passport online and get it from select Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) or Regional Passport Offices (RPOs). These services are available in Chennai, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Jaipur and other cities. In the near future, this service will be launched in more cities.
Follow these steps to apply for an e-passport online:
1. Register on the Passport Seva Online Portal.
2. Login using your registered ID.
3. Click on “Apply for New Passport/Reissue Passport”. If you are applying for a passport for the first time, select “Fresh” and if you already have the same type of passport, select “Reissue”.
4. Pay the fees online and book an appointment.
5. Print or save your application receipt, or show the SMS confirmation during the appointment.
6. Visit your chosen PSK or RPO on the scheduled date with the original documents.
