General Information for Passport Applicants

1. The validity of a passport cannot be extended beyond the date of its final validity. An application for reissuing a passport has to be submitted in the prescribed form along with the old passport and a copy thereof.

2. A separate passport must be obtained by every individual. A child's name can no longer be endorsed on a parent's passport.

3. The applicant should submit the application in person for identification.

4. One recent photograph (5.1x5.1cm) showing frontal view of full face against light background in civilian clothes taken in a studio (Polaroid photographs and photographs with dark glasses or uniforms are not accepted) should be submitted along with the application. For specification of photograph, please visit http://passport.gov.in/oci/Photo-Spec-FINAL.pdf. Please do not sign on any photograph and paste the photograph on application itself.

5. Minors are issued passports for 5 years or up to attaining 18 years, whichever is earlier.

6. Applicants are advised to ensure that their application in the prescribed format is complete in all respects; that all columns are correctly and legibly filled up and no column is left blank or unfilled or vaguely filled with a dash, tick, etc. All signatures in the application should be with a ballpoint pen. To download the passport application form, please visit Consular Service / forms download / passport application. Only one set of application is required. 

7. It is an offence under the Passport Act 1967 to furnish false information in the application. Passport facilities could be denied on grounds of suppression of material information, submission of incorrect particulars, willful damage/loss of passport or for unauthorized change/tampering. The Passport can be impounded or revoked for violation of one or more of the provisions of the Passport Act.

8. It is an offence to hold more than one valid passport at a time.

9. A passport expired more than six months back should be supported by a Sworn Affidavit explaining the circumstances and spelling out the reasons for late submission.

10.For change of address, please attach documentary evidence such as tax receipt, electricity/telephone bill or Nativity Certificate issued by the Competent Authority of the State concerned in India.

11. Indian citizens acquiring citizenship/passport of another country should immediately surrender their Indian Passport to the Indian Embassy.

12. In order to apply for renewal of passport, please attach copy of Residence Permit or valid visa issued for Norway and a photocopy of present Indian passport.

13. Processing time for issue of a passport is between four to eight weeks. There is no Tatkaal Service for issue of passport.

Passport for a Minor:

14. Every child should have a separate passport. The applicant should complete the formalities as applicable for the issue of a new passport. The child has to sign or put a thumb impression (as applicable) on the application form which should be duly counter-signed by both parents. The validity of such a passport (for children under 18 years) will be for 5 years. If the child is born in Norway, the original birth certificate and parents' passports with a photocopy of each are to be submitted with the application along with declaration form which can be downloaded from Consular Service / forms download / passport application.

Duplicate Passports (In Lieu of Lost/Damaged Passports):

15. The procedure for issue of duplication passport in lieu of lost/damaged passport is the same as for issue of new passport. However, the following documents need to be submitted with the application;-

Change of Name:

16. Before change of name/surname, in the passport, the intention to change has first to be advertised in two prominent daily newspaper, in India to be circulated in the area of your permanent and present residence. Original newspaper clippings and a Court Order issued by a judicial officer not below the rank of First Class Magistrate in India or a duly notarized affidavit by the applicant are required to be submitted. (All other requirements are same as for the issue of a new passport)

Change of name / surname after marriage:

17. For change of surname, consequent to marriage / divorce, duly completed Passport Application Form along with original and a copy of divorce/marriage certificate, sworn affidavit and prescribed fee should be submitted. In case the spouse is a foreign national, a photocopy of the foreign passport should be submitted along with the application form.

18. Schedule of fee for passport may be downloaded from Consular Service / download forms / fee chart for consular services