The Indian Passport is a travel document issued by the Ministry of External Affairs. In the financial sector, it serves as a top-tier Officially Valid Document (OVD) for KYC, proving both your identity and address. It is universally accepted by Indian banks and is especially crucial for opening NRI accounts, sending money abroad, and applying for forex cards.

Issued by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) · Ministry of External Affairs

• Opening a savings or current account
  accepted as an Officially Valid Document (OVD) for complete KYC

• Opening NRI/NRO/NRE accounts
  mandatory proof of Indian origin or citizenship

• International remittances (LRS)
  required by RBI to send large sums of money abroad

• Forex cards and foreign currency
  mandatory to buy foreign exchange for travel

• Applying for major loans
  serves as a strong signature, age, and identity proof

• High-value life insurance
  accepted as standard age and identity proof

• Mutual funds and demat accounts
  valid for completing full KYC requirements

• Citizens of India by birth

• Citizens of India by descent

• Citizens of India by registration or naturalisation

• Minors (with parents' consent)

• Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)

• Foreign nationals

• Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders

• Individuals legally barred from leaving the country

• Proof of Address
  any one of Aadhaar, Voter ID, utility bills, registered rent agreement, active bank passbook with photo

• Proof of Date of Birth
  any one of Birth Certificate, Aadhaar, PAN card, school leaving certificate

• Non-ECR status proof
  class 10th or higher passing certificate, or income tax assessment order (if applicable)

• Annexure forms
  various declarations depending on minor status, name change, or loss of previous passport

1. 1

   Step 1: Register on the Passport Seva portal or mPassport Seva app

2. 2

   Step 2: Login and click 'Apply for Fresh Passport/Re-issue of Passport'

3. 3

   Step 3: Fill in the application details online and submit

4. 4

   Step 4: Click 'Pay and Schedule Appointment' on the 'View Saved/Submitted Applications' screen

5. 5

   Step 5: Pay the fee online via SBI ePay, UPI, net banking, or cards

6. 6

   Step 6: Print the application receipt containing the Application Reference Number (ARN)

7. 7

   Step 7: Visit the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office PSK on the appointment date with original documents

1. 1

   Step 1: Buy a physical application form from a District Passport Cell (DPC) or designated post office

2. 2

   Step 2: Fill the form in block letters

3. 3

   Step 3: Submit the form along with self-attested photocopies of address and birth proof at the DPC

4. 4

   Step 4: Pay the application fee via demand draft where accepted

5. 5

   Step 5: Complete police verification when initiated

• Passport Seva Portal (passportindia.gov.in)

• mPassport Seva mobile app

• Passport Seva Kendras (PSK)

• Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSK)

• Indian Embassies or Consulates for citizens applying abroad

• Central KYC (CKYC) registry fetches verification for banks

• Immigration and banks can verify the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) at the bottom of the data page

• DigiLocker integration allows digital fetching directly from the MEA database

• Upcoming e-passports contain a microchip readable by NFC

• Regular (Type P)
  Navy blue cover for ordinary citizens

• Diplomatic (Type D)
  Maroon cover for diplomats and top government officials

• Official (Type S)
  White cover for individuals representing the government on official business

• E-Passport
  Upcoming standard with an embedded microchip holding biometric data

• DigiLocker Passport
  Digital record accepted for domestic identity proof

1. 1

   Step 1: Download the official DigiLocker app

2. 2

   Step 2: Log in using your Aadhaar and mobile number

3. 3

   Step 3: Search for 'Ministry of External Affairs' in the issuers list

4. 4

   Step 4: Select 'Passport' and enter your passport number, surname, and date of birth

5. 5

   Step 5: Save the digital document to your 'Issued Documents' section

1. 1

   Step 1: Log in to the Passport Seva portal

2. 2

   Step 2: Select 'Apply for Re-issue of Passport'

3. 3

   Step 3: Under 'Reason for Re-issue', select 'Change in Existing Personal Particulars'

4. 4

   Step 4: Choose the fields to update such as address or name

5. 5

   Step 5: Fill the form, pay the fee, and book a PSK appointment

6. 6

   Step 6: Visit the PSK with the old passport and proofs for the requested changes

1. 1

   Step 1: Go to passportindia.gov.in

2. 2

   Step 2: Click 'Track Application Status' on the home page

3. 3

   Step 3: Select application type (Passport, PCC, IC, GEP)

4. 4

   Step 4: Enter your 15-digit File Number and Date of Birth

5. 5

   Step 5: Click 'Track Status'

1. 1

   Step 1: File an FIR at the nearest police station immediately

2. 2

   Step 2: Apply for 'Re-issue of Passport' on the portal

3. 3

   Step 3: Select 'Lost/Damaged Passport' as the reason

4. 4

   Step 4: Pay the higher replacement fee

5. 5

   Step 5: Visit the PSK with the FIR copy, Annexure F declaration, address proof, and date of birth proof

• Passports are property of the Government of India and can be revoked

• Emigration Check Required (ECR) vs Non-ECR status determines if unskilled workers need clearance to work in certain countries

• Passports serve as proof of identity and address even if the address on it is an old one, though banks prefer an updated proof

• You do not need to surrender an expired passport, but it will be cancelled with a stamp and corner cut upon re-issue

• If your appearance changes drastically you must apply for a re-issue to update the photo

• Name mismatch => Ensure your name exactly matches your Aadhaar or 10th certificate before applying, fix by correcting Aadhaar first

• Signature mismatch => Using different signatures on application versus documents, fix by signing consistently

• Suppressing criminal history => Failing to declare pending court cases leads to rejection, fix by declaring and providing court permission

• Incorrect address => Providing a permanent address but living elsewhere, fix by providing current address for accurate police verification

• Missing spouse name => Forgetting to add spouse name after marriage, fix by providing marriage certificate during re-issue

• Never hand over your original passport as collateral to travel agents or employers

• Keep a scanned copy in your DigiLocker and email for emergencies abroad

• If lost, report it to the police and passport office immediately to prevent identity theft

• Memorise your passport number and expiry date

• Cross out photocopies and write 'Submitted to bank for KYC' to prevent misuse

• Do not expose the data page to heavy moisture or staplers

• National Call Centre: 1800-258-1800 (Toll Free, 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM)

• Citizen feedback and grievance portal via passportindia.gov.in

• Regional Passport Offices (RPO) have dedicated email IDs listed on the website

• passportindia.gov.in
• rbi.org.in
• mea.gov.in

Last checked: 4 November 2026

Rules, fees and timelines change. Always confirm on the official website before you apply.