check status here
Passport Status Explained
After you submit your passport application to a Regional Passport Office (RPO), you can wait for a few days and then start checking your passport application status online. During the life cycle of a passport application, the status changes several times to show the progress of your application. You can view screenshots of different passport statuses to get an idea about how each status looks like.
Note: File number, name and other personal details displayed in these screenshots are fictitious and not real.
Wrong File Number
You may see the status if you have entered an invalid file number or the status information pertaining to a passport application has not been entered into the system yet.
Blank Status
Blank status can be quite confusing and frustrating. The appearance of the applicant's name, application date, and applicant's date of birth indicates that the application details have been entered into the system, however status information was left blank inadvertantly or due to lack of clarity at the time of entering data. Do not panic. Wait for a few weeks for the status to change.
Police Report Pending
This is usually the first status message you will see after submitting your passport applicatoin. The status simply indicates that the passport office is awaiting report from the police station in charge of police verification. After police report is received at the passport office, issuance of passport may take 4-6 weeks. If it takes longer and if you continue to see the same status message, it is advisable to visit the passport office to find out the actual status.
Proof of Stay Required
Missing or improper document is a common reason for delay of passport issuance. Check your passport status frequently to ensure that all is well. If you see a similar status message, submit the missing document(s) to the passport office at the earliest to avoid further delay.
Transferred to Policy Section
Your passport application may be transferred to the Policy Section of the passport office in case of any policy conflict or violation. You need to see the Public Relations Officer (PRO) who sits in the passport office to find out the problem and possibly how to resolve it.
Marriage Proof Required
If you want your spouse name included in your passport, you must furnish proof of marriage in the form of marriage certificate or sworn affidavit along with a joint photo of husband and wife. You will need to submit the same proof if you want your spouse name changed or corrected in your passport.
Police Report Clear
This indicates that the police report received by the passport office shows everything green and there are no negative remarks. The concerned passport office will cross-check all documents to ensure that they are in order.
Passport Granted
Your passport application has reached a significant milestone. Keep your fingers crossed until you receive your passport by post.
Passport Despatch Delayed
Issuance of passports may be delayed due to several reasons, the most common being a huge number of pending applications. The processing time of an ordinary passport application can be high, typically 2-3 months. It may take longer in certain cases. Please be patient.
Passport Handed over to Applicant
Passports are also directly handed over to applicants in case of urgency. Do carry a proof of identity and the receipt while you visit the passport office to collect your passport.
Passport Despatched via Post
Congratulations! Your passport has been sent to you by post. It's just a matter of time before it arrives at the address mentioned in your passport applicatoin. It is advisable to be physially present to receive your passport.
Finally please remember that the online status of your passport application may not always reflect the true status. Sometimes the status is simply not up-to-date or not entered correctly into the system due to human error.
Passport Status through SMS
You can also check the status of your passport application through SMS (Short Message Service). Checking passport status via SMS is especially useful when you do not have access to Internet. The Ministry of External Affairs introduced the SMS service to provide a simple way to check passport status using mobile phones.
To receive passport status on your mobile phone, all you need to do is send an SMS from your mobile phone to 55352 in the format "PPTAP FileNumber" without the double-quotes. For example, to receive the status of the passport application with file reference number HYDR01234512, you will send the SMS message, "PPTAP HYDR01234512". You can send an SMS from any mobile phone, not necessarily the one mentioned in your passport application. The message you send is not case-sensitive. In other words, "pptap hydr01234512" will be treated the same as "PPTAP HYDR01234512".
A successful SMS reply would look something like this, "RPO HYD :R01234512: Passport has been dispatched on 13-01-2012 vide Speed Post No. S123456". If you send an invalid file number, you will receive a response similar to this, "Please send your File Number as per the format HYDB00012309".
Please note that you will be charged for using the SMS facility.
Passport File Number
When you submit your passport application at a Regional Passport Office (RPO) or a post office or any other submission center, you will receive a receipt or aknowledgement. Your file number will be mentioned on the receipt (see scanned image below). The file number consists of three parts:
- City code consisting of 3 alphabets (for example, HYD for Hyderabad)
- Actual file number consisting of 7 alphanumeric characters (for example, R012345)
- Year of application consisting of 2 digits (for example, 12 indicates the year 2012)
The actual file number always begins with an alphabet and is followed by 6 digits. Also note that the year of filing the passport application could be other than the current year. For example, if the current year is 2012, but you applied for your passport in the year 2011, then the two-digit year in the file number will be 11, and not 12.
Passport Application Receipt
Here is an example of a receipt issued by a Regional Passport Office after submission of passport application. Notice the file number highlighted with yellow background. As mentioned earlier, it consists of 12 alphanumeric characters. The bar code at the bottom represents the same file number. The receipt shows the key number, date of submission, applicant name, processing fee paid, and the mode of submission, which is direct in this case.
Note: Applicant name and file number shown in the image below are fictitious and not real.
City Codes of Passport Offices
Passport applications are processed according to the jurisdiction to which an applicant belongs. Each jurisdiction is served by a Regional Passport Office (RPO) located in a prominent city of India. For example, Mumbai and Greater Mumbai, Districts of Aurangabad, Beed, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg in Maharashtra and the Union Territory of Daman & Silvassa are under the jurisdiction of Regional Passport Office, Mumbai.
The first three letters of a file number consists of a city code. You can find your city code in the tables below.
| City | Code |
|---|---|
| Amritsar | ASR |
| Bareilly | BLY |
| Bhopal | BPL |
| Bhubaneshawar | BHU |
| Chandigarh | CHD |
| Cochin | COC |
| Coimbatore | CBE |
| Dehradun | DDN |
| Delhi | DLH |
| Ghaziabad | GZB |
| Goa | GOA |
| City | Code |
|---|---|
| Guwhati | GUW |
| Hyderabad | HYD |
| Jaipur | JPR |
| Jalandhar | JAL |
| Jammu | JMU |
| Kolkata | CAL |
| Kozhikode | KOZ |
| Lucknow | LKO |
| Madurai | MDU |
| Malappuram | MLP |
| Mumbai | BOM |
| City | Code |
|---|---|
| Nagpur | NGP |
| Patna | PAT |
| Pune | PNE |
| Raipur | RPR |
| Ranchi | RCH |
| Shimla | SML |
| Srinagar | SGR |
| Surat | SUR |
| Thane | THN |
| Trivandrum | TVM |
| Vishakapatnam | VSP |
Regional Passport Offices
A Regional Passport Office (RPO) is a subordinate office of The Ministry of External Affairs under the supervision of the Joint Secretary (CPV), who functions as Chief Passport Officer, The Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi. India is divided into more than 35 jurisdictions each corresponding to an RPO. All RPOs accept submission of fresh and re-issue passport applications and miscellaneous requests like name change, address update, correction etc. Each RPO has its own website to cater to the information needs of the applicants belonging to the jurisdiction.
| RPO | Website |
|---|---|
| Ahemadabad | Click to visit |
| Amritsar | Click to visit |
| Bangalore | Click to visit |
| Bareilly | Click to visit |
| Bhopal | Click to visit |
| Bhubaneshawar | Click to visit |
| Chandigarh | Click to visit |
| Chennai | Click to visit |
| Cochin | Click to visit |
| Coimbatore | Click to visit |
| Dehradun | Click to visit |
| Delhi | Click to visit |
| Ghaziabad | Click to visit |
| RPO | Website |
|---|---|
| Goa | Click to visit |
| Guwhati | Click to visit |
| Hyderabad | Click to visit |
| Jaipur | Click to visit |
| Jalandhar | Click to visit |
| Jammu | Click to visit |
| Kolkata | Click to visit |
| Kozhikode | Click to visit |
| Lucknow | Click to visit |
| Madurai | Click to visit |
| Malappuram | Click to visit |
| Mumbai | Click to visit |
| Nagpur | Click to visit |
| RPO | Website |
|---|---|
| Patna | Click to visit |
| Pune | Click to visit |
| Raipur | Click to visit |
| Ranchi | Click to visit |
| Shimla | Click to visit |
| Srinagar | Click to visit |
| Surat | Click to visit |
| Thane | Click to visit |
| Trichy | Click to visit |
| Trivandrum | Click to visit |
| Vishakapatnam | Click to visit |
Information provided through these websites are informative in nature, and should not be construed as a statement of the law.
Passport Seva Portal
Given the changing demographic profile and economic liberalization, the number of passport seekers has been growing rapidly. Passport offices have strived hard to keep pace. However the existing infrastructure and manpower is not adequate to handle the requirements of Indian citizens.
The Ministry of External Affairs initiated the Passport Seva Portal to facilitate availing passport services online. The website allows you to apply online for a passport or police clearance certificate (PCC). You need to have a user account on the portal. After registering yourself, you can log into your user account and apply for any passport-related service.
The Passport Seva Portal currently provides the following services:
- Online application for fresh passport
- Online application for reissuance of passport
- Online application for police clearance certificate (PCC)
- Online submission of any feedback/grievance
Application can be submitted online in two ways. You can either fill the application form online or you can download the e-form, fill it offline and upload the filled e-form to the website.
Passport Seva Portal: http://www.passportindia.gov.in
Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
PCC is a certification issued by the concerned police authorities covering the whole period of the applicant's residence in that locality. It also notes whether any time the applicant was arrested, along with the reason for and the nature of each case for which there is an evidence/record.
Why PCC
- Required only for immigrant visa or other non immigrant visa such as K and V
- PCC is required for each visa applicant aged 16 years or older
Validity
A PCC is valid for one year from the date of its issue and it must be valid on the day your visa is issued.
Documents Required
- Valid Passport in original
- Proof of residence
- A set of three completed Personal Particulars Form if the applicant has not stayed at the present address for the last one year
- Application fee of Rs 300 (subject to change in the future)
How to Apply for PCC
http://passport.gov.in/pms/police%20clearance%20certificate.htmEmigration Check Not Required (ECNR)
All Indian passports are divided into two categories - Emigration Check Required (ECR) and Emigration Check Not Required (ECNR).
As per the Emigration Act, 1983, certain categories of Indian passport holders require to obtain Emigration Clearance before going to certain countries. In this case, emigration means leaving of India with the intent of taking up employment in a foreign country. ECR is for the safety of Indian citizens due to the legal conditions of other countries and is based on various situations/conditions.
For passports issued before January 2007, no notation in the passport means ECR. For passports issued in or after January 2007, no notation in the passport means ECNR.
Right to Information (RTI)
The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 was enacted by The Government of India and came into effect from October 12, 2005. The RTI act empowers Indian citizens to access information under the control of public authorities in order to promote transparency and accountability in these organisations. The RTI act also provides for appointment of a Chief Public Information Officer (PIO) to deal with requests for information.
Indian passport applicants desiring to obtain information from the Central Passport Organization (CPO) or the Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) Division of The Ministry of External Affairs, may make an application to the Public Information Officer (PIO) assigned to the concerned Regional Passport Office. You can find complete details of the Right to Information Act at http://righttoinformation.gov.in
Key points aobut RTI to keep in mind:
Applicatoin Format
Make a request to the Chief Public Information Officer/Public Information Officer, preferably in the prescribed application format, in writing or through electronic means.
Application Fee
The RTI application must be accompanied by prescribed application fee drawn in favour of Accounts Officer, The Ministry of External Affairs payable at New Delhi, or the Regional Passport Officer, payable at the place where the application is being submitted.
Additional Fee
In case it is decided to provide the information, the applicant shall be informed of any additional fees required to obtain the information.
Appeal
In case the applicant does not receive a decision within the time specified in the act, or is aggrieved by a decision of the PIO, as the case may be, may within thirty days from the expiry of such period from the receipt of such a decision, prefer an appeal to the Departmental Appellate Authority.
Learn more about Right to Information Act (RTI): http://www.passportindia.gov.in/apponlineproject/pdf/RTI.pdf
Get a Passport in 8 Easy Steps
Citizens of India wishing to travel internationally must first be issued an Indian passport. Here are eight easy steps to get a passport in India.
Step 1. Get the Passport Application Form
You can purchase passport application form from Regional Passport Offices, post offices that accept passport applications, and other approved centers. The application form also contains Passport Information Booklet that has complete instructions. You can also download the form online from: http://passport.gov.in/cpv/Forms.htm
Step 2. Fill out the Application Form
Detach the Passport Information Booklet (blue color) from the application form. You do not need to submit this. Now refer to the Passport Information Booklet to understand how to fill each section in the application form. Use a blue/black ball pen and write clearly. Fill out the Personal Particulars Form in duplicate. Also paste your recent color photographs (size 3.5" x 3.5") wherever applicable. The photographs should ideally be in white background.
Step 3. Attach Necessary Documents
Attach Proof of Date of Birth (birth certificate / 10th admit card / affidavit), Proof of Address (ration card / bank statement / water bill / electricity bill / gas connection bill / landline telephone bill), and Educational Certificate (10th or 12th or degree pass certificate or higher). A complete list of acceptable documents is provided in the Passport Information Booklet.
Step 4. Pay Application Fee
The application fee can be paid in cash or as a demand draft (DD). Post offices usually accept demand drafts only. To pay the application fee as a DD, draw a DD of the required amount in favor of the concerned Regional Passport Office. Write your full name, passport application number, address & phone number on the reverse of the DD. The DD details need to be mentioned on the first page of the application form. Attach the DD to the application form.
Step 5. Photocopy the Application Form
Once you have filled out the application form, make a photocopy of the application form for your future reference. You can make a photocopy of the DD as well. There is no need to make photocopies of the documents attached as you will have the originals with you.
Step 6. Submit the Application Form
You can submit the filled out application form a Regional Passport Office, post offices that accept passport applications, or any other approved centers. Carry originals of all the documents attached to the application. It is a good idea to carry a stapler and a glue stick on the day of submission. The originals will be returned to you on the spot after verification. You will also receive a passport application receipt with the File Reference Number (for example, HYD-W238785-11). Keep this information carefully.
Step 7. Get Police Verification Done
You can check the status of your application online here: http://www.passportstatus.in. Start checking the status of your application after a few days from the date of submission. You need to enter your file reference number to view the status of your passport. Once the status shows "Police verification is pending", wait for the police verification to be completed by the nearest police station. If police verification does not take place within a month, visit the nearest police station and find out the contact details of the police officer responsible for passport application verification. Meet him in person or call him to request a faster verification.
For police verification, keep ready photocopies of all the documents that were submitted with the passport application. Also keep handy two passport photos, passport application receipt, and the originals of all documents submitted along with the application form.
Step 8. Receive Passport
After police verification is completed, you should receive your passport within a month if all documents are in order. The passport will be sent via speed post to the address mentioned in your application form. Make sure that you are physically present to receive the passport.
If you do not receive your passport within a month, check the status online to find out the reason behind the delay. If a document is not in order, take appropriate action. You may need to visit the Regional Passport Office to correct the problem.
