ePassport in India: How to apply, and watch out for these fake websites

ePassport in India: How to apply, and watch out for these fake websites 

imesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/travel/news/epassport-in-india-how-to-apply-and-watch-out-for-these-fake-websites/articleshow/122843177.cms

TOI Lifestyle Desk / etimes.in / Updated: Jul 23, 2025, 12:48 IST  

India's passport system is getting a major upgrade with the Passport Seva Programme 2.0, introducing ePassports featuring RFID chips for enhanced security and faster processing. These ePassports store personal and biometric data digitally, preventing forgery and speeding up immigration checks.Read More

Many don’t give importance to their passports or give it a second thought in terms of a valid identity document, until they desperately need one. Whether it’s for that long-awaited Eurotrip, a dream job abroad, or a last-minute travel plan, applying for a passport can either be a breeze or a hassle if you don’t pay attention to details. 

On June 24, 2025, as reported earlier, during the 13th Passport Seva Divas, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar highlighted this and announced the launch of Passport Seva Programme (PSP) 2.0. This upgrade brings emerging technologies, improved transparency, and faster processing times to India's passport system.

The global rollout of the PSP 2.0, including in Indian embassies and consulates, is already underway, further extending the benefits of ePassports to Indian citizens abroad. 

 What it means and who are eligible So, what is an ePassport? Is it different from the conventional passport? 

Well, an ePassport is essentially a smarter version of the conventional paper passport. It looks very similar to the standard passport, but comes equipped with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip and an embedded antenna. These components are inserted into the back cover of the passport as an inlay. What sets it apart visually is a small gold-colored chip symbol printed below the front cover. This RFID chip securely stores personal details and biometric information of the passport holder, like photograph and fingerprint data, in a digital format.

Why is the ePassport beneficial? One of the biggest advantages of the ePassport is its ability to prevent forgery and tampering. While the passport holder’s information will still be printed on the physical booklet, the same data will also be digitally stored and signed on the chip. 

Immigration officers across the globe will be able to electronically verify the authenticity of this information using advanced systems. The technology behind this security is known as Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). It ensures that the data on the chip has not been altered and truly belongs to the passport holder. This makes it extremely difficult for criminals to create fake passports or tamper with existing ones, greatly enhancing international travel security. 

Additionally, ePassports speed up immigration checks, as contactless scanning of the chip allows for faster processing at eGates in many airports. 

 What’s changing and how it matters Do you need to replace your current passport? If you already hold a valid Indian passport, there’s no need to rush to replace it. Existing passports will remain valid until their expiry date. As the ePassport rollout continues, applicants who apply at ePassport-enabled Passport Offices will automatically receive the upgraded version. The government is implementing the ePassport system in phases, and full nationwide coverage will take a few more months. How to apply for an ePassport Applying for an ePassport is straightforward and follows the same steps as a regular passport application — with a few added digital upgrades: 

Visit the official Passport Seva website: www.passportindia.gov.in Create an account or log in if you're an existing user. Fill in the ePassport application with accurate details. Choose your preferred Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office PSK (POPSK). Pay the application fee online. Schedule an appointment for biometric capture and document verification. Visit the chosen center at your scheduled time slot. 

Beware of fake passport service websites The Ministry of External Affairs has issued a warning about fraudulent websites mimicking official passport services. These websites often operate under domains like *.org, *.in, or *.com and may charge extra fees or steal user data. Some known fake websites include (source: https://www.passportindia.gov.in/psp): www.indiapassport.org www.passport-india.in www.online-passportindia.com www.applypassport.org www.passport-seva.in www.passportindiaportal.in

Centre to file review plea against HC order dispensing with husband’s signature in wife’s passport form

Centre to file review plea against HC order dispensing with husband’s signature in wife’s passport form

Sometimes, applicants obtain passports by mentioning a third person’s name as their spouse, the Centre said.

MOHAMED IMRANULLAH S. CHENNAI  03.07.2025

The Ministry of External Affairs has decided to file a review petition seeking a clarification with respect to a recent ruling passed by the Madras High Court that married women need not obtain the husband’s signature in Form J while applying for a passport.

Appearing before Justice N. Anand Venkatesh on Wednesday, Additional Solicitor General AR.L. Sundaresan said the passport authorities insisted on the husband’s signature only to prevent the malpractice of obtaining a passport with false details regarding the spouse.

He said there was an office memorandum to that effect. “Sometimes, applicants obtain passports by mentioning a third person’s name as their spouse and use the details entered in the passport as evidence elsewhere. That is the reason we want to file a review,” he added.

The judge accepted his request and agreed to hear the review petition.

While allowing a writ petition filed by a woman applicant from Chennai, the judge had, on June 18, observed that married women could not be treated as chattels belonging to their husbands. Since the petitioner before the court was facing a divorce case against her husband, the judge had pointed out that it would be next to impossible for her to obtain her husband’s signature in Form J. He had also said women could not be considered to have lost their individuality after marriage.

MEA notice on revised rules for passport changes

MEA notice on revised rules for passport changes 

Neha.Madaan@timesofindia.com  10.04.2025

Pune : Citizens can now add the name of their spouse to their passport without submitting a marriage certificate, thanks to the introduction of Annexure J option. 

A senior passport official said the new guidelines of ministry of external affairs (MEA) would significantly simplify the passport amendment process.

 “The joint photo declaration (Annexure J), signed by both husband and wife now serves as a valid alternative to the traditional marriage certificate requirement that many found difficult to fulfill,” Pune’s regional passport officer Arjun Deore told TOI. 

“Given that MEA is streamlining the documentary process, this change addresses a significant regional disparity. In Maharashtra, marriages are registered by default. But in northern states, many don’t register marriages and thus, don’t possess marriage certificates,” said another senior passport official. “So MEA has given the option of joint photo declaration as an alternative,” the official added.

Technical glitch hits passport servers nationwide for 2 days

Technical glitch hits passport servers nationwide for 2 days 

DOWNTIME 

Creates Chaos At Key Centres, Appts Affected Neha.Madaan@timesofindia.com 10.04.2025

Pune : The technical glitch plaguing passport servers nationwide continued for a second day on Wednesday, with applicants across major cities expressing frustration as appointments continued to be cancelled or delayed. Regional Passport Offices (RPOs) in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, and other cities witnessed chaos as server issues that began Tuesday worsened, affecting numerous applicants who had scheduled appointments months in advance.

 “The server problem persisted even on Wednesday pan-India. We are trying to sort the issue as soon as possible, and everything should run smoothly soon,” a senior passport official said. “The PSK Pune-Ghorpadi office has not been operational since yesterday due to server issues. I had an appointment at 3.30pm but received no message or email informing me of any cancellation. I’ve been waiting since 12.30pm,” said Mahsku Phadtare, an applicant who urgently needed to travel abroad for work.

 “Officials are only giving one response: ‘Reschedule your appointment or visit Solapur PSK’. This is extremely difficult when I need to travel urgently for professional commitments.” The Mumbai RPO acknowledged the crisis on social media, posting: “Appointments for passport applications at all PSKs/POPSKs under RPO Mumbai are suspended till 1pm today (Wednesday) due to server issues. Affected applicants may reschedule the appointment to a further date.” It later added that applicants would receive an additional chance to reschedule if they had exhausted their three

allowed attempts. 

Parents of minor applicants have been particularly affected. Rahul Singhvi said on X: “My child missed school because of a scheduled passport appointment. It would have been really helpful if we had been informed earlier.” Pallav Kadhi, a businessman from Warje, told TOI, “We had been standing in extreme heat outside the passport office gate for hours Wednesday, and finally they told us to leave, stating: ‘All passport services were suspended for April 9. Additional chance for applicants to reschedule will be further communicated.’

Now, add spouse’s name to passport sans marriage cert

Now, add spouse’s name to passport sans marriage cert

Neha.Madaan@timesofindia.com 10.04.2025

Pune : Citizens can now add the name of their spouse to their passport without submitting a marriage certificate, thanks to the introduction of ‘Annexure J’ option. 

A senior passport official said the new MEA guidelines would significantly simplify the amendment process. “The joint photo declaration (Annexure J), signed by both husband and wife, now serves as a valid alternative to the traditional marriage certificate requirement that many found difficult to fulfill,” 

Pune’s regional passport officer Arjun Deore told TOI.

“Given MEA is streamlining the documentary process, this change addresses a significant regional disparity. In Maharashtra, marriages are registered by default. But in northern states, many don’t register marriages and thus, don’t possess marriage certificates,” said another senior passport official. 

The ‘Annexure J’ form serves as a joint declaration in lieu of a marriage certificate for passport applicants. The document requires passport applicants to declare their name and residence, and affirm that they are married to their spouse, stating they have been living together as a married couple. The applicant must request that their passport be issued or reissued with their spouse’s name included. The form includes a solemn affirmation that all provided information is correct. 

“A designated space is provided for a self-attested joint photograph of the husband and wife. The form must include the place and date of signing, along with signatures of spouses. Additional details required include names, Aadhaar card numbers, voter ID numbers and passport numbers (if available) of both parties,” Deore said