Indian nationals who wish to apply for a new or renewed passport must follow the Centre’s revised guidelines. According to the document published by the Indian Gazette, these regulations may be referred to as the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2025.
Here are key Indian Passport updates that will take effect on the day they are published in the Official Gazette.
Mandatory Birth Certificate
People born on or after October 1, 2023, will need to provide their birth certificates as the only recognised proof of date of birth when applying for a passport.
The Municipal Corporation, the Registrar of Births and Deaths, or any other body authorised by the Registration of Births and Deaths Act of 1969 must issue the birth certificates.
Documents needed to prove a person’s date of birth for those born before October 1, 2023:
- Certificate of transfer, school leaving, or matriculation from an accredited educational establishment
- Income Tax Department-issued PAN (Permanent Account Number) card
- Pay Pension Order or a portion of the government employee’s service record
- Public life insurance business policy bond
- Aadhaar card or e-Aadhaar
- EPIC or Election Photo Identity Card
- Valid driving license
Digital Embedding of Residential Address
The final page of passports will no longer print residential addresses to improve security and privacy. This data will instead be stored in a barcode that is embedded into the passport and scanned by immigration officers as needed.
Proof of Address
The following proofs of address are required when applying for a passport:
- Water bill
- Telephone bill (post-paid mobile or landline)
- Electricity bill
- Aadhaar card
- Rent agreement
- Income Tax Assessment Order
- Election Commission picture ID card
- Evidence of the gas connection
- Certificate of employment with formal letterhead
- Copies of parents’ passports (for minors)
- Spouse’s passport copy
- Passbook from a regional rural bank, private sector bank, or scheduled public sector bank
Passports No Longer Require Parents’ Names
According to the new passport rules, parents’ names are no longer listed on the final page to protect private data and assist people who are separated from their families. Children from estranged families and those with single parents are intended to benefit from this change.
Increase In Number Of Passport Seva Kendras
There will be a major increase in Passport Seva Kendras, which are dedicated locations that help passport holders with the application and verification procedure. The goal of this extension is to make the passport application procedure more accessible and efficient for all.
As a result, the numbers will rise from 442 to 600 over the following five years. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Department of Posts have extended their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a further five years to promote this project.
