A person can now apply for a passport from anywhere in India, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on June 26. Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also launched a mobile application, available for Android and iOS platforms, that would help people apply, pay and schedule appointments for getting a passport.
The new initiatives were announced by the government on the occasion of the Sixth Passport Seva Divas. With the launch of this scheme, applicants can now choose the Regional Passport Office (RPO), and the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or the Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) under the RPO where they wish to submit their application. A particular passport office can be chosen even if the applicant’s present residential address specified in the application form does not lie within the jurisdiction of the selected RPO. The police verification process, if required for a specific passport, would be conducted at the address specified in the application form, the ministry said in a statement.
In her address on the occasion of Passport Seva Divas, EAM @SushmaSwaraj highlighted the transformation in simplification of rules for issuing passports in the last four years. Watch EAM’s address at https://t.co/F6GJNZfKyz pic.twitter.com/vH4CHkRPOi
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 26, 2018
The passport will be printed and dispatched by the RPO that was selected for application submission by the applicant to the address specified on the application.
For example, a resident of Jaipur, who is temporarily residing in Kolkata, will now be able to apply at a PSK/POPSK under RPO, Kolkata, and will not have to travel all the way to Jaipur to submit an application for passport. The police verification, if necessary, would be conducted at Jaipur while the Kolkata office would print and dispatch the passport at the address specified in the application form.
This initiative aims to benefit the applicants who are unable to apply at a passport office near their ordinary place of residence, the statement added.
Also, the new “mPassport Seva App” would make it possible for a person to apply for a passport without the use of a computer and printer.
Another step towards simplification of passport service to people! EAM @SushmaSwaraj and MoS @Gen_VKSingh launched Mobile Passport Application on the occasion of Passport Seva Divas. pic.twitter.com/PG5Djq3HZf
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 26, 2018
The app will provide passport services such as new user registration, signing in to registered user account, application for passport and police clearance certificate, and appointment scheduling. It will also include a document adviser and a fee calculator, the MEA statement said.
Speaking at the launch of the initiatives, Swaraj said that “revolutionary” changes have been brought about in the process for applying for an Indian passport, PTI reported. While 77 Passport Seva Kendras were made available in 48 years, 231 more were added in the last 48 months, she said, adding that there are 307 PSKs in the country now, and the number will be increased so that at least one PSK or POPSK is available in all the 543 Lok Sabha constituencies.
Swaraj also pointed out that unnecessary document requirements for a passport, including the marriage certificate, have been done away with since she took charge of the ministry.