What is e-Passport in India: Meaning, Documents Required & How to Apply

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India has modernized its passports by replacing them with e-passports, which embed electronic chips to store biometric data such as fingerprints and facial recognition. This enhances the security and efficiency of travelling by reducing the risk of fraud and identity theft.

e-Passports use advanced technology that improves travel safety and convenience. They streamline border verification and immigration checks and have enhanced security features that make them tamper-proof. Indian citizens will soon be able to procure e-passports.

In this article, we will cover the key features, data storage, and benefits of e-passports in India, as well as the application process and what to do if an e-passport is lost while travelling abroad.

An e-passport, or electronic passport is also known as a biometric passport, contains a microchip that stores the holder's personal information, including their photograph and biometric data like fingerprint and facial recognition.

It enhances the transparency and security of travel documents by enabling the digital identification of essential details and storing crucial information, including photographs, fingerprints, and other personal data.

The unique benefits of e-Passport in India are -

• Fast and Easy Scanning: Passengers with an e-passport can be scanned in a few seconds, allowing for shorter wait times.

• Decrease Fraud Identity: e-Passport have biometric records of individuals, preventing fraudsters from stealing data and creating duplicate passports.

• Tamper-Proof: e-Passport uses chip technology, and tampering will cause the passport authentication to fail.

• Safe Data: The chip stores crucial data securely, preventing unauthorised alteration or deletion.

• Hassle-Free Travel: e-Passport holders can use automated border control systems such as e-gates for quick airport entry and exit.

The e-Passport has 41 security features and is valid for 5 or 10 years, depending on the applicant's age.
Some of its features are -

• Contactless Technology: e-Passports use contactless chip technology to store information in the passport. They are only readable by unique chip readers at a close distance, which speeds up immigration inspection and enhances border protection.

• Store Information Securely: An e-passport contains an embedded chip that stores crucial biological information, such as fingerprint and facial recognition data, along with digital information, like personal details, digital signatures, and digital photography, for secure storage.

• Biometric Information: The chip also contains a biometric identifier, such as a digital image of your passport photograph, which enables face recognition technology at entry and exit points.

• Digital Signature Protection: The chip utilises digital signature technology to authenticate the stored data.

• Data Protection: Once data is stored on an e-passport, it is permanently secured and cannot be deleted.

An e-Passport stores the biometric data of the passport holder. The essential data includes the following:

• Personal Information: The passport holder’s full name, date of birth, nationality, and passport number.

• Biometric Information: This includes fingerprints of the holder’s all 10 fingers and an iris scan.

• Digital Information: This consists of the holder’s signature and coloured photographs.

E-passports are more secure than standard passports and can help prevent identity theft and fraud. 

An e-passport works on the potential of the embedded rectangular antenna-type electronic chip of 64-kilobyte storage. 

e-Passports store information securely encrypted and accessible only by authorized parties using unique readers. When the passport is scanned at immigration control points, the chip is accessed to verify the traveller's identity, enhancing security and reducing the risk of fraud.

Besides knowing what an e-Passport is, Indians must also know the makers of this innovation.

It has been developed by the association of three major technical institutes in India -

• Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur.

• National Informatics Centre (NIC). 

• India Security Press and the Ministry of External Affairs officials.

Its inlay will comply with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards and work seamlessly worldwide. It is designed to prevent data access from any remote source.

Presently, e-Passports are used in around 120 countries worldwide. They also serve as proof of identity in various situations. E-passports are accepted in countries with automated border control and biometric verification systems. 

Read here to know where else you can use an e-Passport:

1. International Travel: E-passports are used for international travel and border crossings in countries that support biometric verification.
2. Domestic Travel: E-passports can also be used as a form of identification for domestic travel.
3. Other Situations: E-passports can serve as a form of identification in various scenarios where biometric verification is accepted.

Follow these steps to learn how to get e-passport and submit an application.

1. Visit the Official Passport website:

Go to the Passport Seva website, and click “Register Now” or log in with your existing ID.

2. Click on “Apply for Fresh Passport”:

Choose between “Apply for Fresh Passport” or “Re-issue of Passport” as per your requirement.

3. Fill out the Application Form Online:

Fill out the form online with accurate details.

4. Upload all the Documents and Submit:

Provide all the required documents and click on the “Submit Form”.

5. Pay and Schedule an Appointment:

Pay the applicable passport fees and schedule an appointment at the nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK).

6. Visit the Passport Office on the Schedule Date:

Visit the passport office on the appointment date to capture and verify your biometric details.

Here is how to get an electronic passport or e-passport follow these steps:

1. Download the E-Form or Collect the Application Form: You can collect the e-passport application form at the nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or download it from the official website.
2. Fill Out the Form: Fill out the application form with the required details accurately.
3. Get all the Necessary Documents: Gather all the necessary documents and self-attest them.
4. Pay the required fees: Pay the passport fee through a Demand Draft (DD) at the Passport Seva Kendra.
5. Receive an Acknowledgement Letter: After completing the process, you will receive an Acknowledgment Letter with the Application Receipt Number (ARN) to track the passport status.

E-Passport required documents are the same as a regular passport. Applicants need the following documents.

Documents for Address Proof

Any of the following documents will serve as address proof 

• Aadhar card

• Telephone bill

• Electricity bill

• Water bill

• Gas connection

• Rent agreement

• Passbook of running bank account with attached photo (account with any scheduled private sector, public sector, or rural, regional bank)

• Passport copy of spouse with first and last page with mentioned applicant name as a spouse. Also, the applicant's address should match the spouse's address on the passport

Note that individuals must furnish details of all the places they have resided in for the last year. 

Documents for Date of Birth Proof

You can provide any one of the following documents can be given as proof of birth date -

• Birth certificate from a legitimate authority

• Matriculation, transfer, or school leaving certificate issued by the authority of leave and educational board stating the last date of school attending

• Pan card

• Aadhar card

• Driving license

• Voter Id card

• Life insurance policy in the applicant’s name

Documents for Re-Issuance

Those with regular passports applying for re-issuance have to submit the following documents -

• Original passport

• Copy of the first and last page of the passport

• Observation page

• ECR or non-ECR page

If your passport is lost or stolen while abroad, you must report the loss to the nearest Police Station, Passport Office, or Indian Mission as soon as possible. You can then apply for a re-issue of your passport. 

The application may require specific documents, and you must provide details from your previous passport, including the passport number, date of issue, etc. If you don't have these details, contact the Indian Mission/Post. 

Now you know what an e-passport is and how it enhances security and speeds up passport verification during travel for both the government and citizens.