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

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.

Team Digit

What is an e-Passport?
Benefits & Features
Data Stored on an e-Passport
Chip-Based e-Passports
Where to Use e-Passport?
Apply for e-Passport Online & Offline
Documents Required
e-Passport vs Regular Passport
Loss of e-Passport While Travelling Abroad
Frequently Asked Questions

What is an e-Passport?

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.

What are the Benefits of an e-Passport?

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.

What are the Features of e-Passport?

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.

What Data is Stored on an e-Passport?

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.

How Do Chip Based e-Passports Work?

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.

Where Can You Use an e-Passport?

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:

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

How to Apply for an e-Passport Online?

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.

How to Apply for an e-Passport Offline?

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

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.
Fill Out the Form: Fill out the application form with the required details accurately.
Get all the Necessary Documents: Gather all the necessary documents and self-attest them.
Pay the required fees: Pay the passport fee through a Demand Draft (DD) at the Passport Seva Kendra.
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.

What are the Documents Required for an e-Passport?

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

Difference Between e-Passport and Regular Passport

Here are the differences between e-passports and regular passports.

Basis	e-Passport	Regular Passport
Microchip	An e-passport contains a microchip that stores biometric, fingerprint, and facial recognition data.	Regular passports do not have a microchip and depend on printed information.
Data Encryption	An e-passport has security features and encrypted data to prevent tampering.	Regular passports have physical security features and can be read by machines.
Electronic Verification	An e-passport has a process for electronic verification. This makes it faster to verify using an e-passport reader.	Regular passports must be manually verified, making the processing slower and less secure.
RFID Technology	An e-passport uses a special RFID technology to send information to unique e-passport reader devices, which speeds up processing.	Regular passports do not use RFID technology, which can lead to longer waiting times.

Note: Passport fees for regular and e-passports are the same. Both types of passports are recognized internationally as proof of identity and citizenship.

What to Do if You Lose Your e-Passport While Travelling Abroad?

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.

FAQs about Electronic Passport/e-Passport

All

Are e-passports available in India?

Yes, e-passports are available in India since 2021. Anybody applying for a new passport or re-issue of the passport will get an e-passport.

Is there any change in the passport making or renewal fees for e-passport?

No, the charges for issuing and re-issuing an e-Passport are the same as those for normal passports. The fee is ₹1500 for 36 pages of the booklet for visa and ₹2000 for 60 pages of the booklet for the visa.

How does the Indian E-Passport with a microchip operate?

An E-Passport operates on the principle that it can electronically store and transport data thanks to the embedded microprocessor. The passport's chip may store up to 60 kilobytes of data, allowing it to include all kinds of holder-related information.

Where can an E-Passport be used?

When travelling, you can use an E-Passport for identification just like a regular or conventional passport. It can be used to bypass long lines and finish security checks more quickly for domestic and international travel.

What is the purpose of an e-Passport?

An e-Passport is an electronic or biometric passport that contains identity details and an electronic chip which stores fingerprints, photos, and signatures.

What is the difference between a regular passport and e-Passport?

An e-Passport in India contains an electronic data chip, providing additional security compared to a regular passport. It enhances the link between a passport and its rightful owner and helps prevent counterfeiting.

Whereas a regular passport or machine-readable passport (MRP) typically includes data pages with printed information about the owner that an optical reader can scan.

Can you travel with an e-Passport?

Yes, you can travel with an e-Passport just like a traditional passport. E-Passports are recognized in nations that support biometric verification for their advanced security features and hassle-free travel experience.

What are the benefits of e-Passport in India?

The benefits of an e-Passport in India are enhanced security, speedy immigration clearance, and data safety.

How do I know if my passport is an e-Passport?

The e-Passport will be visually identifiable as a small, additional gold-coloured symbol printed below the passport's front cover.

What documents are required for an e-Passport?

The documents required for an e-passport include address proof, an original passport, a copy of the first and last pages of the passport, an observation page, and an ECR or non-ECR page.

Is it mandatory for existing valid passport holders to replace their passports with e-Passport?

No, you do not have to replace a valid passport with a new one. Indian passports are valid until their expiration date. However, you can get a new passport for up to one year.

Can I complete my e-Passport application online?

Yes, you can complete your e-Passport application online. Here are the steps to apply for an e-Passport online in India:

Register on the portal or log in with your registered ID.
Click "Apply for Fresh Passport/Re-issue of Passport and fill out the form and submit it.
Click "Pay and Schedule Appointment" on the "View Saved/Submitted Applications" screen.
Pay the fees online and Schedule an appointment.
Visit your local passport office for biometric enrollment and to collect your e-passport using the delivery slip from enrollment.

How do I upgrade from my old passport to an e-Passport?

If you want to upgrade your old passport to an E-Passport in India, you have to apply to get your passport reissued and then submit the original passport to the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK). This process is just like applying for a new passport online.

How long will I have to wait to receive my e-Passport?

Depending on the type of application, you can obtain an e-passport in India within 7 to 21 days. Regular applications typically take 7 to 10 days, while tatkal applications are processed within 1 to 3 days.

Who is eligible to obtain an e-Passport?

If you're eligible for a regular passport in India, you can also apply for an e-passport. The same documents are required for both types of passports.

Who are the developers of e-Passport technology in India?

E-passport technology in India is a joint effort of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, the National Informatics Centre (NIC), the India Security Press, and the Ministry of External Affairs.

Can information be modified in an e-Passport?

No, information in an e-passport cannot be modified. If changes are needed, a new passport must be obtained. E-Passports are more secure than traditional passports, and most authorities lock the data once it's programmed, making it difficult to change.

How many countries can I use an e-Passport in?

You can use an e-passport in over 120 countries. E-passports are like upgraded traditional passports, with an embedded chip containing the holder's biometric information. The chip's security features are recognized worldwide, so e-passports are acceptable in countries that support biometric verification.

Are there any additional charges required to obtain or renew an E-Passport?

No, you do not need to pay additional charges to obtain or renew an e-passport. You can do so by paying normal passport fees, which are ₹1500 for regular and ₹2000 for tatkaal.