Government
of India
Ministry
of External Affairs
CPV
Division
(Patiala
House, Tilak Marg, New Delhi)
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December
23, 2014
PUBLIC
ADVISORY
***
Indian citizens
living in India and abroad are advised to apply for urgent
re-issuance of their passports in the following cases:-
(i). HANDWRITTEN
PASSPORTS
The
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has set a deadline
of the 24th
November, 2015 for globally phasing out of all non-Machine Readable
Passports (MRPs). From
the 25th
November, 2015 onwards, foreign Governments may deny Visa or entry to
any person travelling on a non-Machine Readable Passport.
The Government of
India has been issuing Machine Readable Passports since 2001. The
Passports, however, issued before 2001 and particularly those issued
during mid 1990s with a validity of 20 years will fall in the
category of non-MRPs. All handwritten passports with pasted
photographs are also considered non-MRPs.
By the end of
November 2014, it is estimated that there are approximately 2.86 lakh
handwritten passports in circulation. Approximately 6 crore Indian
hold valid passports.
Indian citizens
residing in India and abroad and holding such passports with validity
beyond the 24th
November, 2015 are advised to apply for re-issue of their passports
well before the deadline in order to avoid any inconvenience in
obtaining valid visa or international travel.
(ii) PASSPORTS
VALID FOR LESS THAN SIX MONTHS
Many international
travellers may not realise that having an unexpired passport is
sometimes not enough to obtain Visas or to enter certain foreign
countries. Indian
citizens travelling on Passports which may expire in less than six
months should renew their passports
before any upcoming international travel. It is especially important
to check the passports needs of any minor who may be accompanying
their parents as passports for minors have a shorter validity period
(5 years) than passports for adults (10 years). The universal
practice in vogue now is; “Once
your passport crosses the nine-year mark, it is time to get new
passport”.
(iii) EXHAUSTION
OF VISA PAGES
Some countries do
not accept passports which may have fewer than two pages remaining.
Please
check your passport to ensure that you have enough visa pages. There
is no provision of additional booklets/pages and you will be required
to apply reissuance of passport following standard procedures.
Frequent travellers may opt for Jumbo Passport containing 64 pages.
2. All
Passport Issuing Authorities have instituted a simple and fast-track
procedure for renewal of passports. For more details related to
passport services, website –
www.passportindia.gov.in
- or the National Call Centre (1800-258-1800
- Toll Free)
may be accessed. Indian citizens living abroad should visit the
website of respective Indian Mission/Post.
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