Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

01. Who can apply for passport in Regional Passport Office, Cochin? Ans.Residents of Alleppey, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam and Trichur Districts and the Union Territory of Lakshadweep can apply for passports at Regional Passport Office, Cochin. 02. Who is eligible to apply for Passport Ans.Any person who intends to travel abroad is required to have a separate passport. Normally, during the last one year of the validity of the existing Passport or within the next three years from the date of expiry, one can get it renewed without police verification. Passport, which have been expired before three years, can be renewd after fresh police verification. Every Passport booklet has a new number and 10 years validity. the validity of Passport issued to minors is 5 years till the minor attains the age of 18 03.Who can apply on-line? Ans.Everyone applying for a fresh passport, re-issue, has to apply on-line by uploading the data and submit the printed form. Applicants applying for Miscellaneous services, viz., ECNR, PCC, etc., cannot apply on-line. For detailed instructions and applying online, please visit www.passport.gov.in/cochin.html 04. Do I need to visit the Regional Passport Office, Cochin, to submit the application, if registered on-line? Ans.Yes. The applicant can also submit the application at the district passport cells or speed post centers designated for the purpose. 05. How do I make the payment? Ans.Payment can be made across the counter in cash or through Demand Draft drawn in favour of the Regional Passport Officer, Cochin, payable at Ernakulam. For tatkal applications, payment has to be made in cash. 06. How soon can one get a passport if he applies at the District Passport Cell?

Ans.Normally, one should receive the passport in 25 days, if the application is complete in all respects and the police verification is received, wherever applicable.. 07. What are the points on which special attention needs to be paid while filling up the application form? Ans. i. All applications except those for miscellaneous services should be applied online. Help is available for each field in the web form accessable at http://passport.gov.in/ ii. All columns should be filled or should be specifically marked as No/Yes or Not applicable. iii. If the applicant has stayed in more than one place during the last one year on the date of submission of his application, all the addresses should be indicated clearly with duration of stay and additional Personal Particulars Form should be filled up for each address. Any incomplete residential information, when noticed during the Police verification, not only attracts penalty but also leads to considerable delay in processing the case. Proof of having stayed in the same residence for one year is required. (For complete list of documents accepted as Proof of Address, please visit http://passport.gov.in/ ). The documents are to be self attested. The original documents have to be produced for verification at the counter. iv. if the previous passport did not have the name of spouse, please submit the Marriage Certificate or Joint Affidavit with joint-photograph. [In case the marriage is solemnized on or after 01-MAR-2008, the Marriage Certificate should be from the Registrar of Marriages.] v. Similarly, whenever the name of spouse is not mentioned in the new application, whereas the earlier passport had the name of spouse, please submit the Divorce Decree/Death certificate, as the case may be. vi. In case of Minor applicants, both the parents should sign the application form and Annexure H. If one of the parents is abroad, then the original Affidavit of No objection by that parent, attested by the nearest Indian Mission, should be enclosed. In case where parents do not have valid passports and the applicant desires to apply under tatkal scheme, one of the parents may submit Verification Certificate or 3 out of the 15 documents prescribed, with suitable proof of parentage and standard affidavit (Annexure I) along with the consent of the other parent in non judicial stamp paper attasted by Notary Public. vii. Applicants born on or after 26.1.1989 should submit the Birth Certificate issued by the Registrar of Births & Deaths. All other applicants should submit their SSLC/CBSE certificate as proof of date and place of birth. If the SSLC does not indicate the place of birth, a self declaration of place of birth should be submitted along with the proof of date of birth. Only illiterate applicants; and those above 50 years of age, who are unable to

produce proof of place/date of birth, can submit notarized affidavits in respect of their place/date of birth. viii. Ensure the photograph is facing towards the front with both ears visible, and has a contrasting plain background in comparison to the visage. Since the photographs are to be scanned, if the visage and background are of the same colour, it cannot be scanned properly. Photographs on the application should not bear any signature or stamp. Photographs with caps, dark spectacles/goggles or uniform is unacceptable. In case of infants, both the eyes should be open. ix. Single parents should submit affidavit as per Annexure G duly attested by the Magistrate . x. Guardians submitting applications on behalf of parents staying abroad, should submit Affidavits of guardianship duly notarized, along with 2 affidavits from witnesses who are known to the guardian. Parents' consent letter with authorised legal guardian's name attested by the concerned Indian Embassy is also acceptable. Legal guardian's proof of identity has also to be produced. xi. All forms and Affidavits are downloadable free of cost from the website www.passport.gov.in xii. Photocopies of documents submitted are only to be self-attested. xiii. TATKAL applications, which are accompanied by Annexure F should always be in duplicate and in the Official Stationery of the Officer issuing the certificate. The photograph of the Applicant should be attested and stamped with the office seal. A copy of the Identity Card of the Verifying Officer should also be enclosed. Defence officials who need not submit their photo ID should submit any other photo ID for record. Applications without the above will be rejected at the counter. 08. What do I do if I lose my passport? Ans.Obtain a First Information Report from the Police Station within the jurisdiction of the place where you lost the Passport. The FIR should clearly indicate the Passport Number which has been lost. If more than one passport is lost, one FIR would suffice. Submit a copy of the FIR in each case duly attested and indicating the application in which the original has been filed. Furnish a copy of the original FIR and all other documents required for submission of a normal passport, copy of the lost passport (if available), an Affidavit of Loss/Damage of Passport and Annexure I. If the duplicate passport is required urgently, Annexure F is to be enclosed additionally. If the passport was issued by another Passport Issuing Authority, a confirmation from that PIA about the particulars of the passport will be obtained, before the service is rendered. 09. What do I do, if I receive the passport with incorrect information or inadvertently receive passport of another person due to postal errors?

Ans. In case a passport with incorrect data is received, please submit your representation with the passport to this office. On scrutiny, if the mistake is found to be committed by this office, a passport will be issued gratis. Otherwise, you need to pay the fees. Applicants are requested to register their applications on-line which will ensure that the passport is prepared without any error. Handwritten are often illegible and the data entry operators are unable to decipher the correct information. If you happen to receive the passport of another person, please return the passport immediately to this office. 10. Can one collect the passport on the basis of authority letter? Ans.No. Passports are normally not handed over across the counter. If at all delivered so, it is only handed over to the applicant. Minors passport can be collected by either of the parents who have signed Annexure H. Passports on which miscellaneous service is rendered, is handed over across the counter to the applicant only. 11. What do I do if I have a Court case against me? Ans.Give full details in the appropriate columns in the application from. Further, obtain a Court order granting permission for travel abroad, which should be duly attested in original by the court and enclose the same to the application. If there are more than one case, the order should cover all the cases. Submit an undertaking to follow the Court directions for travel abroad as per the terms laid down and to surrender the passport any time, if directed by the authorities concerned. Suppression of information about pending court cases will attract penalty up to Rs.1000/- and add to the delay in processing the application. 12. Where do I submit my on-line application in the Passport Office? Ans.You have to submit the application along with the required documents and fee at Counter Nos. 2 or 4 13. After submitting my passport applications what should I do? Ans.In case of fresh Passport applications, Personal Particulars form is sent to the Commissioner/ Superintendent of Police of the concerned districts for verification. These authorities then send the PPF to your local area Police station for verification. Accordingly, if you do not hear from your local police station within 15 days from the date of your application, then visit the area Police station along with your documents and fee receipt and expedite the verification. 14. I am studying in Cochin and staying at Hostel. I do not have a Stay Proof. How can I apply for passport?

Ans. You should enclose a Bonafide Certificate from the College stating, inter alia, your present address there. 15. What should I check with my travel agent, before I submit my application? Ans. Approved travel agents can submit in one day up to 5 applications only on behalf of their clients. Accordingly, it is in your interest to find out when your application would be registered in the Regional Passport Office, Cochin, after handing over the forms to them. Fee for the various services are already indicated in our website http://www.passport.gov.in/ for comparison purposes. Always insist on the fee paid receipt of Passport Office with File Number to confirm submission of application. 16. Is marriage certificate compulsory while applying for a passport? Ans.Marriage Certificate is required for the applicants who have changed their maiden name to married name and those who are applying for reissue against the passport in which spouse's name is not entered. Those who married on or after 01.03.2008 should submit marriage registration certificate issued by Registrar of Marriages. 17. Is NOC mandatory for all governemnt servants? What is the validity period of NOC? Ans. NOC in duplicate, as per "Annexure B" in official stationery, is mandatory for all central/state government and PSU employees, while applying for fresh passport. For reissue of passport NOC in duplicate, as per "Annexure M" in official stationery should be enclosed along with the application. NOC is valid for 6 months from the date of issue. 18. What is the formality for applying for a passport in the case of applicants who are not able to produce marriage certificate or joint affidavit due to marital discord, separation or without formal divorce decree by the Court or due to total desertion by the spouse? Ans.For a single parent "Annexure K" endorsed by Judicial First Class Magistrate has to be submitted along with the application. 19. I got my passport from Delhi. Now I have shifted to Bangalore. Should I change my address in the passport? . If change is required, what are the documents required and how much time will it take? Ans. It is up to you to change the address. It is always better if your passport indicates your current address. For this purpose, you need to fill up passport application form online and submit it along with valid proof of your residential address at Passport Office of the area of where you are residing. 20. My Passport has been issued by one Passport Office. Can I apply for services in another Passport Office?

Ans. Yes. You can apply for miscellaneous services at Passport Office where you are presently residing with proof of address. 21. I dont have ECNR stamp in my Passport. Can I get it on the basis of my provisional matriculation or above certificate issued by the University/Board concerned? Ans. We are no longer affixing ECNR stamp in passports. In fact it is not even printed in the new passport booklets. Currently, only ECR stamp is being put in passports if applicant is not eligible for ECNR. However, you are entitled to ECNR status if you possess qualification of Matriculation or above. Even you can get ECNR status on the basis of provisional matriculation certificate if the mark sheets of all semesters of your course are available with you. 22. I have downloaded the application form from your website. Can I fill it up & submit? Ans. No, you to have to register online through passport office website, take printout, complete all columns and submit along with copy of the required documents. 23. Is Identity Certificate mandatory for State/Central Government/PSU employees? Ans. Yes. Identity Certificate (Annexure-"B") issued by the competent authority in prescribed Performa is a must for these employees for getting their passports, without police verification. 24. I am working in ICICI Bank? Am I required to furnish the Identity Certificate? Ans. Only those persons working in companies, which are owned by the State/Central Governments or Statutory Bodies, need to submit Identity Certificates. Employees of Private Banks are not required to submit Identity Certificates for getting passports. 25. I got my passport 2 years ago. I got married recently. Should I include my spouses name in my passport? If so, what is the procedure? Ans. It is better to include your spouses name in your passport. For this, you have to fill up application through online registration and submit it along with Marriage Registration Certificate, photocopy of spouses passport (if she has one) and proof of stay (if the present address is different from the one in the passport). Note : The procedure is the same if one wants to include her husbands name in the passport. 26. I have a one-month-old baby? Does the baby require a separate passport Or his/her name can be endorsed in one of the parents passport? Ans. Endorsement of childs name in parents passports is not allowed anymore. As per the amended law, minors should have separate passports.

27. In case of a minor child passport, whose father is abroad, whether consent is to be obtained to apply for a passport? If so, what is the procedure? Ans. Yes. Consent of the spouse, who is abroad, is required for submitting the application. It should be in the form of a Sworn Affidavit duly attested by the Indian Embassy/Consulate abroad. 28. My passport expired 4 years ago. Can I renew it? What is the procedure for it? Ans. In such a case, you have to fill up Application Form through Online Registration and submit it along with original/photocopy of your expired passport and proof of your residence/address. However, since the passport expired 4 years ago, fresh police verification will be required in your case. 29. I am a student staying away from my parents. Where do I apply for passport and what proof of residence shall I have to furnish? Ans. For instance, if you are a student staying in Trivandrum(which falls under the jurisdiction of RPO, Trivandrum) and your parents are staying in Cochin which also falls under the jurisdiction of RPO Cochin, You can apply at RPO, Cochin. For this purpose, along with your form you have to provide four Personal Particulars forms. Please also indicate your hostel address/the place where you are staying in Trivandrum as present address and your parents address as Permanent address. In case you are studying and staying in Bangalore , you can either apply to the Passport Office Bangalore or in the Passport Office in whose jurisdiction your parents address (permanent address) is located.e.g Delhi. In the later case , fill up an additional set of Personal particulars form giving the address in Bangalore. For proof of residence at your hostel/place of stay, either you should provide a letter from the Principal/Warden or proof of residence of the guardian with whom you are staying along with the guardianship affidavit. You should also provide proof of your parents address (i.e. permanent address). 30. I am a salaried person and Income tax is deducted from salary. What are the documents I need to submit for ECNR status? Ans. Form 16(a) for the last 3 years along with copies of acknowledgement of your income tax returns. 31. I shifted to Delhi 7 months back from Bangalore. I have to apply for a passport. As per instructions, one should have stayed for atleast one year at a given address. Can I apply for a passport at Passport Office, Delhi? If so, please let me know the procedure. Ans. Yes. You can apply at Passport Office, Delhi. For this purpose, you have to submit proof of seven months stay in Delhi and also mention the previous address in the application form for which you are also required to submit 2 additional Personal Particulars forms along with the application.

32. I have to travel to the UK next week on a company assignment. I dont have passport. Can I get a new passport under the Tatkal Scheme? Ans. Yes. You can apply under Tatkal scheme and pay the Tatkal fee of Rs. 1,500/-, and a Verification Certificate (Annexure-F) or three documents as mentioned under Tatkal Category of Passport Information Booklet along with Standard Affidavit (Annexure-I). 33. What documents are required when there is a change in name on account of Divorce. Ans. (i) Divorce deed duly authenticated by Court and (ii) Deed Poll or Sworn Affidavit as per specimen in Annexure D given in the Passport Information booklet attached to the application. 35. Is it mandatory to submit Birth Certificate in cases of those who are born on or after 26.01.1989 ? Ans. Yes, Birth Certificate issued by Municipal authorities only is acceptable for those born on or after 26.01.1989. 34. In a case of Muslim passport holder, whether entry of second wife name is allowed on passport. Ans. But the entry of first wife name will remain intact if divorce is not obtained.

I got my passport from Delhi. Now I have shifted to Bangalore. Should I change my address in the passport?If change is required, what are the documents required and how much time will it take? It is up to you to change the address. It is always better if your passport indicates your current address. For this purpose, you need to fill up form-II and submit it along with valid proof of your residential address at Passport Office of the area of where you reside. My Passport has been issued by one Passport Office. Can I apply for services in another Passport Office? Yes. You can apply for miscellaneous services at Passport Office where you are presently residing. WI don't have ECNR stamp in my Passport. Can I get it on the basis of my provisional matriculation or above certificate issued by the University/Board concerned?

The ECNR stamp us no longer affixed in passports. In fact it is not even printed in the new passport booklets. Currently, only ECR stamp is being put in passports if applicant is not eligible for ECNR. However, you are entitled to ECNR status if you possess qualification of Matriculation or above. Even you can get ECNR status on the basis of provisional matriculation certificate if the mark sheets of all semesters of your course are available with you. I have downloaded the application form from your website. Can I fill it up & submit? Yes. I have downloaded the application form for passport from the website. However in the column where specimen signatures of the applicant are required it says put the signatures also on the sticker's option, which is not available on the net. What should I do in this case? In this case, you need to put your signatures only below column 19 of the application form. Is Identity Certificate mandatory for State/Central Government/PSU employees? Yes. Identity Certificate (Annexure-"B") issued by the competent authority in prescribed Performa is a must for these employees for getting their passports, without police verification. I am working in ICICI Bank? Am I required to furnish the Identity Certificate? Only those persons working in companies, which are owned by the State/Central Governments, need to submit "Identity Certificates". Employees of Private Banks are not required to submit "Identity Certificates" for getting passports. I got my passport 2 years ago. I got married recently. Should I include my spouse's name in my passport? If so, what is the procedure? It is better to include your spouse's name in your passport. For this, please file up Form No.II(EAP-II) form and submit it along with marriage certificate, photocopy of spouse's passport (if she has one) and proof of stay (if the present address is different from the one in the passport). Note: The procedure is the same if one wants to include her husband's name in the passport. I have a one-month-old baby? Does the baby require a separate passport or his/her name can be endorsed in one of the parents' passport?

Endorsement of child's name in parents' passports is not allowed anymore. As per the amended law, minors should have separate passports. In case of a minor child passport, whose father is abroad, whether consent is to be obtained to apply for a passport? If so, what is the procedure? Consent of the spouse, who is abroad, is required for submitting the application. It should be in the form of a Sworn Affidavit duly attested by the Indian Embassy/Consulate abroad. What is the difference between Re-issue and Renewal of a passport? Passports are Re-issued after the expiry of their 10-year validity period. If you had been issued a Short Validity Passport (i.e. a passport of validity less than 10 years) apply for renewal to extend the normal validity of the existing passport to 10 years. In the case of Re-issue of passport a normal fee of Rs.1000/- will be charged whereas for extending the validity (renewal) no fee is charged. My passport expired 4 years ago. Can I renew it? What is the procedure for it? In such a case, you have to fill up Application Form No. I (EAP-I) form and submit it along with original/photocopy of your expired passport and proof of your residence/address. However, since the passport expired 4 years ago, fresh police verification will be required in your case. I am a student staying away from my parents. Where do I apply for passport and what proof of residence shall I have to furnish? For instance, if you are a student staying in Rohtak (which falls under the jurisdiction of RPO, Chandigarh) and your parents are staying in Hissar which also falls under the jurisdiction of RPO Chandigarh, You can apply at RPO, Chandigarh. For this purpose, along with your form you have to provide four Personal Particulars forms. Please also indicate your hostel address/the place where you are staying in Rohtak as present address and your parent's address as Permanent address. In case you are studying and staying in Bangalore, you can either apply to the Passport Office Bangalore or in the Passport Office in whose jurisdiction your parents' address (permanent address) is located e.g. Delhi. In the later case, fill up an additional set of Personal particulars form giving the address in Bangalore. For proof of residence at your hostel/place of stay, either you should provide a letter from the Principal/Warden or proof of residence of the guardian with whom you are staying along with the guardianship affidavit. You should also provide proof of your parents address (i.e. permanent address). What is the difference in procedure between applying in person and by Post? While you apply in person, two copies of all the documents duly self attested have to be handed over at the counter along with the originals, which will be returned after

verification at the counter immediately. While applying by post, you have to submit two copies of all the documents duly attested by a Gazetted Officer bearing his name seal and address of his office. I am a salaried person and Income tax is deducted from salary. What are the documents I need to submit for ECNR status? Form 16(a) for the last 3 years along with copies of acknowledgement of your returns. I shifted to Delhi 7 months back from Bangalore. I have to apply for a passport. As per instructions, one should have stayed for at least one year at a given address. Can I apply for a passport at Passport Office, Delhi? If so, please let me know the procedure. You can apply at Passport Office, Delhi. For this purpose, you have to submit proof of seven months' stay in Delhi and also mention the previous address in the application form for which you are also required to submit 2 additional Personal Particulars forms along with the application. I have to travel to the UK next week on a company assignment. I don't have passport. Can I get a new passport under the Tatkal Scheme? Yes. You can apply under Tatkal scheme and pay the Tatkal fee of Rs.1,500/1000 as the case may be, and a Verification Certificate (Annexure-F) or three documents as mentioned under Tatkal Category of Passport Information Booklet along with Standard Affidavit (Annexure-I). What documents are required when there is a change in name on account of Divorce?

Divorce deed duly authenticated by Court and Deed Poll or Sworn Affidavit as per specimen in Annexure-D given in the Passport Information booklet attached to the application.

Is it mandatory to submit Birth Certificate in cases of those who are born on or after 26.01.1989? Yes, Birth Certificate issued by Municipal authorities only is acceptable for those born on or after 26.01.1989. In a case of Muslim passport holder, whether entry of second wife name is allowed on passport? Yes. But the entry of first wife name will remain intact if divorce is not obtained.