As an Indian citizen, and someone who needs to have a valid passport in possession for documentation and traveling purposes, you should be aware of any and all changes being made to the rules and regulations of issuing an Indian Passport. The Ministry of External Affairs (MoEA) has made modifications to the issuing of passports in the country. Here’s what you need to know –
As per updated guidelines, eight different documents can be provided as proof of Date of Birth while receiving the application for passports. They are:-
1. Certificate of Birth issued by the Registrar of Birth and Deaths or the Municipal Corporation or any other prescribed authority, who are empowered under the Registration of Birth and Death Act, 1969 to register the birth of children born in India.
2. Transfer or school leaving or Matriculation Certificate issued by the school or by any recognised educational board containing Date of Birth (DoB) of the applicant.
3. PAN Card issued by the Indian Income Tax Department stating Date of Birth (DoB) on it.
4. Aadhar Card or E-Aadhar with the Date of Birth (DoB) of the applicant.
5. The copy of the service record of the applicant of Government servant or the Pay Pension Order of the retired Government Servants duly attested or certified by the officer-in-charge of the Administration of the concerned Ministry or Department of the applicant, having his Date of Birth (DoB).
6. Driving License (DL) issued by the Transport Department of concerned State Government.
7. Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) issued by the Election Commission of India having the DoB of the applicant.
8. Policy Bond issued by the Public Life Insurance Corporations or Companies having the DoB of the holder of the insurance policy.
Over and above these updates being made to the issuing of Passports in India, are these changes being implemented as well –
- Only one parent name is required while filing an online passport application. It can be either mother’s or father’s name or any legal guardian. This step has been taken to simplify the process for single parents who will be able to apply for the passport of their children.
- In the case of divorced or separated person, it is not mandatory to add the name of the spouse in the passport application form.
- Orphaned children who do not have any birth certificate or any matriculation certificate may submit a declaration given by the Head of the Child Care Home or Orphanage on their official letterhead confirming the date of birth of the applicant.
- For applications for in-country domestically adopted children, submission of the registered adoption deed would no longer be required. In the absence of any deed to this effect, the passport applicant may give a declaration on a plain paper confirming the adoption.
- Government employees, who do not have an Identity card or no-objection certificate can also apply for a passport. They have to submit a self-declaration in Annexure-N stating that the applicant has given intimation letter to the employer informing him/her that he/she has applied for a passport.
- Sadhus and Sanyasis can mention the name of their spiritual guru instead of their biological parents’ name in the passport application form. They are mandated to provide at least one identity card like Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC), PAN Card or Aadhar Card where the name of the Guru has been recorded against the column of the parents’ name.
For more information, kindly click here to visit the official Ministry of External Affairs website.
