Overview

Fees :

Documents Required

Photo Specification

Note: Applicants are requested to ensure that photographs submitted with the application are strictly as per the below guidelines, any variations may lead to application being not submitted.

• 2 Un-mounted – 2 inch x 2 inch in size.
• Face should cover about 70 to 80% of the photo area.
• Frame Subject with Full Face, Front view, Eyes open
• Taken within the last 6 months to reflect your current appearance.
• The photographs must be clear, well defined and taken against a plain white background.
• Appropriate brightness and contrast showing your skin tones naturally
• Even lighting (no shadows across or behind the face)
• Face must be square to the camera with a neutral expression, neither frowning nor smiling and with your mouth closed.
• If you must wear a head covering for religious reasons, make sure your full facial features are not obscured.
• Non-tinted prescription glasses are allowed as long as your eyes are clearly visible. Make sure that the frame does not cover any part of your eyes. Sunglasses are not acceptable.
• Headphones, wireless hands-free devices, or similar items are not acceptable in your photo.
• Photograph for Child/babies – The photograph should show the baby or child awake, looking straight at the camera with mouth closed and nothing covering the mouth. It should also show both edges of the face clearly (no toys, blankets, chair backs or other people visible) and no hair across the eyes.

FAQ

• What passport services are offered by the Indian Visa & Consular Application Centre in UK?

  The following five services are offered:

  • Re-issue of passport on expiry of full validity passport or on exhaustion of pages or change of name/surname/signature or change/addition/deletion of name of spouse or change of address.
  • Issue of fresh passport in lieu of lost/stolen/damaged passport.
  • Issue of first time passport to a new born child.
•  

• What is Re-issue of passport on expiry of full validity passport?

  Full validity passports have a life of ten years (five years in the case of minors). The expiry date is always mentioned in all passports. A passport holder can apply for reissue of his/her passport one year before expiry of the passport or after final expiry of the passport.

• How to avail the service of re-issue of passport on expiry of its life or exhaustion of pages or change of name/surname/signature or change/addition/deletion of name of spouse or change of address?

  Fill up the online application form carefully without leaving any column or item blank. Two colour photographs of size 2 inch X 2 inch with white background are required to be enclosed. Paste one photograph on the application form and hand over the others in an envelope with the application at the centre. The Indian passport, requiring re-issue, needs to be submitted with the application. The applicant also needs to produce document (valid visa/ILR) to prove that he or she has valid landing rights/ stay permit in the UK. The prescribed fee is also payable by the applicants. Also please see the relevant page (s) for availing passport services.

• Can one apply for Machine Readable Passport of normal 10-years validity as a replacement of 20-years validity passport or as a replacement of a hand written passport as this is causing difficulty in obtaining visa for many countries whose authorities are objecting to a 20-years validity passport or a hand written passport?

  Yes. It is in the interest of the applicant to get a new 10-years Passport as the Government of India has dispensed with the issuance of 20-years Passport and hand written Passport in accordance with extant rules. Please follow the same procedure as is meant for re-issue of a passport on expiry of its validity. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has set a deadline of the 24th November 2015 for globally phasing out all non-Machine Readable Passports (MRPs). From 25th November 2015 onwards, foreign Governments may deny visa or entry to any person travelling with a non-Machine Readable Passport. All handwritten passports with pasted photos earlier issued by Government of India are considered non-Machine Readable Passports. All 20-years validity passports will also fall in this category. The Government of India started issuing Machine Readable Passports since 2001. All new Indian passports are ICAO-compliant Machine Readable Passports .Indian citizens residing in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and holding handwritten passports as well as 20-years passports with validity beyond the 24th November 2015, should, therefore, apply for re-issue of passports and obtain Machine Readable Passports well before the deadline in order to avoid any inconvenience in obtaining foreign visa or immigration problem.

• What procedure is to be followed and documents enclosed with the application to obtain a fresh passport in lieu of a lost/stolen/damaged passport?

  Please see the passport document section for details. Usually, the applicant is interviewed by an officer at the Passport Section of the High Commission and its respective Consulates before accepting the application. The most important requirement in lost/stolen cases is to provide documentary evidence of the applicant’s current nationality as an Indian. Needless to say, a photocopy of the lost Indian passport is of great value. In the absence of a photocopy of the lost passport, important details of it such as number, date of issue, place of issue are of great help. If neither photocopy nor the details of the lost passport are available, the applicant is advised to produce as much evidence as possible of being an Indian. Indian voter’s identity card, Aadhar Card, Indian driving license, PAN card issued by income tax authority or any other photo identity paper/card issued by a Governmental authority in India are examples. The other documents required would be a certificate from local police indicating registration of the loss of the passport. Separately, the applicant has to furnish a self-certified statement detailing the circumstances in which he or she lost the passport. Documents such as utility bills (electricity, water, and telephone, and bank statement, NHS card) to prove place of residence in UK also need to be enclosed. The common requirement of proving availability of valid stay rights in UK (visa/ILR) is also applicable to this service. In case the ILR of the applicant is more than one year old, he or she would be required to additionally prove that he or she has not acquired British nationality. This can be done by furnishing a certificate from the UK Home Office.

  The applicants may also have to furnish an affidavit stating that (a) he/she has not acquired foreign nationality/does not hold the travel document of a foreign country, (b) has not applied for asylum in UK/a foreign country, (c) his current landing rights is not that of a political refugee and (d) he has not entered UK illegally. In case, the applicant is an illegal immigrant he may have to additionally mention the circumstances in which he or she entered UK. It is also a requirement that the applicant has to satisfy that his visa/stay rights in UK are not based on grant of asylum directly or indirectly.

  The applicant may have to truthfully disclose if he or she had ever applied for asylum. All cases where an application was made to UK Government for asylum would need disclosure about the current status of such application. The status could be either of the following: (a) rejected, (b) under consideration before an appellate authority after rejection, (c) accepted, (d) under consideration. The onus of proving the current status of such application with credible documents would be on the applicant. In case the applicant’s application for asylum has been rejected or withdrawn, an affidavit stating his recant from his earlier position against government of India would also become necessary. This affidavit can be made under oath before the competent officer of the High Commission or at its respective Consulates on payment of the prescribed fee. Alternatively, such an affidavit can be made before a notary public, which is also acceptable.

• Is it essential to have valid visa/stay rights in UK to apply for a replacement passport in lieu of a lost/stolen or damaged one?

  This is an essential requirement depending upon circumstances of each individual case. An applicant is required to satisfactorily convince the passport officer that grant of an SVP would facilitate obtaining of landing permit/ stay rights in the UK.

• How much time would it take to get a replacement passport in lieu of a lost passport?

  Issuing replacement passports in lieu of lost passports would take different time periods as situations vary widely. It is difficult to spell out a standard time norm for this service. Normally, cases in which the photocopy of the lost passport or relevant details of the lost passport are available and readily traceable in the database of the High Commission and its respective Consulates, the time taken to replace the passports could be 6-8 weeks. Other cases in which such details are unavailable or are not readily authenticated against a check of records in our database, more time would be required. In latter cases, often the personal particulars including the photograph of the applicant is sent to original passport issuing authority in India or abroad for authentication of the lost passport particulars. In cases where such passport details are either not available or the lost passport is expired for more than three (3) years, an additional verification by local police in India to prove the Indian nativity/nationality of the applicant would be essential. Such cases, needless to say, would take more time. Usually authentication by passport issuing authorities take four to six weeks and verification by police takes as many as three to six months. Applicants should accordingly calculate their own time norm before enquiring about the status of their pending applications.

• What procedure is to be followed and documents enclosed with the application to obtain a fresh passport in lieu of a damaged passport?

  The procedure followed in this case by and large is the same as the one followed in case of procedure meant for issue of a replacement passport in lieu of a lost/stolen passport. The only difference being that in damaged passport cases, the applicants are not required to lodge police report.

• Is it necessary for the parents to also sign the application meant for issue of a new passport for a new born child?

  Yes. Both the parents need to sign to the effect that the particulars of the new born child mentioned in the application are correct and parents are responsible for its correctness.

• What are the requirements regarding appending thumb impression of a new born child on the application form?

  Yes. It is necessary. There is an earmarked space for the purpose. Left thumb impression for a male child and right thumb impression for a female child needs to be appended at this earmarked space.

• What is the procedure to apply for an Emergency Certificate (EC) to travel to India?

  The application form is the same form meant for passport services. The procedure followed is the same as the one meant for issue of a new passport in lieu of lost/stolen/damaged passport. Please see relevant question-answer above. The only difference is that in the case of EC, it is not necessary that the applicant should be in possession of valid landing rights/stay permit in UK.

• Can an applicant request for a change or amendment in any of the personal particulars in his/her passport at the time of re-issue of his/her passport?

  Yes. Applicant, however, has to clearly mention at appropriate place that he/she is seeking an amendment in one or more personal particulars. It is relevant to mention that normally no amendments are permissible unless trustworthy documentary evidence is provided in support of the claimed change in status. Additionally, the High Commission and its respective Consulates may, in certain cases (such as a change in name) also like to know the purpose for seeking a change. For certain personal particulars, special documents are needed to show that the mandatory procedure has been followed. For details, please visit the relevant links.

• Can UK address be reflected in Indian passport?

  Usually an UK address is not permitted on the Indian passport. However, in exceptional circumstances only when the applicant proves that he/she does not have any permanent address in India and additionally, he/she has Indefinite Leave to Remain in UK, an applicant is permitted to reflect his/her UK address in his/her Indian passport. If necessary, the High Commission & its respective Consulates might ask for an affidavit from the applicant about him/her not having a permanent address in India. For others who would like to reflect their UK address in addition to their permanent address in India, the service is available by way of an endorsement on the Indian passport as an observation.

• How to change my old photo/ incorporate my new photo to match my current appearance which has changed?

  In this case, a fresh passport has to be issued to provide this service. The application form is the same for general passport application form.

• Can additions like change of address, addition/deletion of spouse name be done at the time of re-issue?

  Yes. This is, however, subject to requirements being met for such services.

• Which Passport services are covered under Tatkal Scheme?

  Re-issue of Passport on expiry or up to one year before expiry (having a valid Visa), re-issue of Passport on exhaustion of pagesand lost/stolen/damaged passports in respect of casual visitors to the UK subject to availability of the record of the current Passport in our database. Tatkal Service is rendered in emergent situations (family bereavement, medical emergency etc.) on production of supporting document (s), confirmed journey ticket’s copy and written request from the applicant explaining the emergency. Discretion rests with the High Commission and its respective Consulates. Applicants have to bring the proof of emergency along with other applicable documents. Processing time is 1-3 working days subject to production of proof of the emergency or if the Passport Officer is satisfied of the emergency situation during interview with the applicant. Since new full validity passports in respect of the applications received at HCI, London are now printed in India, applications under Tatkal Scheme are processed only for short validity passport valid for two years.

• Which Passport services are not covered under Tatkal Scheme?

  Services pertaining to re-issue of expired Passport (over a year)/Passport holder staying in UK without valid Visa/ Passport holders who are residents in UK and whose Passports have been Lost or Stolen or Damaged/ Emergency Certificate applications in respect of applicants resident in UK/ applications sent by post and where records of the Passport are unavailable or incomplete in our data base, are not covered under Tatkal Scheme. Please note that the reasons pertaining to travel plans or visa applications to other Embassies may not qualify as reasons for Tatkal Service.

• Is there just one application form for all Passport services?

  Yes.

• Should the name in Visa document/sticker or Residence Permit match with that in the Passport?

  Yes. Otherwise, a short validity Passport would be issued in cases where there are minor differences in the name on the Passport and name on Visa/Residence Permit. Normal validity passport will be issued only after the applicant furnishes correct documents.

• Is it true that Passport would not be issued if there is a major difference in the name on the Passport and the name on Visa/Residence Permit?

  Yes. If this is the case, then the applicant would be asked to rectify/clarify the anomaly. Any further service would be extended only after the rectification/clarification.

• Which documents are accepted as Proof of Identity/Nationality (if required)?

  Any one or more of the following documents can be produced:
  (a) Copy of Indian Passport
  (b) Damaged Passport in original
  (c) Photo Identity Cards issued in India such as Driving License, Election ID Card, Ration Card or PAN Card, Adhaar Card,
  (d) Letter from employer certifying applicant’s identity
  (e) Letter of introduction from two Indian nationals based in the UK
  (f) For students, a Certificate issued by the concerned educational/training institution; and
  (g) For short term visitors/tourists to the UK documents such as air tickets, boarding passes, itinerary and copy of Visa.

• Do photocopies of original documents need to be attested by the applicant?

  Yes. All original documents must be accompanied by self-attested photocopies. The original documents should be presented for scrutiny at the time of submission of application or sent by post if the application is sent by post.

• Can I send my Passport application through a travel agent?

  No. High Commission & its respective Consulates have not authorized any agent to submit the applications. Applicants need to submit the application at the Indian Visa & Consular Application Centre personally or through a close family member (spouse or blood relative) bearing an authorization letter from the applicant and Photo ID of the bearer (proving the close relation between applicant and bearer). Travel Agents/Agents/Solicitors are not permitted to submit applications on behalf of applicants. Please report to the High Commission& its respective Consulates if anyone claims to provide such services. Application for Indian Passport services have been outsourced to VF Services UK with effect from 1st March, 2015. Visit their website for more details.

• Can I pay Fee for Passport services by Credit or Debit Card/Bank Draft/Cheque?

  Fee for Passport services at the Indian Visa & Consular Application Centre can be paid by Cash or Debit or Credit card Postal Order and Bank Draft payable to”VF Services UK Ltd.

• Can I send my application By Post?

  No. Indian Visa & Consular Application Centre will not accept any application by post for this service. Applicants are required to submit the application at the Indian Visa & Consular Application Centre personally or through an immediate family member (spouse or blood relative) bearing an authorization letter from the applicant and Photo ID of the bearer (proving the close relation between applicant and bearer).

  Applications sent by Post /Travel Agents/Agents/Solicitors on behalf of applicants will not be accepted. Please report to the High Commission or its respective Consulates (www.hcilondon.in) if anyone claims to provide such services. Application for Indian Passport services have been outsourced to VF Services UK with effect from 1 March 2015.

• What additional documents are required in case the passport has expired?

  For passports expired less than one year, a self-explanation letter as to why the passport was not renewed in time needs to be submitted. If passport is expired more than one year but less than 3 years, a notarized affidavit along with a self-explanation letter as to why the passport was not renewed after expiry for such a long time needs to be submitted. If passport is expired for more than 3 years, Personal Particular Form (in duplicate with 4 extra photos) is required to be attached with the application form in addition to a notarized affidavit and a self-explanation letter as to why the passport was not renewed after expiry for such a long time needs to be submitted. Please see the relevant links for full documentation requirements in different scenarios.

• In case of minors do both parents have to be present with the minor?

  If applying in person for minor, either of the parent can visit the application centre to submit the application with an authority/consent letter from the parent not appearing, authorizing the other parent to apply alone. The minor being present is optional.

• Are all fields on the application form required to be filled even if they do not apply?

  Yes, please fill all fields on the application form or N/A where not applicable.

• Can High Commission or its respective Consulates provide service to the applicants who are on a temporary visits/short visa in UK and require any service with respect to their passports?

  Temporary/short visa visitors are generally not provided any passport service. However, in lost/stolen/damaged cases and other exceptional cases, the service can be provided. Discretion rests with the High Commission of India and its respective Consulates.

• Can someone else apply on behalf of the applicant?

  Only a close family member (spouse or blood relative) can apply on behalf of an applicant with a proper authority letter and proof of relationship.

• Do all applicants need a Change of Appearance Affidavit?

  When there is a significant difference in appearance of the applicant compared to the photograph on the previous passport, a change in appearance affidavit is required.

• Above what age adult passport is issued?

  New Passport for Adults (on and above 18 years)

• What is validity of passport?

  A new Passport is required when the old passport has completed its 10 year validity (for Adults: on and above 15 years) and 5 year validity (for Minors: under 15 years) from the date of issue or where a new booklet is necessitated on account of change in basic particulars like name, appearance, seeking amendment in date of birth etc. or when all the pages have been used.

• Till what time Passport could be submitted for reissue before the date of expiry?

  The passport can be submitted for re-issue up to one year before the date of expiry.

• Can my child (minor) travel on my Passport?

  All minors are required to have a separate passport. Old practice of including a child’s name in the Passport of either of the parents has been discontinued.

• Whose declaration is required in case of issue of passport of a minor?

  Application for issue of passport to minor requires an additional declaration from both the parents

• Can I retain my Indian passport for travel after acquiring a foreign nationality?

  On acquiring a foreign nationality, the Indian passport should be surrendered at the nearest Indian Visa & Consular Application Center. It will be then returned to the holder after cancellation. Use of Indian Passport for travel to India after acquiring any foreign nationality is an offence and invites penalty. After acquiring a foreign citizenship, you do not remain an Indian citizen and need Indian visa to visit India.

• 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. In case you were issued a Short Validity Passport (i.e. a passport with validity of less than 10 years), it can be renewed to extend its validity for a period up to 10 years from the date of issue. The Passport number does not change as the booklet remains the same. Only an entry is made in the passport extending its validity date. In the case of Re-issue of Passport, a new booklet is issued and your Passport number changes. A Passport which has completed its life of 10 years cannot be renewed.

• What if I make a mistake in passport application form?

  After filling the online passport application form, if you realize that the information is incorrect on the form printout (e.g. spelling mistakes, incorrect date of birth, etc), you have to fill the form again with the correct details and take a printout of this corrected passport form.

• Is my passport fee refundable in case I choose to back out from my application?

  Fee once paid is not refundable.