17-05-2025
India launches e-passports with enhanced security features: All you need to know about their benefits, security and how to apply online
India has formally joined the list of more than 120 nations, such as the United States, Canada, France, Japan, and Australia, in issuing biometric e-passports to its citizens. The move is a historic shift in enhancing national security, streamlining international travel, and keeping pace with ICAO international standards. As global travel recovers and border security assumes worldwide priority, India's move to biometric e-passports puts it at the leading edge of the technological transformation of identity management.
What is an e-passport
A biometric e-passport, or an electronic passport or e-passport, is an advanced form of the conventional passport. It combines sophisticated digital technology to embed the passport holder's personal and biometric details safely. The heart of an e-passport is an embedded Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip in the back cover of the booklet. It holds:
A small gold rectangle symbol on the cover indicates that the passport is equipped with electronic functionality.
How to apply for e-passports online
Indian nationals can apply for a biometric e-passport either through the Passport Seva Online Portal or in person at a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK).
E-passports security features
To protect data and conform to international standards, biometric e-passports employ various digital encryption and authentication techniques, such as:
These standards are regulated by the ICAO Document 9303, which requires interoperability between nations and provides a seamless international verification.
E-passports advantages
Improved security
Biometric e-passports offer a greater degree of security than conventional passports. The use of biometric information such as fingerprints and facial recognition ensures that the passport can be used by the owner alone, limiting the possibility of fraud and identity theft.
Streamlined immigration process
E-passports simplify the immigration process by facilitating automated and contactless identity verification at checkpoints for immigration. This considerably minimizes waiting times at border control points, enhancing the efficiency and minimizing the stress of international travel for commuters.
Global recognition and compatibility
Biometric e-passports adhere to international specifications laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), so they can be used at airports and border checkpoints across the globe. This makes international travel easier, as a large number of countries accept these passports.
Prevention of identity fraud
The sophisticated security mechanisms in biometric e-passports render it challenging for individuals to make changes or replicate passports. This aids in thwarting identity fraud and maintains the passport holder's individual information secure from abuse.
Convenience for travelers
E-passports make traveling easier by enabling the user to travel through automated e-gates at airports, without the need for manual inspection. This reduces travel time and makes travel more convenient, particularly at busy travel times.
Enhances national security
By including biometric information, e-passports promote national security. They enable improved tracking of people crossing borders, and the secure information prevents activities such as illegal immigration and identity theft, improving overall border control mechanisms.
Simple data management and updating
With e-passports, it is easier and more convenient to update or renew personal data. The electronically stored data can be readily accessed and updated, such that the renewal process is faster and more streamlined.
Fosters digital transformation
Biometric e-passports are a major development toward a completely digital system for travel. Their application facilitates the worldwide shift toward paperless travel and digital identities, leading to innovation in international mobility in the future.
Why India adopted biometric e-passports
India's initiative to implement biometric e-passports is a response to the increasing requirement to:
The government intends to empower Indian citizens with a travel document that is recognized worldwide for its security, authenticity, and digital features.
Indian cities that adopted e-passports with embedded chip
India rolled out its biometric e-passport project under the Passport Seva Programme 2.0, a technology-driven update of the national passport issuing system. The pilot operation commenced in April 2024, with an intention to focus on selected cities such as:
In Tamil Nadu, the issuance of e-passports started at the Regional Passport Office in Chennai on March 3, 2025. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reported that more than 20,700 e-passports were issued in the state in three weeks of launch. A nationwide rollout is scheduled by mid-2025, with biometric passports to become the default standard for all new and renewed Indian passports.
How e-passports simplify international immigration
One of the most concrete advantages of biometric e-passports is their capacity to streamline immigration processes. Biometric e-passports enable passengers to travel through e-gates located at global airports, where their identity is confirmed using a contactless biometric chip scan.
These kinds of systems are already in place in Singapore, the UAE, and the UK—and India's move to biometric credentials will enable Indian citizens to take advantage of such international infrastructures.
Where are e-passports manufactured
All biometric e-passports are manufactured at Nashik's India Security Press, a government-owned industry under the Ministry of Finance. Centralized manufacturing ensures:
