Latest news with #PassportSevaProgram
NDTV
16-05-2025
- NDTV
E-Passport Launched In Select Indian Cities - Key Facts Travellers Need To Know
The Indian government has launched an ePassport facility, and travellers in multiple regions across the country can apply for them. This initiative is part of a larger digital venture called Passport Seva Program (PSP) 2.0. As per the Ministry of External Affairs, the e-Passport was officially launched on April 1, 2024, in a pilot phase. As of today, only selected passport offices in India are equipped to issue this document. There are plans to expand this facility to more centres in the near future. How Does An ePassport Work? An ePassport is a combined paper and electronic passport. It has a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Chip and an antenna embedded as inlay. The chip contains the personal details and biometric information of the passport holder. The ePassport has a small additional gold colour symbol printed below the front cover, which will help distinguish it from regular passports. Additionally, ePassport is supported by a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), which will assist in the protection of sensitive information. It will also help confirm the integrity and origin of the personal/biometric data stored on the chip within the ePassport, the website explains. What Are The Possible Benefits Of ePassports? According to the Passport Seva website, ePassports have "an enhanced ability to maintain the integrity of the passport holder's data." This is because these passports will have the traveller's data available for authentication in two forms - printed on the booklet in physical form, as well as in digital form on the electronic chip. These features can help safeguard the passport against potential forgeries and fraudulent activities like fake passports, the website states. Who Can Apply For ePassports At Present? As per reports, passport offices in Chennai, Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar, Surat, Nagpur, Goa, Jammu, Shimla, Raipur, Amritsar, Jaipur, and Ranchi are currently issuing ePassports. What Should Existing Passport Holders Do? Nothing at all. Existing passport holders need not worry - their passports do not need to be exchanged for ePassports. All the passports issued by the Indian government so far will continue to remain valid till their expiry date. The government is working to enable all passport offices across the country to issue ePassports, and the phase-wise roll-out is expected to take a few months. "As and when a respective Passport Office is technically enabled for issuance of ePassport, the citizens applying under that passport office will get the ePassport," the website clarifies.
Hindustan Times
13-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
e-Passports in India: Key features, benefits, and how to apply online
The government has rolled out Indian e-passports to make international travel smoother by allowing automated ID checks at immigration and cutting down wait times at airports. As part of a larger digital upgrade called Passport Seva Program (PSP) 2.0, the e-Passport was launched on April 1, 2024, in a pilot phase, according to ministry of external affairs. So far, passport offices in Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Jammu, Goa, Shimla, Raipur, Amritsar, Jaipur, Chennai, Hyderabad, Surat, and Ranchi are equipped to issue the e-passports. In Tamil Nadu, e-Passports started being issued from March 3, 2025, at the Regional Passport Office in Chennai. As per ministry of external affairs, by March 22, more than 20,700 e-Passports had already been issued in the state. An e-passport is a regular passport with added digital features. It includes a small chip, known as an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip, and an antenna inside the cover. This chip stores personal and biometric information, such as fingerprints and facial details. A small gold symbol on the front cover marks it as an e-passport. The Government of India has introduced the e-passport to protect personal data and prevent duplication of passport records. Unlike traditional passports, the e-passport holds data both in printed form and in a secure smart chip. Immigration officers around the world can verify the chip to ensure the data is genuine. The data stored on the chip is protected using a system called Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). This ensures that sensitive personal and biometric information is kept safe from tampering or theft. The main goal is to protect against passport fraud. The RFID chip makes it harder to create fake or duplicate passports. It also makes it easier and faster to verify a traveler's identity at border checks, thus cutting down the wait time significantly. e-Passports are currently being issued at Passport Offices in 12 cities: Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Jammu, Goa, Shimla, Raipur, Amritsar, Jaipur, Chennai, Hyderabad, Surat, and Ranchi. The government plans to expand this service to more locations soon. No. If you already have a valid passport, you do not need to get an e-passport right away. Your existing passport will stay valid until its expiry date. The e-passport is expected to make international travel safer and more efficient for Indian citizens. You can now apply for an e-Passport online and collect it from select Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) or Regional Passport Offices (RPOs) in cities like Chennai, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Jaipur, and others. Once processed, your new e-Passport will be delivered to your registered address.
