FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS- PASSPORT

Q.No.1 Is my hand written passport valid for travel?

1. All handwritten passports with pasted photos earlier issued by Government of India are considered non-Machine Readable Passports (MRP) passports. All 20-year validity passports will also fall in this category. The Government started issuing MRP passports since 2001. All new Indian passports are ICAO-compliant  MRP passports. Foreign Governments may deny visa or entry to any person travelling with a non-MRP passport. Indian citizens residing in India and abroad and holding handwritten passports, should, therefore, apply for re-issue of passports and obtain MRP passports in order to avoid any inconvenience in obtaining foreign visa or immigration problem.

Q.No.2  What are the general advisories to be followed while filling the application form?

1) The online system does not accept names in initials/abbreviated forms such as SK SINGH, KNR NAIR, etc. Applicants are therefore required to give their full names. Also, do not prefix Mr., Mrs., Dr. Shri or Late to the name.

2) Date of birth should be mentioned in the form of DD/MM/YYYY

3) Signature and thumb impressions should be confined in the prescribed box. In case a child cannot sign, his/her left hand  thumb impression may be provided. A parent should sign the declaration/application on behalf of a minor child but not in the places (boxes) provided for applicant’s specimen signature/thumb impression.

4) Please fill up the form in block capital letters.

5) All copies of supporting documents are to be self-attested by the applicant.

6) In case the applicant has recently moved to the consular jurisdiction of the post where application is made, from another part of Germany, a copy of the local registration document (Meldebescheinigung/Anmeldung) is required.

7) A self-addressed stamped (for registered post) medium size envelope is required for return of documents unless the documents are to be collected in person.

8) Processing of   the complete  passport application may take up to seven weeks. Please refrain from making enquiries during this period.

 Q.No.3 What documents are required for submitting application for renewal of passport?

Ans. The following documents are needed for making an application for renewal:

1. Application form (https://portal6.passportindia.gov.in)
2. Two recent colour photographs (2” x 2”) with light colour background and showing frontal view of full face (80% coverage) of the applicant.
3. Original Indian Passport [copies of the first and last page to be submitted initially in case the applicant wishes to keep the original passport with him/her during the processing period.]
4. A copy of local Residence Permit or a copy of the passport page where Residence Permit/Visa has been endorsed.

Q.No.4 Do I have to come to the Mission/Consulates in person to apply or can I send the application by post?

Ans. Application can be deposited at the counter on any working day (between 0930 to 1230 hrs). Alternatively, passport application may be sent by post. Postal applicants are required to send a self-addressed stamped (for registered post) medium size envelope, for return of documents unless the documents are to be collected in person.

Q.No.5 How to get appointment for submission of Documents for Passport Services at the Embassy?

Ans. Documents can be submitted for Passport services without any appointment on any working day between 9.30 hrs and 12.30 hours at the consular counter.

Q.No.6 What is a jumbo Passport?

Ans. Jumbo passport booklet contains 60 pages. Frequent travellers may apply for it. The fee for Jumbo passport is higher than the fee for regular passport

Q.No.7 How long does it take to issue a new passport?

Ans. Processing of   the complete  passport application may take up to seven weeks. Please refrain from making enquiries during this period.

Q.No.8 Do I need to enclose my original passport with my passport application?

Ans. You may enclose either the passport in original or copies of  the first and last page  of the passport. If you send a copy of the passport with your application, you will be required to send your original passport for cancellation at the time of issue of new passport. In such cases, when the new passport is ready, you will be informed. Please do mention your contact telephone numbers/email address for such intimations.

Q.No. 9 What documents are required for endorsement of my wife’s/husband’s name in my new passport?

Ans. Declaration in the passport application is enough.

Q.No. 10 How can I ensure that my Indian address is printed on my new passport?

Ans. Only one address gets printed on the passport. You should indicate your preference by check-marking (√) on the address which should be printed in your new passport. However, for making any change in the Indian address,  self-attested documentary proof would be required.

Q.No. 11 What document should I send to get ECNR stamp on my passport?

Ans. The practice of putting ECNR stamp on passport has been discontinued. Therefore, no document is required to be sent for this purpose.

Q.No. 12 My passport is still valid. However, all pages of my passport are exhausted. What should I do? Can I have an additional booklet? How can I apply for the same?

Ans. If almost all pages in your passport have been utilized, you may apply for re-issue of passport for a validity of 10 years. You can apply for a normal MRP booklet (36 pages) or a Jumbo MRP booklet (60 pages).

Q.No. 13 My passport is due to expire soon. How much in advance can I apply for renewal/re-issue?

Ans. Applications for reissue of passport can be submitted less than one year before expiry of the passport. Also, if all pages of passport have been utilized, an application may be made for a new passport for 10 years validity. Moreover, if there have been any changes/corrections in the details of the applicant on   the first inner cover page of the passport, a new passport should be applied for.

Q.No 14 I understand that after issue of new passport, my old passport will be cancelled. Does this mean that all valid visas on my old passport will also be cancelled?

Ans. Old passport is required to be cancelled at the time of issue of  a new passport and is returned to the applicant along with the new passport.  Visa, if any,  on the old passport remains valid.

Q.No.15 I have a hand-written passport. Can I apply for a Machine-Readable Passport?

Ans. Yes. You must apply for reissue of passport on this ground.

Q.No. 16 Do I need to register the birth of my newly-born child in Germany before applying for his/her passport? When can a new-born child be registered?

Ans. You need to register birth of your newly-born child at the Embassy/Consulate concerned immediately after birth and in any case within one year of the birth of the child. Both of the parents are required to come to the Embassy/Consulate in person for registration of birth. The original Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Passports of both the parents should be brought to the Embassy/Consulate. These would be checked & returned on the spot while copies (also to be brought by the applicant) would be retained with the application. A birth certificate would be issued by the Embassy /Consulate concerned. For details, please click here

Q.No. 17 Can I apply for passport for a newly-born child at the time of birth registration?

Ans. Yes. In addition to the  procedure explained in Q.No.15 above, a new passport application is required to be submitted along with  the supporting documents. The application form is required to be signed by both the parents to confirm their no objection to the issue of passport, and  left hand thumb impression of the child  is to be  put in  the specimen signature box.

Q.No. 18 What is the birth registration fee?

Ans. Birth registration Fee is Euros 21/- (Fee is Euros 19 plus Consular surcharge of Euros 2).  

 The fee for issue of fresh passport to the child is Euro 42/- (Passport fee is Euros 40 plus Consular surcharge of Euros 2).  

 A discount of 10 percent is applicable for issue for fresh passports from age of 0 to 8 years. In this case payment will be 38 Euros (Passport fee Euros 36 plus Consular surcharge of Euros 2).  

Q.No. 19 How can I apply for issue of passport to my newly-born child?

Ans. Along with or after registration of birth of your newly-born child, you may apply for issue of his/her passport. Application for birth registration and issue of passport can be made simultaneously. The detailed procedure is as under:

1. Completed application form duly signed by both the parents to confirm their no objection to the issue of passport, and left hand thumb impression of the child in the specimen signature box.
2. 3 passport-size colour photographs of the child taken recently (non-biometric and face not more than 80% coverage)
3. Copy of Birth certificate of the child issued by the local authorities.
4. Copy of the first and last pages of the passports of the child's parents.
5. Copy of residence permit, in case it is not endorsed on the parents' passports.
6. Application for the registration of birth of a minor child at an Indian Mission/Consulate under Section 4(1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955 can be downloaded from the website. At least one of the parents is required to come to the Embassy/Consulate in person for registration of birth. The original Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate and Passports of both the parents should be brought to the Embassy/These would be checked & returned on the spot while copies (also to be brought by the applicant) would be retained with the application.
7. A self-addressed stamped (for registered post) medium size envelope is required for return of documents unless the documents are to be collected in person
8. Always mention your contact telephone numbers / email address on your application.
9. Incomplete application or application with photographs which is not as per the requirement will not be processed.

Q.No. 20 What is the prescribed fee for issue of passport to a child?

Ans. Passport (with validity of 5 years up to the age of 18 years) is issued to a child for the fee of Euro 42/-. However, a child over 15 may apply for 10-year validity passport with payment of normal fee of Euro 62/-.

Q.No. 21 I would like to change my Indian address in my passport. Do, I have to pay extra charges for this? Can this change be reflected in my current passport?

Ans. You will have to apply for a fresh passport along with  self-attested proof of the present address. Hand written corrections are not allowed in the passport.

Q.No. 22 If I send a copy of my passport with my passport application, should I send all the 36 pages or the first, the last and the page showing my VISA is enough?

Ans. Please send/enclose clear copies of the first page, last page, and the page on which visa is affixed.

Q.No. 23 Is there any provision for NRIs to make on-line application for reissue/renewal of passport?

Ans. NRI passport applicants can apply for passport services using Online Registration. Please visit the website https://portal6.passportindia.gov.in for filling the Online Registration form. Only the residents falling under the jurisdiction of the respective Indian Missions/Posts abroad are eligible to apply on-line through this website. Use Internet Explorer (5.x & Above) preferably for doing online registration. Please refer to (i) Guidelines for filling the Online Registration form and (ii) Instructions for submitting the application form after completing Online Registration for submission of form in the respective office.

Before you register your application on-line, please read the information on the website of respective Mission/Consulate office carefully, particularly regarding fee structure, instructions to fill the Form and How to Apply. Through this information you will know the documents required, number of copies of application form required, etc. Apply online only if you are sure that you will be able to produce all the necessary documents at the time of submission of application.

Q.No.24 Would the renewal of my passport change my passport number?

Ans. Yes. A new passport booklet is issued with a new number.

Q.No.25 I am an Indian national living in Germany for the past 3 years. I am applying for permanent immigration to Australia or another cournty and for this I require a Police Clearance Certificate from the Indian Consulate. I would like to know how long it will take to get these documents. Could I make a bank transfer and if so, please confirm your bank details. Also please let me know the documents to be sent to you.

Ans. Applicant is required to fill in the online form which is available at https://portal6.passportindia.gov.in and submit hard copy of the same along with a copy of passport and proof of residence. 
Service fee is € 22 including Consular Surcharge of € 2. Postal applicants are also required to send a self-addressed stamped (for registered post) medium size envelope for return of the document unless the document is to be collected in person.

Q.No.26 I do not have a birth certificate. Can it be possible to get my birth certificate from the Indian Embassy? If so, what documents do I need to produce?

Ans. On the basis of entries made in your Indian passport, a certificate regarding your date of birth/place of birth can be issued by the Embassy. You are required to send/submit a  request letter and your Indian passport/copy. Prescribed fee for the above service will be Euro 22/-.Payment can be made by bank transfer or cash at the counter.

Q.No. 27. What is the procedure for transfer of fee for postal applicants?

Ans. Postal applicants are required to transfer fee directly to the Embassy’s bank account. Cash payment for postal applications will not be accepted. For transferring the Passport fee to our bank account, please visit our website. Postal applicants are requested to enclose proof of the bank transfer. Please send one self-addressed stamped (for registered post) medium size envelope for return of documents unless the documents are to be collected in person between 1600 to 1700 hrs. Always mention your contact telephone numbers/email address on your application. Incomplete application will not be processed. Applicants are advised to seek guidance from the Embassy on passport[dot]berlin[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in,  if they face any inconvenience.

Q.No. 28 I wish to apply for addition/change of surname in my passport after marriage. How do I apply for it? Or, I was issued my passport without mentioning my surname. In Germany, I am required to give my surname in all my documents. Therefore, I wish to add my surname in my passport. What formalities do I require to complete? How do I apply for it? Or,

I wish to change my name from ABC to XYZ and I wish to get the new name entered in my passport. What formalities do I require to complete? How do I apply for it?

Ans. We are now issuing machine-readable passports and change of name by way of making manual endorsements in the passport pages is not read by the passport reading machines. It is, therefore, preferable that the applicant should  apply for re-issue of passport by following the instructions indicated under Question 1.

The procedure for change of name/addition of surname in a passport is as under:

In case of marriage, re-marriage, divorce or other circumstances that lead to a change of name of an Indian citizen the name, the following documents / items are required for the application:

1. Application Form for reissue of passport, filled out completely.
2. Current passport of the applicant.
3. 2 recent passport-size colour photographs of the applicant.
4. In case of change of name due to marriage/re-marriage, declaration by the applicant in the passport application form is enough.
5. In case of a change of name of the applicant (for reasons other than marriage/ re-marriage/ divorce), the new name must be published in newspapers, both in Germany and in India, in the area of the applicant's residence(s). Original newspapers must be submitted along with the application. Additionally, at least two public/school documents issued in the desired/applied changed name are required to be submitted. The applicant needs to visit the Embassy with his/her passport.
6. Copy of the residence permit.
7. Please bring one self-addressed stamped (for registered post) medium size envelope for return of documents unless the documents are to be collected in person on due date.
8. Always mention your contact telephone numbers/email address on your application.
9. Processing of the complete passport application may take up to seven weeks. Please refrain from making enquiries during this period.

Q. No 29 If I submit my application for my new Passport, is it possible to travel with my old Passport between the processing period?

Ans. The current Passport of the applicant automatically gets cancelled when Embassy of India, Berlin grants the reissue of Passport. However, there will be a time gap upto 6 weeks between granting and actual delivery of Passports. The applicant is therefore advised not tor travel using the current (cancelled) passport during this period.

Q. No 30 When I submit my application, am I supposed to submit my original Passport to the Embassy?

Ans. At the time of submission of applications, the applicant needs to come to the Embassy with original Passport and supporting documents and also copies of the these documents. The documents including passport will be returned after verification. Only photocopies will retained by Embassy of India, Berlin

Q. No 31 After filling the application form in how many days am I supposed to submit my application to the Embassy?

Ans. You are advised to submit the application to Embassy of India, Berlin within 3 months from the date of online submission of the application.

* * * * * * *