Indian Passport Rule Change 2025: In 2025, the Indian government made substantial revisions to passport legislation, which improved privacy protections and simplified the application procedure. This regulation was announced last week as a modification to the new Passport Rules; it will be effective upon publication in the official Gazette. Changes to the requirements for presenting a birth certificate to get a passport were notified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a notice dated February 24.
New passport applicants and current passport holders are also affected by these revisions. The main changes are shown below.
Mandatory Birth Certificate Requirement
The only acceptable form of evidence of date of birth for applying for a passport for those born on or after October 1, 2023, is a birth certificate. All applicants may be certain that birth data are legitimate and standardized because of this.
Enhanced Privacy Features
To safeguard personal information, the government has implemented the following changes:
- Personal Details Removal: The holder’s residential address and parents’ names will no longer be displayed on the final page of the passport.
- Barcode System: The barcode system allows immigration officers to get relevant information by scanning the passport rather than looking at visible personal characteristics.
New Color-Coded Passports
The passport system now includes a color-coded scheme to differentiate between categories of passport holders:
- Red Passport: Issued to diplomatic personnel.
- White Passport: Given to government officials.
- Blue Passport: Standard passport issued to all other citizens.
Expansion of Passport Seva Kendras
More Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) and Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) are being opened by the government to make passport services more accessible. To provide applicants throughout India with speedier and more comfortable passport services, the current count of 442 facilities is projected to rise to 600 centers in the next five years.
For people born before October 1, 2023, however, the present method is still in place. These candidates may still utilize other forms of identification such as matriculation certificates, PAN cards, driver’s licenses, transcripts from accredited schools, and copies of their service records to prove their birthday.
Conclusion
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was extended for an additional five years by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Department of Posts to guarantee that the Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) will continue to provide passport services.
The changes show that the government wants to bring passport services up to date, make them safer, and speed up the application process. Keep yourself updated on these changes if you want to apply for a new passport or renew your current one. It will help make the procedure easier.