Indian passport
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Indian passports are issued to citizens of India for the purpose of international travel. It is proof of Indian nationality. The Consular Passport & Visa (CPV) Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, functioning as the Central passport Organisation, is responsible for issuance of Indian passports to all eligible Indian citizens. Passports are issued from 33 locations across the country and 160 Indian missions abroad[1].
Contents |
[edit] Types of passports
- Regular Passport (Navy Blue cover) - Issued for ordinary travel, such as vacations and business trips (36 or 60 pages)
- Diplomatic Passport (Maroon cover) - Issued to Indian diplomats, top ranking government officials and diplomatic couriers.
- Official Passport (White cover) - Issued to individuals representing the Indian government on official business
[edit] Physical appearance
Indian Passports have a navy blue cover, with the Emblem of India emblazoned in the center of the front cover. The words Hindi: "पासपोर्ट" and English: "PASSPORT" inscribed above the Emblem and Hindi: "भारत गणराज्य" and English: “REPUBLIC OF INDIA” inscribed below the Emblem. The standard passport contains 36 pages, but frequent travelers can opt for 60 pages (as noted above).
[edit] Passport holder identity
Indian passports have identity information printed on both front and back cover ends. Both of these pages are laminated to protect from modification.
- The opening cover end contains the following information:
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- Photo of Passport Holder
- Signature of the Passport Holder
- Type (P)
- Country Code (IND)
- Passport Number
- Surname
- Given Names
- Nationality
- Sex
- Date of Birth
- Place of Birth
- Place of Issue
- Date of Issue
- Date of Expiry
The information page ends with the Machine Readable Passport Zone.
- The closing end contains the following information:
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- Name of Father/ Legal Guardian
- Name of Mother
- Name of Spouse
- Address
- Old Passport No. with Date and Place of Issue
- File No.
[edit] Passport Note
The passports contain a note from the issuing state that is addressed to the authorities of all other states, identifying the bearer as a citizen of that state and requesting that he or she be allowed to pass and be treated according to international norms. The note inside of Indian Passports states:
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- These are to request and require in the name of the President of the Republic of India all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance, and to afford him or her, every assistance and protection of which he or she may stand in need.
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-
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- By the order of the President of the Republic of India
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The note bearing page is typically stamped and signed by the issuing authority in the name of the President.
[edit] Languages
The textual portions of Indian Passport are printed in both Hindi and English..
[edit] Fees
The cost of obtaining a standard passport
- INR 1000 - Fresh Passport (36 pages) of 10 years validity. (including 15-18 year minor, with 10 years of validity)
- INR 1500 - Fresh Passport (60 pages) of 10 years validity.
- INR 600 - Fresh Passport for Minors (below 15 years of Age) of 5 years validity or till the minor attains the age of 15 which ever is earlier.
- INR 2500 - Duplicate Passport (36 pages) in lieu of lost, damaged or stolen passport.
- INR 3000 - Duplicate Passport (60 pages) in lieu of lost, damaged or stolen passport.
[edit] Visa Free Travel for Indian Passports
Around 60[2] countries and territories offer visa free travel or visa on arrival facilities to Indian citizens as per the latest count.
[edit] Visa-free/Visa-on-Arrival Travel Access for Indian Private Passports
According to visa and passport information from International Air Transport Association (IATA), the following countries and territories provide visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to holders of Republic of India passports. Please check the external links for the latest visa information.
It is estimated that 44 countries and territories granted visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to ordinary Indian passport holders. Only 20 countries and territories are visa-free accessible. Visa prior to arrival or pre-arrangement required for countries or territories not mentioned below.
Where visa-free access is permitted, such access is not necessarily a right, and admission may technically be at the discretion of border enforcement officers. Visitors engaging in activities other than tourism, including unpaid work, may require a visa or work permit.
[edit] Africa
| Countries and Territories | Conditions of access |
|---|---|
 Burundi |
Visa issued on arrival [1] |
 Cape Verde |
Visa issued on arrival [2] |
 Comoros |
Visa issued on arrival [3] |
 Djibouti |
1-month visa issued upon arrival for DJF5,000[4] |
 Kenya |
3-month visa issued upon arrival for US$50[5] |
 Madagascar |
90-day visa issued on arrival for MGA140,000 [6] |
 Mauritius |
60 days [7] |
 Mozambique |
30-day visa issued on arrival for US$25 [8] |
 Seychelles |
1 month [9] |
 Tanzania |
Visa issued on arrival [10] |
 Togo |
7-days visa issued on arrival for XOF35,000 [11] |
 Uganda |
3 month visa issued on arrival for US$50 [12] |
[edit] Americas
| Countries and Territories | Conditions of access |
|---|---|
 Bermuda |
6 months [13] |
 Dominica |
21 days [14] |
 Grenada |
3 months [15] |
 Haiti |
3 months [16] |
 Jamaica |
14 days [17] |
 Montserrat |
3 months [18] |
 Saint Kitts and Nevis |
3 months [19] |
 Saint Lucia |
6 week visa issued upon arrival for US$50 [20] |
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
1 month [21] |
 Turks and Caicos Islands |
30 days [22] |
 British Virgin Islands |
30 days [23] |
[edit] Asia
| Countries and Territories | Conditions of access |
|---|---|
 Azerbaijan |
30-day visa issued on arrival for US$100 [24] |
 Bhutan |
2 weeks [25] |
 Cambodia |
30-day visa issued on arrival for US$20 [26] |
 Hong Kong |
14 days [27] |
 Indonesia |
30-day visa issued on arrival for US$25 [28] |
 Iran |
15-day visa issued on arrival for US$50 [29] |
 Laos |
30-day visa issued on arrival for US$30 [30] |
 Macau |
30 days [31] |
 Malaysia |
30-day visa issued on arrival for MYR100 [32] [33] |
 Maldives |
30 day visa issued on arrival [34] |
 Nepal |
150 days [35] |
 Sri Lanka |
30 days [36] |
 Thailand |
15-day visa issued on arrival for THB1,000 [37] |
 Timor-Leste |
30-day visa issued upon arrival for US$30 [38] |
[edit] Europe
| Countries and Territories | Conditions of access |
|---|---|
 Kosovo |
90 days [39] |
[edit] Oceania
| Countries and Territories | Conditions of access |
|---|---|
 Cook Islands |
31 days [40] |
 Fiji |
6 months [41] |
 Federated States of Micronesia |
30 days [42] |
 Nauru |
30 days [43] |
 Niue |
30 days [44] |
 Palau |
30 days [45] |
 Samoa |
60 days [46] |
 Tuvalu |
1 month [47] |
 Vanuatu |
30 days [48] |
[edit] New Passport Issuance System
In September 2007, the Indian Union Cabinet approved a new passport issuance system under a project called Passport Seva Project. As per the project, front-end activities of passport issuance, dispatch of passports, online linking with police, Central Printing unit for centralized printing of passports will be put in place. The new system is aimed at 'timely, transparent, more accessible and reliable manner' for passport issuance.
[edit] New E-Passports (Biometric Passports)
India plans on issuing new e-passports to the general public starting in October of 2008. Trials for the new e-passport are currently underway starting in October of 2007 with e-passports being issued to Government Officials, and Diplomats. [3]
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ MEA CPV Division. CPV.
- ^ KLM Visa and Health Information. Indian passport.
- ^ "India switched to e-passports".
