- Indian passport
Indian
passport s are issued to citizens ofIndia 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 cite web | title= MEA CPV Division |work= CPV|url= http://passport.gov.in/] .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 businessPhysical appearance
Indian Passports have a navy blue cover, with the
Emblem of India emblazoned in the center of the front cover. The wordsHindi : "पासपोर्ट" and English: "PASSPORT" inscribed above the Emblem andHindi : "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).Passport holder identity
Indian passports have identity information printed on both front and back cover ends. Both of these pages are laminated to prevent modification.
* The opening cover end contains the following information:
** 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 ExpiryThe information page ends with the Machine Readable Passport Zone.
*The closing end contains the following information:
** Name of Father/Legal Guardian
** Name of Mother
** Name of Spouse
** Address
** Old Passport No. with Date and Place of Issue
** File No.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:
::"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."
::::"By the order of the President of the Republic of India"
The note bearing page is typically stamped and signed by the issuing authority in the name of the President.
Languages
The textual portions of Indian Passport are printed in both
Hindi and English.Fees
The cost of obtaining a standard passport
*INR 1000 - Fresh Passport (36 pages) of 10 years 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.Visa-free/Visa-on-Arrival Travel Access for Indian Private Passports
According to visa and passport information from the 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.
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 cite web | title= KLM Visa and Health Information |work= Indian passport|url= http://www.klm.com/travel/in_en/travel_information/travel_planning/travel_clinic/timatic.htm] . 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.
Africa
Europe
Oceania
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.
e-Passport (Biometric Passport)
India has just recently initiated first phase deployment of Biometric e-Passport forDiplomatic Passport holders in India and abroad. The new passports have been designed indigenously in India by the Central Passport Organisation, the India Security Press andIIT Kanpur , it contains a security chip with all personal data and digital images. In first phase new passports will have 64KB chip which contains personal photograph of passport holder and subsequently it will have a fingerprint. The new passport has already tested with passport readers inUnited States and have 4 second of response time which is 2/5th ofUS Passport 10 second response time. It need not be carried in a metal jacket for security reasons, it will first need to be skimmed through a reader, after which it would generate an access code which then unlocks the chip for reader access. [ [http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080050016&ch=5/16/2008%2011:13:00%20AM NDTV.com: After US tests, India to get first e-passport ] ]On
25 June 2008 Indian Passport Authority issued first e-passport to President of India, Pratibha Patil. e-passport is under first phase of deployment and is restricted to Diplomatic Passport holders.In September 2009 it maybe be available to other people. [ [http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Govt-launches-E-passport-scheme/327288/ Govt launches E-passport scheme - Express India ] ]ee also
*Indian Nationality Law
*Overseas Citizenship of IndiaExternal links
* [http://passport.nic.in/ Indian Passport Office (CPV official website)]
* [http://jaanlo.com/howto/how-apply-a-passport-india/ How to apply for an Indian passport]
* [http://travelcentre.iata.org/ IATA Visa guide]
* [http://wikivisa.org/India Wikivisa: India]
* [http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/plan_flight/international_travel_information/visa_passport_information/index.jsp Delta Visa Guide]References
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