The Indian passport is an important document that acts as identification proof, particularly for overseas travel. Recently, the central government has launched amendments to the current passport rules, making changes that will affect applicants in the future.

An official notification declaring the changes to the Passport Rules of 1980 was released this week. According to reports by PTI, these changes will come into force after they are published in the official Gazette.

What are the new Indian Passport Rules for 2025?

A major change in the rules is that people born on or after October 1, 2023, will have to provide a birth certificate as the only evidence of their date of birth at the time of applying for a passport. The certificate should be provided by the Registrar of Births and Deaths, the Municipal Corporation, or other authorities notified under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.

Documents required for Indian Passport application

  1. For individuals born before October 1, 2023, alternative documents will still be accepted for date of birth verification. Below is a complete list of acceptable documents for passport applications.
  2. Proof of date of birth (Any one of the following for those born before October 1, 2023):
  3. Birth certificate issued by the Registrar of Births and Deaths, Municipal Corporation, or an authorized body under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969
  4. School Transfer/Matriculation/Leave Certificate from the previous school studied or the relevant educational board
  5. Policy Bond certificate issued by Government Life Insurance Companies/Public Life Insurance Corporations declaring the date of birth
  6. Record extract (of service) if the employee works in the government or Pay Pension Order if an employee has already retired from service, duly verified
  7. Aadhaar Card/E-Aadhaar (if carrying full date of birth)
  8. EPIC issued by the Election Commission of India containing full DOB
  9. PAN Card by the Income Tax Department (if DOB is stated)
  10. Driving license by the state transport department (if states DOB)
  11. Declaration by head of an orphanage/child care home on the letterhead of the organization stating the DOB

Note: Aadhaar, EPIC, PAN Card, Driving License, and Pay Pension Order will be acceptable only if they have the exact date of birth.

Documents for proof of address

Applicants should also furnish proof of residence. The acceptable documents are:

  1. Water Bill
  2. Telephone (landline or post-paid mobile) bill
  3. Electricity bill
  4. Income Tax Assessment Order
  5. Election Commission Photo ID Card
  6. Proof of Gas Connection
  7. Certificate from Employer (on official letterhead for well-known companies)
  8. Copy of spouse's passport (if the applicant's name is mentioned and the address is correct)
  9. Copy of parent's passport (in case of minors, first and last pages)
  10. Aadhaar Card
  11. Rent Agreement
  12. Photo Passbook of an active bank account (from Scheduled Public Sector Banks, Scheduled Private Sector Indian Banks, and Regional Rural Banks)

How Aadhaar card can speed up passport processing

As per the Passport Seva Online Portal, providing a UID/Aadhaar card can accelerate the process of applying for a passport. Although the new regulations bring in stricter document requirements, they also seek to simplify the application process, making the verification process more efficient for Indian passport holders.

Keep yourself informed with official announcements for more information on when these changes will come into full effect.

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