Documents Required for Passport: What You Actually Need
Getting a passport in India is straightforward once you have all the required documents ready. For most people, the documents needed for a passport include three main items: proof of your address, proof of your date of birth, and your original documents along with self-attested photocopies. This guide outlines the necessary documents for a fresh passport application and for renewal, explained in simple language so you don’t need to make multiple trips to the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK).
Documents Required for a Fresh Passport
The basic set for an adult applying for the first time.
Proof of Address
One document that shows your present address.
Proof of Date of Birth
One document from the official list
Identity
No separate ID is usually needed. PSK officials verify your identity from your other documents, and having Aadhaar can speed things up.
Originals and Photocopies
Bring every original, plus one set of self-attested photocopies of each.
Appointment Confirmation
The SMS or receipt with your appointment details from the Passport Seva portal.
Photograph
Adults are usually photographed at the PSK. For a child below 4 years, bring a recent 4.5 x 3.5 cm photo with a white background.
Proof of Date of Birth
What you can submit depends on when you were born.
If you were born before 1 October 2023, any one of these:
- Birth certificate issued by the Registrar of Births and Deaths, a municipal corporation, or another authorised body
- Transfer, school leaving, or matriculation certificate showing your date of birth
- PAN card showing your date of birth
- Service record extract or Pay Pension Order (for government employees and retirees), attested by the department
- Driving licence showing your date of birth
- Voter ID (EPIC) showing your date of birth
- Life insurance policy bond showing the holder’s date of birth.
If you were born on or after 1 October 2023: only a birth certificate issued by the Registrar of Births and Deaths, a municipal corporation, or another authorised body is accepted.
Aadhaar is not on the list: However, Aadhaar can still be used as address proof.
Proof of Address
You only need to provide proof of your current address, regardless of how long you have lived there. Accepted documents include:
- Aadhaar card or e-Aadhaar
- Voter ID
- Electricity, water, telephone, or gas bill
- Bank passbook with your photo
- Rent agreement
- Income tax assessment order
- Copy of spouse’s passport, if the address matches
- Letter from your employer (for certain public limited companies)
Please check the exact list in the Passport Seva Document Advisor before your appointment.
Documents Required for Passport Renewal
Passport Seva calls renewal “re-issue”. It is simpler than a fresh application because your old passport already proves most things.
Old passport
Bring the original.
Photocopies of your old passport
A self-attested copy of the first two and last two pages, including the ECR/Non-ECR page and any observation page.
New address
If your address has changed, bring proof of your present address.
Spouse name
A marriage certificate or a joint photo declaration (Annexure J) to add a spouse’s name, or a divorce decree to remove it.
Lost or damaged passport
An affidavit in the prescribed format (Annexure F) as well.
Expired a long time ago
If your passport expired more than three years ago, Passport Seva says fresh police verification will be done, so extra time is needed.
Other documents depend on your case, and the Document Advisor shows your exact list.
Passport Documents by Situation
Minor (under 18)
Birth certificate, a parent’s present address proof, and a copy of the parents’ passports if they have them. Documents can be attested by a parent, and consent of both parents is assumed unless stated otherwise.
Tatkaal (urgent) passport
The same documents as a normal application, with its own list of accepted documents and a higher fee.
Senior citizen
The same documents as other adults.
Change in personal details
Your old passport plus proof of the change, such as a marriage certificate or a Gazette notification for a name change.
Avoid a Second Visit
- Ensure that your name, date of birth, and address are consistent across all your documents.
- Bring the original documents and self-attested photocopies, arranged in the correct sequence.
- Visit the PSK within 90 days of submitting your online form; otherwise, you will need to resubmit everything.
- Use the Document Advisor tool first, as it provides the exact list of required documents.
Keep Your Passport Documents Ready on Your Phone
A passport application requires several documents, including your birth certificate, address proof, old passport pages, and appointment receipt. These documents are often stored in different places like email, WhatsApp, and old folders. Docu Wallet helps by keeping scans of all your passport documents in one place on your phone. A PIN ensures they remain secure. Simply type “birth certificate” or “Aadhaar,” and the file appears instantly, even without an internet connection. Your documents are also backed up to your Google Drive, so you won’t have to start over if you lose your phone or get a new one. Scans can help you fill out the form and print copies, but you must still bring the original documents to the PSK.
Download Docu Wallet from the Google Play Store and have your passport documents ready before your appointment.
