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Passport is a very important document and thus extra care should be taken to renew it before it expires so that you do not face any hindrance in your travel related issues. Indian passport is issued for a 10 year period and can be renewed anytime from one year before, to six months after the actual date of expiry.
There is a difference between issuing a new passport and renewal of passports and different forms are available for both. Also re-issuance of passport is different from renewal of passport. Renewal means extending the validity of the passport. A new passport is re-issued (not renewed) when a current passport (validity of 10 years or more) is 1 year from expiration or it is less than 3 years after it has expired. The process of renewal is a simple enough. The applicant needs to fill up a renewal form which can be obtained from any passport service office or center or even post office or else it can be downloaded from official passport website and then submit it in the nearest passport office with the following documents.
• Renewal form
• Old passport in original with self-attested photocopy of its first four and last four pages, including ECR/ECNR page.
• If the old passport was issued when you were a minor or did not have the ECNR stamp – provide attested copy of matriculation or degree certificate
• Proof of address if different than the one on the old passport. Acceptable documents include phone, gas, electricity bill, ration card, spouse or parent’s passport copy
• Recent passport size photographs (Three) in colour showing frontal view of full face are required.
• Educational qualification certificates photocopy
• Date of birth proof
• Notary for tatkal (only for tatkal scheme)
• An urgency letter for tatkal (only for tatkal scheme)
The fee for renewal of 36 pg passport is Rs. 1000 and for a 60 page passport it is Rs. 1500. In case of renewal of Tatkal (urgent) passport an additional fee of Rs 1500 is charged. A fee of Rs 600 is charged in case of a minor. The applicant can pay the fees either through cash or a demand draft in the name of concerned passport officer.
On renewal of passport it is delivered to the applicant or dispatched on the address given in the application form via speed post.
The above process is very simple but in case you have a busy lifestyle and do not want to waste your time running behind passport officers and taking round of passport offices you can hire agents. These agents take care of the entire process from making the application to ensuring you have got the delivery of the passport.
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