Simplifying Mechanism of Issuing Passport

Press Information Bureau 

Government of India

Ministry of External Affairs

Simplifying Mechanism of Issuing Passport 

The minister of state in the ministry of external affairs Gen. (Dr) V. K. Singh (retd) informed the members of Lok Sabha today in reply to a question that (i) It would be incorrect to say that a large number of applicants seeking passport services are unable to use online method as often server goes down and the process of giving information is complex. Effective technical infrastructure is in place to ensure that the Passport Seva system is available for access at all times from any location. The Passport Portal (www.passportindia.gov.in) is accessible to anyone, anywhere and anytime. With a view to address the challenge of digital divide, especially in the rural hinterland, the Ministry in association with CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd. (which is promoted by the Department of Electronics and IT), has facilitated online filing of passport applications, through the vast network of over one lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs) across rural hinterland. Under the Passport Seva Project, a robust information system has been created to offer a bouquet of online passport services. 

(ii) Comprehensive information relating to passport application procedure, requirement of supporting documents, applicable fees, location of Passport Offices, Passport Seva Kendras, police station jurisdiction is posted on the Portal to make it user-friendly. It is kept updated with Advisories/Notices and Press Releases relating to Passport services developments. Status of applications can be tracked through the Passport Portal. 

(iii) An e-mail based helpdesk facility and a 24x7 National Call Centre has been set up to provide requisite information to citizens. 

(iv) The Passport Seva system sends four free of cost SMS to applicants - (i) at the time of dispatch of passport, (ii) in ‘returned undelivered’ passport cases, (iii) rejection of request for counter delivery cases and (iv) clear Police Verification(PV) report in pre-PV PCC cases or review of PV and clearance by the PIA. In addition, a premium optional SMS Service, on nominal payment basis, has been made available to enable citizens to receive alerts and updates regarding detailed progress of their passport applications and pending actions. The service can be availed from any mobile phone. 

(v) mPassport Seva mobile app provides passport related information including PSK locator, applicable fees, mode of submission and tracking of passport application status on smart phones. 

(vi) For assistance, citizens can call toll-free helpline 1800-258-1800. 

(vii) The Passport system has interface with the police for verification of personal particulars of applicants and with India Post for tracking delivery of passports. 

The following additional steps have been taken by the Government to further simplify the mechanism of issuing passports:--

I. Police Verification: Police Verification of applicants’ particulars plays an important role in timely dispatch of passports. The Ministry as well as the Passport Offices continue to engage closely with the Police Departments across States/Union Territories and with concerned Home Departments to reduce time taken in police verification. 

II. The Government has set up 77 PSKs across the country. The number of public dealing counters has been increased from the erstwhile 350 to 1610 in the new system and public dealing hours have gone up from 4 hours to 7 hours a day. 

III. Greater outreach: The Government is working on setting up 18 more PSKs in addition to the existing functional 77 PSKs across the country. Five of these additional have already been operationalised. 

IV. In order to speed up passport issuance, Walk-in facility has been allowed for certain categories of services/ citizens having Application Registration Number (ARN) to enable them to apply for Tatkaal services ; issue of Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) ; deletion of Emigration Check Required(ECR) status; inclusion of name of spouse in passport and new booklets where pages have been exhausted. Senior citizens (above 60 years); minors below 15 whose parents hold valid passports; differently-abled persons; central/state government servants and their spouse/dependent minor children, have also been permitted walk-in facility. 

V. With a view to meet heavy and seasonal demand for passport services, Passport Melas are organized on weekends from time to time by Passport Offices. 

VI. Passport Seva Camps: In order to provide closer and speedier passport services to people located far away from PSKs, Passport Seva Camps are being organized at various locations in the country. 

VII. Passport Adalats, on need basis, are also conducted by Passport Offices to redress passport service grievances by dealing with citizens directly. 

VIII. Simplification of procedure: A number of steps have been taken to simplify passport application submission procedure such as acceptance of (a) registered rent agreement as proof of address, (b) self-attested documents replacing the requirement of attestation by gazetted officers, (c) Photo passbooks issued by Scheduled private sector Indian banks and Regional Rural banks also as proof of address and identity. The Government has also liberalised the requirement of acceptance of Birth Certificate of abandoned/orphaned children besides the requirement of NOC by Govt. officials for passport applications. 

The online system and establishment of PSKs have facilitated better accountability, transparency and streamlining of passport service delivery. This has also helped in issuing error-free and more secure passports. The time taken in issuing passports has decreased since the introduction of online application system and opening of PSKs. During the period January–June, 2015, 90% passports were issued within 14 days (excluding the time taken for verification) compared to 59% during January-June, 2014. 

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No Objection Certificate (NOC) Not Required for Central Government Employees to apply Passports

No.VI/401/01/05/2014

Government of India

Ministry of External Affairs

CPV Division

Patiala House Annexe, Tilak Marg

New Delhi, 26th May, 2015

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Issuance of Ordinary Passport to Government Servants, PSU/Autonomous body employees, et al

In tune with the Government’s objective of ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’ and with a view to simplifying the procedure for issuance of Passport to Government Servants, PSU / Autonomous body employees, et al, the matter has been reviewed. In order to facilitate issuance of Passport to Government employees, et al; who find difficulties to obtain Identity Certificate (IC)/No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their department, it has been decided to introduce a new feature which is termed as ‘Prior Intimation’ letter to the controlling authority by the Passport applicant before submission of a Passport application.

2. Basically, Prior Intimation is a letter from the Passport applicant giving intimation to his/her Controlling / Administrative Authority (employer) regarding submission of Passport application. This can be submitted by the applicant in the format of ‘Annexure-N’. After submission of Passport application by such an employee, the copy of this Prior Intimation would be sent to the same Controlling/ Administrative Authority under which the employee is working. In case the employer has any objection regarding issuance of Passport to that employee, they may revert back to concerned Regional Passport Office mentioning the details of such objection. However, the final decision will be taken by the concerned Passport Issuing Authority. If Prior Intimation is submitted by the applicant, Passport would be issued on the basis of Pre-Police Verification, however the provisions of Police Verification in reissue cases will remain applicable.

3. Henceforth, anyone of the following documents can be submitted by Government Servants, PSU/Autonomous body employees, et al. for submission of application for Passports:

(a) Copy of Prior Intimation to Controlling /Administrative Authority; or

(b) No Objection Certificate from Controlling/Administrative Authority; or

(c) Identity Certificate from Controlling /Administrative authority.

4. No Objection Certificate (NOC) is issued in the format of ‘Annexure-M’ by the Controlling /Administrative Authority of the employee working under them for obtaining Passport by any Government Servants, PSU/ Autonomous body employees, et al. If NOC is submitted Passport will be issued on Post-Police Verification basis.

5. Identity Certificate (IC) is issued in the format of ‘Annexure-B’ by the Controlling /Administrative Authority of the employee working under them for obtaining Passport by any Government Servants, PSU /Autonomous body employees, et al. If IC is submitted Passport will be issued on No-Police Verification basis. The spouse of such employees, and dependent children up to the age of 18 years, has an option to submit IC for expeditious issue of passport. In case of IC, the applicant is also required to submit ‘Annexure-I’.

6. It may be noted that the following provisions will remain applicable as mentioned below:

a. While IC should be issued preferably on Official Stationery (letterhead); NOC on plain paper with signature/stamp can be accepted, on the assumption that such offices are using plain paper for day to day correspondence. Prior Intimation (PI) is required to be submitted on plain paper by the Passport applicant.

b. Telephone, fax and e-mail id of the Controlling /Administrative Office (to the extent available) should be indicated in all the three documents for the purpose of confirmation.

c. Military personnel with c/o APO address (e.g. 56 APO /99 APO) may submit applications at their station of posting or at their permanent address, and write their permanent address in passport [against present address otherwise].

Spouse of such personnel [and adult children, when spouse has expired/divorced] may receive the passport, with authority letter, either by hand or by post. This would apply to similarly placed Air Force/Navy personnel as well.

d. If Government/PSU employees, et al. are transferred after submission of the passport application or passport is returned undelivered due to such transfer, the same be re-dispatched, on request (along with copy of transfer order), at the new address, after correction/ endorsement of address. However, if police verification was required and was not completed, it will be done at the new place.

e. The validity of the documents mentioned at para-3 will be six months from date of issue.

7. While the revised prov1s10ns deal only with passport issuance, the requirement by the Government employees to obtain prior permission from his/her Department / Ministry for travelling abroad as per Conduct Rules will remain unchanged as per the instructions issued by the Department of Personnel & Training and respective authorities.

8. Ministries of the Central Government, and the State Governments/ Union Territories are requested to circulate these instructions to all the employees working under them, including those in attached and subordinate offices, and statutory bodies.

Sd/-

(Muktesh K.Pardeshi)

Joint Secretary(PSP) & Chief Passport Officer

Source:http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/pdf/NOC.pdf

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