The Government of India has finally made the e-passport facility available for all the eligible applicants. This move redefines foreign travel, enhancing security and reliability. India joins the global digital passport network alongside countries like US, Canada, UK, Australia, Japan, China and some of the EU nations and many more.
What is e-Passport?
An e-Passport is essentially a modern upgrade of the traditional passport. A combination of paper and digital technology. Inside the cover, a tiny Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip and antenna sit tucked away. The chip carries the passport holder’s personal details and biometric information.
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It’s easy to identify from the outside. A small gold symbol printed beneath the passport’s front cover reveals its digital identity.
Benefits of e-Passport
The new e-Passport offers significant safety benefits compared to the regular passport booklets. The new integrated chip is an addition to the previous passport booklets. The information stored in it is digitally signed, allowing immigration officials across the world to verify the passport holder's information instantly with greater accuracy.
The e-Passport is not just smarter, but far more secure. Embedded RFID of the e-Passport will prevent fraudulent activities like forgery and data breaches, as it is powered by a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) system.
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Application process for e-Passports and the application fee
The application process for the new passport is fairly simple and has stayed unchanged. Applicants have to register themselves at the Passport Seva portal, pay the passport application fees, book an appointment date at a nearby Passport Seva Kenda or a Post Office Passport Seva Kendra for document verification, and complete the application process.
The fee for applying for a new passport booklet with 36 pages under the normal process is ₹1,500. The faster Tatkaal option costs ₹3,500. The Passport Seva Portal has a 'Fee Calculator' for answering all sorts of payment-related queries.
According to the Passport Seva Portal, all the existing passports issued by the Government of India will stay valid until their expiry date. Once a passport office becomes technically ready to issue ePassports, applicants under that office will automatically receive the new version. The rollout will happen in phases across the country, and it may take a few months before every passport office is fully equipped.
