Indian passport

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Cover of a Indian Passport

Indian Passports are issued to citizens of India for the purpose of international travel. It is proof of Indian nationality. The Consular Passport & Visa (CPV) Division of the Ministry of External Affairs is responsible for issuance of Indian passports to all eligible Indian citizens. This document is issued from 28 locations across the country and 160 Indian missions abroad.

1 Types of Passports
2 Physical Appearance
3 Visa Free Travel for Indian Passports
4 Fees
5 See Also
6 External links

[edit] Types of Passports

Types of Indian Passports

Regular Passport (navy blue cover) - Issued for ordinary travel, such as vacations and business trips (36 or 60 pages)
Diplomatic Passport (maroon cover) - Issued to Indian diplomats, top ranking government officials and diplomatic couriers.
Official Passport (white cover) - Issued to individuals representing the Indian government on official business

[edit] Physical Appearance

Indian Passports have a navy blue cover, with the Emblem of India and the motto सत्यमेव जयते in Sanskrit, (read: Satyameva Jayate) translated in English as "Truth Alone Triumphs" emblazoned in the centre of the front cover. The words “PASSPORT” (Hindi: पासपोर्ट) and “REPUBLIC OF INDIA” (Hindi: भारत गणराज्य) are inscribed above the Emblem and below the Emblem respectively. The standard passport contains 36 pages, but frequent travellers can opt for 60 pages (as noted above).

[edit] Passport Holder Identity

Indian passports have identity information printed on both front and back cover ends. Both of these pages are laminated to protect from modification.

The opening cover end contains the following machine readable information:

First page of Indian Passport

A Digital photo of passport holder
Signature of the passport holder
Type of travel document ("P" or Passport)
Country code (IND)
Passport number
Surname
Given names
Nationality
Sex
Date of birth
Place of birth
Place of issue
Date of issue
Date of expiry

Last page of Indian Passport

The closing end contains the following information:

Name of Father/ Legal guardian
Name of Mother
Name of Spouse
Address
Old Passport No. with date and place of issue
File No.

[edit] Passport Note

Most passports contain a note from the issuing state that is addressed to the authorities of all other states, identifying the bearer as a citizen of that state and requesting that he or she be allowed to pass and be treated according to international norms. The note inside of Indian Passports states:

These are to request and require in the name of the President of the Republic of India all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance, and to afford him or her, every assistance and protection of which he or she may stand in need.

The note bearing page is typically stamped and signed by the issuing authority in the name of the President.