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Reviewed August 2024

The passport is the most essential document issued by the government of a country. It is required to travel abroad hassle-free, and it ensures an individual’s smooth immigration while entering a foreign country. The Consular at the Passport and Visa Division of the Ministry of External Affairs is responsible for administering passport services and issuing passports to Indian citizens.

The Consular at the Passport and Visa Division of the Ministry of External Affairs issues two types of passport applications for Indian passport holders: the Normal application and the Tatkaal application. The Tatkaal applications are mainly filed by people who need their passports urgently.

Explore everything you need to know about the Tatkaal passport application scheme in India through this Wego article.

Table of Contents

Tatkaal passport

The Consular at the Passport and Visa Division of the Ministry of External Affairs issues two types of passport applications for Indian passport holders. The type of application, however, depends on the requirement and urgency of the applicant’s passport. The following are the types of passport applications.

normal passport application
tatkaal passport application

Tatkaal passport applications are mainly filed for people who need a passport urgently. Applicants who opt for the Tatkaal passport application scheme are usually required to pay an additional amount to process their applications faster.

The Tatkaal passport application process is accessible to users who want new passports or to renew their existing or expired passports.

Please note that the procedure for obtaining a passport is the same, irrespective of its type (Normal or Tatkaal passport). However, this service is only accessible to citizens with a valid reason for getting a passport on urgent grounds.

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Tatkaal passport eligibility

The jurisdictional passport office decides the final verdict on the issuance of a passport under the Tatkaal scheme, and hence, this service is only accessible to citizens who have a valid reason for getting a passport on urgent grounds.

Please note that applicants under any of the following categories cannot apply or reapply for a passport under the Tatkaal scheme:

Indian citizens who have been granted citizenship status on the basis of their naturalization or registration
Citizens born to Indian parents, of Indian descent, outside India
Applicants who have been repatriated from another country at the Government’s cost
Applicants who have been deported to India from any other country
Individuals who have undergone a significant Name Change
Citizens originating from Nagaland but residing outside Nagaland
Residents of Jammu and Kashmir
Residents of Nagaland
Minor children who have single parents
Children adopted by Indian and Foreign parents.
Minors residing within Nagaland
Short passport validity renewal
Passports are damaged beyond the point of recognition.
Lost or stolen passports
Significant changes in gender or appearance
Changes in personal credentials, such as one’s signature

Tatkaal passport documents requirement

Applicants over the age of 18 years are required to submit any three of the following documents for obtaining a passport under the Tatkaal passport application scheme:

Aadhaar Card/e-Aadhar containing the 12-digit Aadhaar number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India(UIDAI)
Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC)
Service Photo Identity Cards are issued by the State or central Government, Public Sector Undertakings, local bodies or Public Limited Companies.
Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe or Other Backward Class Certificate
Arms License issued under the Arms Act, 1959 (54 of 1959)
Pension Documents such as ex-servicemen’s Pension book or Pension payment order issued to retired government employees, ex-servicemen’s Widow or Dependent Certificates, Old Age Pension Order
Last Passport issued (in case of re-issue only)
Permanent Account Number (PAN Card)
Bank Passbook or Kisan Passbook or Post Office Passbook
Student Photo Identity Cards issued by Recognized Educational Institutions
Driving Licenses (valid and within the jurisdiction of the State of submission of applicant)
Birth Certificates issued under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 (18 of 1969)
Ration Cards

Please note that applicants below the age of 18 years may submit any two of the documents mentioned above to obtain a passport under the Tatkaal passport application scheme.

Tatkaal passport validity

In India, passport validity is either ten (10) or five (5) years. The validity of a Tatkaal passport is the same as that of a regular passport, and hence, the Tatkaal passport is also either valid for ten (10) or five (5) years.

How to apply for the Tatkaal passport?

To apply for a passport from India under the Tatkaal passport application scheme, follow the steps given below:

Register through the Passport Seva online portal
Login to the Passport Seva online portal with the registered login ID
Click on the “Apply for Fresh Passport/Re-issue of Passport” link
Fill in the required details in the application form and submit
Select the “Pay and Schedule Appointment” link to schedule an appointment on the “View Saved/Submitted Applications” screen. Please note that online payment has been made mandatory for booking appointments at all PSK/POPSK/PO
- online payment can be made using any one of the following modes:
  - Credit/Debit Card (MasterCard and Visa)
  - Internet banking (State Bank of India (SBI) associate banks and other banks)
  - SBI Bank Challan
Click on the “Print Application Receipt” link to print the application receipt containing the Application Reference Number (ARN) or the Appointment Number. Please note that carrying a printout of the Application Receipt is NO longer required, as an SMS with your appointment details is also accepted as proof of appointment during your visit to the Passport Office.
Visit the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK)/Regional Passport Office (RPO), where an appointment has been booked, along with original documents.

Please note that passports can be obtained under the Tatkaal scheme without providing the verification certificate from a gazetted officer, which was required earlier.

Please refer to our dedicated article on the Indian passport application process for more detailed information.

Seva Passport: Everything You Need to Know About India’s Passport Seva Portal

Is police verification required for the Tatkaal passport?

Police verification is required to apply for a passport under the Tatkaal scheme. A passport is an extremely important and valuable document, and a police verification ensures it is not misplaced. Moreover, police verification is required to ascertain the details furnished by the applicant.

There are two modes of police verification:

Police verification is required on a post-passport issuance basis.
Police verification is required on a pre-passport issuance basis.

The Passport Office (PO) decides whether police verification is required depending on whether the application is for the issue of a fresh passport or a re-issue of a passport.

Please note that pre-police verification is generally required. However, an exception is made for government servants who are required to submit an ‘Identity Certificate’ as per Annexure ‘A’ or ‘No Objection Certificate’ as per Annexure ‘G’ and for the processing of the Tatkaal application.

Tatkaal passport processing time

After successfully submitting the passport application form under the Tatkaal passport scheme and receiving the final status as “Granted,” applicants can expect to get their passports dispatched on the third working day, excluding the date of submission of the application, without having to wait for the police verification report.

Tatkaal passport fees

The fees for a passport applied under the Tatkaal passport application scheme are as follows:

Fresh passport/re-issue of passport including additional booklet due to exhaustion of visa pages (36 pages) of 10 years validity – INR 3,500 (application fee of INR 1500 + additional Tatkaal fee of INR 2,000)
Fresh passport/re-issue of passport including additional booklet due to exhaustion of visa pages (60 pages) of 10 years validity – INR 4,000 (application fee of INR 2,000 + additional Tatkaal fee of INR 2,000)
Fresh passport/re-issue of passport for minors (below 18 years of age), of 5 years validity or till the minor attains the age of 18, whichever is earlier (36 pages) – INR 3,000 (application fee of INR 1,000 + additional Tatkaal fee of INR 2,000)
Replacement of passport (36 pages) in lieu of a lost, damaged, or stolen passport – INR 5,000 (application fee of INR 3,000 + additional Tatkaal fee of INR 2,000)
Replacement of passport (60 pages) in lieu of a lost, damaged, or stolen passport – INR 5,500 (application fee of INR 3,500 + additional Tatkaal fee of INR 2,000)

The complete list of passport fees under the Tatkaal passport application scheme is on the Passport Seva India website.

Please note that:

The fees are also applicable for minors between 15 to 18 years of age who wish to get a 10-year full-validity passport
The fee schedule will be restructured after the nationwide rollout of the Passport Seva Project.