Passport Services

Passport verification record on DigiLocker: How to access new feature

New feature gives citizens secure, instant digital access to the essential document, simplifying background checks and travel preparations

Updated On: 05 Dec 2025 | 1:49 PM IST

BLS International reports 26.8% rise in net profit to ₹175.23 crore

BLS International's Q2 profit jumps 27% to ₹175 crore on strong visa and consular growth; enters hospitality sector with UK hotel acquisition

Updated On: 11 Nov 2025 | 8:03 PM IST

BLS International wins 3-year contract to run visa centres in China

This comes a few days after the company had received notice from the MEA on being debarred from participation in future tenders of the MEA and Indian missions abroad for a period of two years

Updated On: 16 Oct 2025 | 5:07 PM IST

Indian passport climbs 8 spots to rank 77, visa-free access to 59 nations

Singapore continues to hold the world's most powerful passport, with no visa required in 193 countries; Japan and South Korea share second place with visa-free access to 190 nations

Updated On: 22 Jul 2025 | 8:26 PM IST

India begins issuing chip-based e-passports in cities: All you need to know

India rolls out chip-enabled biometric e-passports in key cities under Passport Seva 2.0; aims for nationwide rollout by mid-2025 to boost security and ease immigration

Updated On: 16 May 2025 | 3:09 PM IST

Passport Seva Kendra to be set up in each Lok Sabha constituency: Scindia

Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia on Saturday said a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) will be opened in each of the country's 543 parliamentary constituencies. Scindia made the announcement while inaugurating a Passport Seva Kendra in Madhya Pradesh's Guna, the parliamentary constituency he represents. The Union minister also said that six new passport centres will be opened in MP this year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to establish a Passport Seva Kendra in each parliamentary constituency with the aim of expanding services. The Department of Posts, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, is committed to making this resolution a reality, he said. The minister also informed that 6,000 post offices have been opened across the country. We should try to revive the tradition of writing letters by hand in the country because it expresses the true feelings of the heart, he said. The minister said that several technological changes have taken pl

Updated On: 11 Jan 2025 | 11:11 PM IST

Passport website unavailable for use till Sept 2: What should you do

Website under maintenance for five days, will be inaccessible to people and government authorities

Updated On: 29 Aug 2024 | 11:13 AM IST

Lost your passport abroad? Here's how to get back to your country

Losing your passport abroad can be a scary and exasperating experience. The most common way of replacing a lost passport can be a cumbersome exercise, however, it works

Updated On: 03 Nov 2023 | 5:14 PM IST

Govt to deploy AI, advanced analytics solutions for Passport Seva services

The efforts are part of the Ministry of External Affairs' upgraded Passport Seva Program 2.0, which is being implemented through service partner TCS

Updated On: 10 Aug 2023 | 10:19 PM IST

Singapore passport world's most powerful, replacing Japan: Henley Index

The US, which once topped the ranking nearly a decade ago, slid two places to eighth place

Updated On: 18 Jul 2023 | 5:03 PM IST

'500%' improvement in passport services under Modi govt: MoS Muraleedharan

Passport services in the country have improved by "500 per cent" ever since the Modi government came to power in 2014, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said on Friday. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has been continuously working to speed up issuance of passports, the minister said in Lok Sabha during Question Hour. He also said that as many as 32 million Indians or Indian origin people live abroad and the Ministry of External Affairs has been rendering services to all of them. "Passport services have improved very much in the last eight years, I would say 500 per cent. The number of offices which process passport applications was 110 before 2014 and the number now stands at above 550," Muraleedharan said. He said the MEA is working continuously to speed up passport issuance and meet high or seasonal demand for passports by taking various steps including organising special drives or melas on weekends. Since June, a total of 234 passport melas hav

Updated On: 09 Dec 2022 | 2:59 PM IST

Want to change your passport photo online? Check instructions, details

To change the photo in the passport, you have to apply for a re-issue of the passport

Updated On: 07 Oct 2022 | 6:02 PM IST

TCS bags phase 2 of Centre's passport plan valued at up to Rs 8,000 cr

In the next phase of program, TCS will refresh existing facilities and systems, and develop new solutions to enable issuance of e-passports using technologies such as biometrics, data analytics, etc

Updated On: 08 Jan 2022 | 12:10 AM IST

Passport services integrated with DigiLocker platform, govt launches scheme

Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan launched a new scheme by which an applicant can leverage the DigiLocker platform while applying for passport-related services

Updated On: 20 Feb 2021 | 7:03 AM IST

No cap on applications for Indian passport renewal in Abu Dhabi from July 15

The Indian Embassy has decided to remove all restrictions on passport renewal applications to be submitted at BLS International Centres with effect from July 15

Updated On: 09 Jul 2020 | 7:05 AM IST

Reforms needed to be done in passport issuance, says S Jaishankar

In collaboration with the Department of Posts, we embarked on really a very transformational initiative, which has allowed us in the last three years to open 424 POPSKs, he said

Updated On: 27 Jun 2020 | 9:41 PM IST

Indian expats in Dubai can now get 'tatkal passport' on the same day

The initiative is expected to benefit those requiring emergency issuance of passports

Updated On: 10 Jan 2020 | 5:50 PM IST

Kartarpur Corridor: MEA expands passport services in Punjab after opening

As per provisions of an agreement between India and Pakistan, Indian pilgrims wanting to visit the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara require passport to travel to the neighbouring country using the corridor.

Updated On: 21 Nov 2019 | 11:10 PM IST

Passport issuance at 42 Indian missions integrated to passport seva project

The Ministry is in the process of linking and integrating all the Missions and Posts abroad with the PSP

Updated On: 20 Nov 2019 | 9:08 PM IST

Passport facilities to be available in all 800 district head post offices

Aim is to open 150 post office passport seva kendras within 2 years

Updated On: 13 Jun 2017 | 3:08 PM IST