Is Police Verification Required for Passport Renewal​ in India

Police verification is not always required when you renew your passport. Some people get it directly by post. Others keep waiting without any update. It all depends on your case.

If your address, name, or photo has not changed, there is a good chance your file will move faster. But if even one detail is different from your last passport, the system may send your file for police verification.

Many people feel confused after submission. They complete the biometric, get the receipt from Passport Seva Kendra, and think the work is done. But then the status shows under review.

This is why many users have this question in mind: Is Police Verification Required for Passport Renewal? It depends on what changed, what stayed the same, and how the office handles your file.

Passport renewal sounds easy at first. But police verification depends on what you updated and how the Regional Passport Office reads your file. Let us now explain when police verification happens and how to know if you will get one.

When Police Verification is Required During Passport Renewal?

Not every passport renewal gets a police visit. Some people get their passport in 10 or 15 days without any knock at the door. But sometimes, even a small change can block the process.

A new house or floor number. A photo that looks too different. A signature that does not match. These are small things, but they can stop your file. Many people in Delhi NCR shared that their passport got delayed even when everything seemed right.

The officer at the Regional Passport Office checks your details. If anything looks different from your last file, they send it for police verification. You may not get a call. No SMS. But your file stays stuck.

So how do you know what can cause this? Let us look at the exact reasons that trigger police verification during passport renewal in India.

Police verification happens if your address is changed

Changing your address is the most common reason for passport files getting flagged. Even a small update, like adding a flat number or correcting a street name, can trigger police verification.

This is because the passport office needs to make sure you truly stay at the new place. The moment the new address appears in your renewal form, the Regional Passport Office sends the file for local police confirmation.

Here is what usually happens after an address change:

1. Address change sends file for police check
2. Local police checks if you live there
3. Aadhaar mismatch can hold the file
4. Police may visit or just call once
5. Missed visit can delay your passport
6. Utility bill helps confirm new address
7. Rent agreement works as a second proof

Many people in Delhi NCR shared that their file got stuck just because they were not home when the officer came. Some waited nearly two weeks. Keeping your documents ready and staying reachable during working hours can save you that wait.

Name or photo update often triggers verification

Making changes to your name or photo during passport renewal may look simple on paper. But this often alerts the passport office. They check if you are the same person from the old file. If anything feels off, they send your file for police verification before printing.

Many users update their name after marriage or due to spelling mistakes. Some change their photo because of age or a clear look difference. These updates are allowed, but they carry risk. If Annexure F or supporting ID proof is not clear or has even one mismatch, the Regional Passport Office (RPO) delays the file and sends it for background check.

Users in Delhi, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad have shared that even when documents were uploaded correctly, police verification was still done. The system treats these updates as identity-sensitive. That is why name or photo changes can slow things down.

If passport is too old or expired long ago

Many people believe passport renewal is always quick. But if your passport expired many years ago, that belief can break. In these cases, the passport system does not treat it like a simple update. It often starts a fresh check, just like it would for a new file.

The Regional Passport Office usually checks how long the passport has been expired. If it crosses the limit—usually around 3 years—the file may go for full police verification. This step confirms that you are still living at the same address and match the old identity.

Here are the triggers in old expiry cases:

• Expired passport more than 3 years
• Address in Aadhaar is different
• No police verification done in last passport
• Name or photo changed recently
• Old passport not scanned clearly
• File shows risk due to gap
• System flags for full verification

A user from Gurugram shared that his passport expired 4 years ago. He thought it would renew in a week. Instead, the file stayed under police review for 12 full days. This delay is common when the passport is too old or has missing verification from the past.

Tatkaal Passport sometimes skips Police verification but not always

Tatkaal sounds fast. It is, when everything is in place. People often believe that if they book a Tatkaal slot, the passport will arrive in a few days without any police verification. That is not always true.

Even in Tatkaal renewals, the passport can get delayed. If your address is not the same or your Aadhaar shows a mismatch, the file may be sent for post verification. This means the passport moves to print first, but the police verification happens after dispatch. If anything goes wrong, the file gets pulled back or flagged.

Here is how Tatkaal Passport files behave in most cases:

• Tatkaal skips police verification if address matches exactly
• RPO sends file to print before any check
• Aadhaar mismatch triggers police visit later
• PSK clears it fast but RPO may hold it
• Name or photo update adds risk factor
• Annexure F missing may stop post delivery

A user from Dwarka applied through Tatkaal and got the passport in four days. But another user from Ghaziabad said his file got stuck after printing due to a wrong address line. The police came home one week after the passport was already delivered.

That is why Tatkaal feels fast but still carries some hidden risks. Always double-check your documents before booking the slot.

File gets stuck if Annexure is wrong or missing

You upload all the documents. You get the biometric slip. The PSK officer says it is fine. But days pass. Nothing arrives. Then you check the portal. It says under police verification or file on hold. That is where it all begins.

Many people miss this part. If you made any change—name, photo, address—you need to upload the right Annexure. Even one small mistake can trigger a full stop. The Regional Passport Office checks these closely.

In most stuck files, one of these happens:

• Annexure F is missing or incomplete
• Annexure E was skipped by mistake
• Signature does not match the new proof
• Uploaded scan is too blurry or cropped
• Supporting ID does not back the change
• Address proof is older than allowed

Someone in East Delhi uploaded Annexure F but left one box empty. The file stayed on hold for eight days. Another user attached the wrong photo format. Everything looked right in PSK, but RPO flagged it later.

If you updated anything in your file, go slow on this step. These forms may look boring, but they decide if your passport moves or not.

Damage or lost passport cases need police verification

Many people feel stuck after they lose their passport or damage it badly. They walk into the passport office thinking it is just a small issue. But when they apply for renewal, they see the status change. It shows under police verification. That is when the waiting starts.

A torn page, a water mark, or even a faded photo is enough to trigger extra steps. If you lost your passport and did not upload an FIR copy, the Regional Passport Office usually holds your file. Some users also get flagged if the damage makes the photo unreadable or the chip fails.

Here is what usually happens in these cases:

A user from Rohini said his passport had a torn cover. PSK accepted it, but later the file went to the police. Another user from Noida forgot to upload the FIR. He had to wait 12 days before the officer cleared it. So even a small issue can lead to a big delay.

Regional Passport Office may send file for police verification without warning

You filled the form. Same address. Same name. Everything matched. Still, your file stopped moving.

It said status under review. No SMS. No call. Three days passed. Then five. Still nothing.

This is more common than people think. The Regional Passport Office does not always explain why they hold a file. Sometimes it is a manual review. Sometimes the area is marked for extra checks. In a few cases, it is just a silent hold.

Users from Lajpat Nagar and Noida faced this even when they used Tatkaal. No document was missing. No mismatch was found. Still, the portal showed under police verification without any reason.

The officer at the counter may not have details either. These holds often come from backend reviews or quiet flags based on zone, profile, or old records.

So if your file is stuck and nothing seems wrong, you are not alone. Many clean files still get sent for verification without notice.

When police verification is not needed for passport renewal?

Some passport renewals do not need police verification. If your address, name, photo, and ID proof are the same as before, the passport may move forward without any hold.

The Regional Passport Office checks your file after biometric. If everything matches, it is sent straight for printing. Now let us see which cases usually move without police verification.

Same address and photo usually skips Police Verification

If your current address is the same as the one in your last passport, and your photo has not changed much, your renewal may not need police verification. The Regional Passport Office checks if all core details match what is already in their records. If everything looks correct, the file goes for printing without delay.

Here is what the system usually checks:

• Address matches old passport exactly
• Photo looks the same as old record
• Name is spelled the same way
• Aadhaar and passport show same address
• Biometric done at PSK without issue
• ID proof is clear and up to date

If all the details stay the same, your passport file can move without police steps. Still, always double-check your documents before you submit the form.

Tatkaal passport renewal without changes usually moves fast

Tatkaal passport is designed for urgent cases. But that speed only works when your file is clean. If your address, name, and photo are exactly the same as before, the passport may be printed without police verification. The Regional Passport Office clears such files quickly after biometric if no mismatch or update is found. Any change can slow it down.

Here is how clean Tatkaal renewals usually behave:

• Tatkaal with no change skips police verification
• Aadhaar must match passport line by line
• PSK sends file to print if all is clear
• Photo must look like old record
• RPO holds file if Annexure is missing
• Address change moves file to verification

If your file has no updates and the documents are all in order, Tatkaal can finish within a few working days.

Previous police verification in last passport stays valid if details match

If police already verified your details during your last passport issue, and you have not changed your address, photo, or name, the passport office usually moves your renewal without another verification. That earlier record stays valid as long as the Aadhaar and old passport still show the same place and ID.

You walked into the PSK. Give your biometrics. Uploaded clean documents. Nothing was updated. This is when your last verification works in your favour. The file moves faster because the office sees no new risk.

One user from Mayur Vihar said his old file had police done five years ago. He renewed before expiry and changed nothing. His new passport arrived within four working days.

If everything still matches what they already cleared before, there is no reason for them to repeat the same step.

Conclusion

Not every passport renewal needs police verification. If your details match your last passport, and your Aadhaar and ID are up to date, the file can move fast. Most delays start when something small gets changed or missed.

Files with name updates, address change, or missing documents usually go for police steps. Even Tatkaal is not always free from that. The Regional Passport Office checks everything once your biometric is done. If anything looks different, they may hold it for review.

Always double-check your forms and proofs before you book your slot. A small gap can cause a long wait. If everything stays the same, your renewal may finish without any visit, call, or delay.