7 Common Reasons Why Passports Get Rejected in Delhi

Many people in Delhi apply for passports daily, but some applications have problems. Small mistakes can cause the Regional Passport Office (RPO) to hold or reject your passport application. The good news is you can easily avoid these mistakes with careful attention. Here, you will learn 7 common reasons passports get rejected in Delhi and how to avoid them.

1. Wrong or Missing Details in Passport Form

Passport applications are often rejected due to small mistakes in the form. Every field in the passport form needs correct information. Giving wrong details or leaving blanks can cause the system to reject your application.

For example, a spelling mistake in your name or wrong date of birth can hold your file for weeks. Most cases on hold in Delhi happen due to careless mistakes made while filling the form.

Why it happens:

Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) checks every detail carefully. They match your form details with your documents. A missing middle name, spelling mistake in address, or wrong dropdown selection can cause problems. Selecting the wrong gender or marital status can cause verification problems later.

How to avoid it:

Check each entry carefully before submitting the form. Write your name exactly as it is on your Aadhaar or other ID. Check all dates, like your birth date, carefully. Fill optional address fields too, so your form exactly matches your documents.

Take a short break after filling the form, then review it again or ask someone else to check. Taking a few extra minutes now can save weeks of waiting later.

2. Documents Not Matching Your Application Details

Passports are rejected if details in your documents do not match your form. All your IDs and certificates must show the same details. If your class 10 certificate spells your name differently than your Aadhaar card, it creates problems.

The passport office notices even small differences. For example, if your Aadhaar card says Rohit Kumar Sharma but your form says Rohit Sharma, the system will reject it.

Why it happens:

Passport officers see mismatched details as identity problems. They cannot tell which detail is right. A wrong name, different date of birth, or spelling mistakes in parents’ names can stop your passport. Delhi passport officers carefully check each document. If one document does not match, officers may put your application on hold.

How to avoid it:

Collect all needed documents like Aadhaar, PAN, birth certificate, and marksheets. Make sure all have the same details. If you changed your name after marriage, update documents first, then apply. For minors, check that school and birth certificates have matching name and date of birth. Any difference between documents can cause problems. Use your full name (no initials) in every document to avoid problems.

3. Address Proof Problems

Your address must match exactly on your form and all documents. In Delhi, many passports stop due to address mistakes. If your form address is different from your proof, your passport can be stopped.

Even a small mistake in flat number or sector name can fail the police check. For example, B-92 Sector 75 and B92 Sec 75 look similar, but the system sees them as different. Many Delhi passports fail police checks due to small mistakes in address details.

Why it happens:

Passport officers use documents like Aadhaar, voter ID, or electricity bills to check your address. During police checks, officers visit your home to check your address. If documents show a different or old address, police report address problems.

In crowded Delhi neighborhoods, these mistakes happen often. Your passport will be stopped with a note saying address problem.

How to avoid it:

Use a new proof with the same address written on your form. If you moved recently, update Aadhaar or get a bank statement with the new address. Check flat numbers, colony names, and pin codes carefully. Write them exactly as they appear on your document.

Tell your society guard or neighbors about the police visit so they confirm you live there. Making sure your address matches everywhere helps finish police checks easily.

4. Wrong Passport Photo

Passport photos cause many rejections. The government has strict rules for passport photos. They set rules for size, background color, and facial expression. Many Delhi applicants use casual or old photos that break the rules. At PSK, officers quickly see wrong backgrounds or unclear faces and reject the photo. Even one mistake stops your passport process.

Common Photo Mistakes:

Using selfies or scanned photos is wrong. Backgrounds must be white (not blue or red). Glasses causing glare and smiling are not allowed. Your face must be straight, looking at the camera without smiling. Photo size must be 4.5 cm x 3.5 cm with a white background and no face shadows[9]. If these rules break, the system or officer rejects the photo.

Why It Happens:

Passports use digital photo checks. The system checks your photo automatically. Blurry, dark, or wrongly-sized photos get marked and rejected. At PSK (like Rajouri Garden), officers compare your printed photo to the digital one.

If photos differ or quality is low, they tell you to come again with a new one. This stops your passport until you bring the right photo.

How to Avoid It:

Take a new passport photo just for this. Use a photo studio and say it is for a passport. They know the rules. The background must be white. The face must have even lighting without shadows. Don’t wear sunglasses or anything covering your face. Glasses should not reflect light. Do not smile. Show shoulders straight and face clearly in the center. Doing this correctly stops photo rejection issues.

5. Missing or Wrong Documents

You must submit the right documents to get your passport. If any document is missing, old, or wrong, your passport stops. Common mistakes include missing required affidavits, uploading wrong documents, or providing invalid proof. For Tatkal applications, you must upload Annexure F (verification certificate). Missing it stops your passport. For minors, missing a birth certificate or consent form (Annexure H) stops the application.

Why It Happens:

Passport offices follow strict document lists. Delhi passport officers check these lists carefully. They call it Annexure mismatch if your documents are wrong or missing.

Unclear scans or old documents like expired IDs or address proofs get rejected. Address proofs with mismatched names or PIN codes also cause rejection. Your passport process stops until documents are correct.

How to Avoid It:

Check document lists on Passport Seva website or ask passport agents in Delhi. Have self-attested copies of your IDs and proofs. For normal applications, you need address proof, birth proof, and sometimes education or parent proof. For Tatkal, always submit Annexure F (gazetted officer verification).

Annexure A or missing documents are not accepted. Government employees may need Annexure G (NOC). Submit documents exactly as required. Make sure scans and copies clearly show your name, address, and dates. If documents show different names or addresses, fix them or submit an affidavit explaining it. These steps will stop your passport from being marked missing or unclear.

6. Police Verification Failure

After submitting documents and biometrics, the police verify your details. This step is important in Delhi. Problems during police verification can stop your passport. Here are common reasons for verification failure:

Address Not Verified: Police visited your address but could not find you. Sometimes the address was incomplete or wrong. Then, police mark it as “applicant not found.”

Adverse Information: Police find criminal records or court cases against you. This leads to a negative report and passport rejection[19].

Document Mismatch: Police see differences between your application details and actual documents. Even small mistakes in names or addresses cause verification to fail.

Why It Happens:

Passport offices in Delhi need a positive police verification report. Negative reports stop your passport process completely[20]. This ensures passports only go to verified people with no legal issues.

How to Avoid It:

• Give honest information on your application.
• If you have court cases, resolve them or get court approval first.
• Stay available at your address after applying. Police may visit anytime.
• Cooperate fully if police call you to the station instead.
• Keep originals of documents like Aadhaar or voter ID ready.
• Inform police if your address changed within Delhi.
• Quickly respond to SMS or calls about verification.

If verification fails, you can request a second verification, but this adds extra time. It’s best to handle it carefully the first time.

7. Mistakes in Payment Appointment and Signatures

Mistakes during passport application can cause rejections. Common mistakes include:

• Paying fees but not booking your appointment
• Choosing holidays or closed days for appointments
• Missing signatures on forms or self-attested documents

To avoid rejection, complete each online step, book appointments quickly after payment, arrive early at PSK, sign all documents clearly, and follow instructions carefully.

Tips to Avoid Passport Rejection in Delhi

Here are quick tips to help your passport application get approved easily:

Make a Checklist:
Include:

• Correctly filled form
• Verified name spellings
• All documents attached and signed
• Proper passport-sized photo
• Application fee paid
• Appointment booked

Checking these before submission reduces errors.

Check Official Guidelines:

Check Passport Seva guidelines for document and photo rules. If unsure about annexures or document rules, call the passport helpline. Clarify doubts first to avoid rejection later.

Check Status Regularly:

Regularly check your application status online. In Delhi, processing is usually quick. If your status says file on hold or RPO messages you, respond immediately. Quick action can prevent rejection. Visit the Track Application Status page regularly for updates.

Get Expert Help:

If the process seems difficult, get expert help. Passport agents in Delhi can help fill forms and arrange documents correctly. They know common mistakes and latest rules in Delhi. Expert guidance reduces rejection risk.

Careful Preparation:

Careful preparation helps your application get approved easily. Most rejections happen from simple mistakes. Now you know how to avoid these!

FAQ’s

Q1: What are the common reasons a passport application gets rejected in Delhi?

Common reasons are mistakes in the form like incorrect details, missing documents, inadequate address proof, photo not as per rules, and police verification issues. In Delhi, minor differences like a flat number mismatch on address proofs cause rejection. These issues put your application on hold.

Q2: How can I avoid my passport application being rejected?

Double-check all details in your application form. Your documents must match form details like name, birth date, and address. Submit a recent passport-size photo with white background. Attach all needed documents and annexures clearly. Give correct address details and be available for police verification. Careful checking of every step prevents rejection.

Q3: Does a passport rejection mean I can’t apply again?

No, you can apply again even after rejection. Your current application contained an error. You can apply again after correcting the mistake[25]. Many people in Delhi successfully apply again after fixing errors. When reapplying, correct the exact problem listed (example: include missing Annexure F). You must pay the fee again and book a new appointment, but only provide missing or corrected documents.

Q4: Can police verification failure be fixed or appealed?

If police verification fails, you have 2 options. Find out why it failed: unavailable at address, wrong details, or adverse police report (example: criminal case). For address or availability issues, request police re-verification.

You may need to visit the RPO or reply to a show-cause notice. The RPO can request police to verify again. If verification failed due to a criminal case, get court clearance or a case closure first. Respond quickly in all situations. In Delhi, visit the Passport Office with your details for help. A passport needs clear police verification, so solve this issue first.

Q5: How can passport agents in Delhi help in the application process?

Passport agents know the complete passport application process. In Delhi, passport agents help avoid common mistakes due to frequent rule updates.

They help fill forms, check your documents, and remind you about additional papers (like Annexure F for Tatkal or marriage certificates). They act as your checklist to avoid errors. Hiring agents doesn’t guarantee approval, but it greatly reduces errors that cause rejections.

If your application was rejected before, agents help understand RPO remarks and fix problems for reapplication. Choose trusted passport agents in Delhi with positive reviews. Our team, The Passport Agents, provides guidance, document checks, and full support.