Passport Renewal Process in India: Documents, Fees, and Time (2025)

Many people reach the passport office with expired passports and no idea what to do next. But renewing an Indian passport is simple if you follow the right steps.

The passport renewal process in India runs through the Passport Seva Kendra system, both online and offline, depending on how fast you want your passport.

If your passport is near expiry or has already crossed the 10-year mark, you can apply again using the passport renewal form on the Passport Seva portal. You just need your Aadhaar card, old passport, and a few copies. Inside PSK, they check your details, take fingerprints, and click your photo.

After that, your file goes to the Regional Passport Office. If there is no police check needed, your passport moves to printing within 20 to 30 working days.

But if the police verification is delayed, your file may stay stuck in RPO file hold or show file sent for printing without delivery.

We will explain exactly how the passport renewal process in India works, what documents you need, how much you need to pay, and how long it usually takes, including what can delay it and how to speed it up.

What Is Passport Renewal?

Passport renewal means getting a new passport booklet when your old Indian passport expired. You keep the same identity. Your passport number stays the same, unless the passport was lost or your name has changed.

Renewal is only for those who had a valid Indian passport before. If it is your first passport, that is called a fresh application. If your passport is lost or stolen, you apply for reissue, not renewal.

You can renew your passport through the Passport Seva portal using the reissue form. This works for both normal and Tatkal options. The Regional Passport Office checks your file, prints your new passport, and dispatches it if everything is clear.

When Should You Renew Your Passport?

Every Indian passport comes with a 10-year validity. But you do not need to wait for the exact expiry date to renew. The passport renewal window opens 1 year before expiry and stays open for up to 3 years after. But waiting too long can hold your file at the RPO renewal queue if your address or details have changed.

For international travel, many countries need a passport with at least 6 months validity left. So if your expiry is near, your passport may still look valid but be not usable abroad. That is why many people start the passport renewal process at the 9-month mark, especially if they need a Tatkal file push or fast visa.

You should also renew if your passport is damaged, lost, or has outdated personal details like a new name after marriage. These are treated as reissue after expiry and run through the same Passport Seva portal form as normal renewals.

If your file had a biometric mismatch, police check expired, or Annexure E was flagged during the last issue, you should not delay. These cases can lead to RPO file hold and longer verification.

At Passport Seva Kendra, renewals are usually smooth. But the MEA follows strict rules under the Indian passport expiry law, so even a small mistake can slow your new passport.

Types of Passport Renewal in India You Can Choose

Not all passport renewals in India follow the same track. Some are urgent, some are routine, and some depend on age or damage. The Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) gives you clear renewal choices based on your need. Each one links to a different passport reissue category on the portal and affects how fast your file reaches the RPO dispatch stage.

Normal Passport Renewal

This is the regular route. You pick this when your Indian passport expiry is near or has already crossed the 10-year validity. It runs through the standard queue, with normal PSK appointment slots and full police verification after biometric.

• Available for all passports close to expiry
• Police verification is usually required
• Delivery time: 20 to 30 working days
• You must match your Aadhaar card and passport details

Tatkal Passport Renewal

This route is for people who need their passport fast. You pick the Tatkal category while filling the passport renewal form on the portal. If your file has no red flags, your passport goes to print before police checks. Most Tatkal renewals in Delhi NCR are done in 10 to 15 days.

• No police check delay in clean cases
• Need extra proof like Annexure F or employer ID
• Printing happens first, check comes later
• Works only at Tatkal-supported PSKs

Minor Passport Renewal

If the passport is for a child under 18, it comes under the minor passport reissue path. You do not need police checks if the child has an old passport and parents show matching Aadhaar-linked documents. It is safer to keep the same address as the last file.

• Needs Annexure D signed by both parents
• No police visit if Aadhaar and school ID match
• Valid only for 5 years or till age 18
• File moves faster if old passport is recent

Renewal After Expiry or Damage

You can still renew your passport even if it is expired or badly damaged. If it has expired in the last 3 years, you file under reissue after expiry. If it is torn or water-damaged, you select the passport damage category during the appointment booking.

• Passport expired less than 3 years ago
• Pages are torn, cover is broken, or chip is unreadable
• May need police re-check or RPO approval
• Delivery depends on Annexure E and biometric match

What Is the Process of Passport Renewal in India

You can renew an Indian passport in two simple ways. One is through the Passport Seva portal with an online form and PSK slot booking.

The other is by visiting the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) directly for an offline walk-in renewal.

Both ways work if your passport is expiring, already expired, or needs reissue after damage or name change.

How to Apply for Passport Renewal Online in India

Renewing your passport online is the faster option in most cities. You only need an internet connection, a few scanned papers, and five clear steps. The full online path runs through the Passport Seva portal, from login to biometric at the PSK biometric queue.

Online Passport Renewal Steps

1. Open Passport Seva portal and create an account with email and mobile.
2. Login and select Re-issue Passport. Choose Renew Passport reason.
3. Pick Normal or Tatkal. Tatkal needs Annexure F or Verification Letter.
4. Fill eForm. Match Aadhaar, old passport, and current address.
5. Pay renewal fee online using UPI, netbanking, or card.
6. Select the nearest PSK slot. Get ARN token on screen and by SMS.
7. Upload Aadhaar, passport scan, or proof if the portal asks.
8. Print ARN, payment slip, and carry all to PSK.
9. At PSK, join the biometric queue: photo, fingerprint, file check.
10. File moves to RPO. Track on Indian passport renewal online page.

Once the PSK biometric queue is done, no further action is needed. Just wait for delivery or check if police check pending via SMS.

How to Apply Offline for Passport Renewal in India

You can still do offline passport renewal India by visiting a walk-in PSK or your District Passport Cell. No online login is needed here.

• Go early to the manual token counter.
• Get the offline passport renewal form printed or download from the Passport Seva portal.
• Fill it neatly with black pen. Your details must match Aadhaar and your old passport.
• Carry a full file: old passport, Aadhaar copy, passport photo, and Annexure F (if applying under Tatkal).
• Submit your form and documents at counter A. You get a token slip.
• Sit for your turn at counter B and C, where officers verify your form and ID.
• At the last step, they do offline biometric verification — your photo and fingerprint are taken.
• The file goes to the RPO dispatch in person for approval.
• If everything matches, the passport moves to print. If police verification is pending or Annexure has errors, it may be delayed.

Many PSKs release only limited walk-in tokens per day. Reaching early, keeping documents neat, and avoiding corrections on the spot help your file movement.

Use the reference number from your receipt to check updates through the Passport Seva portal under the “Track Application Status” option.

How to Fill the Passport Renewal Application Form

Filling the passport renewal form is simple if you follow the right steps on the Passport Seva portal. Here is how to do it:

Step 1: Open the Passport Seva portal and log in using your mobile number and password. Use the same account where your old passport is linked.

Step 2: Click Apply for Fresh/Reissue Passport. Then select Reissue of Passport from the dropdown. This is your renewal route.

Step 3: Pick your reason for renewal. Choose from expiry, damage, pages full, or personal detail change. Then select Normal or Tatkal as your service type. Also choose passport type — 36 or 60 pages.

Step 4: Fill the eForm with your details. Your name, date of birth, Aadhaar number, and old passport number must match exactly. Use the on-screen instructions for field hints.

Step 5: After filling, click Submit. Now move to View Saved/Submitted Applications and book a date and time at your nearest PSK biometric center.

Step 6: Pay the passport renewal fees using UPI, credit card, or netbanking. You will get a receipt and ARN token number.

Step 7: Download and print your application form, ARN token, and payment receipt. Carry these with your original documents on PSK day.

What Documents are Required for Passport Renewal

For passport renewal in India, your file must carry the right ID, address, and personal proof. Old passport, Aadhaar, and any updates like Annexure E are must-haves. At PSK, if even one paper mismatches, your file may get stuck in RPO hold or sent back for review.

Main documents for passport renewal you need:

• Old passport – original booklet with first and last page
• Aadhaar card – must match address and full name in form
• Passport photo – recent, white background, 4.5 × 3.5 cm
• Address proof – Aadhaar, voter card, electricity bill, or bank passbook
• Annexure E – if any personal detail changed (like address, name, DOB)
• Annexure F – if applying under Tatkal passport renewal
• Verification Certificate – signed by Class 1 officer for Tatkal
• Marriage certificate – if adding surname after marriage
• Affidavit – if old passport is lost, torn, or water-damaged

For children, minor passport renewals need a birth certificate, school ID, and parent Aadhaar.

For police re-verification cases, keep address proof copies and signed Annexure E ready.

If your Aadhaar does not match your form details, biometric may fail at PSK counter B.

Your passport renewal documents must be arranged in the correct order inside a simple carry folder. No stapling or pinning is allowed. Bring originals and one clear xerox of each. The RPO keeps your form on hold if any page is missing, unclear, or mismatched.

How Much Does Passport Renewal Fees in India

Passport renewal fee in India changes by, pages, and Tatkal or Normal application. The cost is fixed by the Ministry of External Affairs and shown live on the Passport Seva portal during payment.

Below is the exact fee structure for passport renewal in 2025:

You must carry a PSK fee receipt and make payment through the Passport Seva portal using UPI, card, or net banking. The final amount depends on PSK counter selection, passport pages, and Tatkal speed type.

Always check the RPO fee receipt line on your ARN for confirmed status.

How Many Days It Takes for Passport Renewal in India

Passport renewal time in India depends on mode and file status. For most, normal passport renewal days fall between 20 to 30 days, but if your PVR is not updated, or RPO file hold happens, it may stretch to 45 days.

Tatkal passport timeline is quicker around 3 to 10 days, unless MEA flags the file or asks for checks.

Special files like lost passport renewal time, minor passport file delay, or major name updates may take over 30 days, especially if a police verification report is pending or biometric recheck happens at the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK).

Renew early. Track daily using the Indian passport renewal online portal under “Track Status”. Watch for PSK holidays, and double-check your Annexure forms. That saves days.

How to Check Passport Renewal Status?

You can track your passport renewal status online using the Passport Seva portal. This lets you check if your file is with the Regional Passport Office (RPO), if your Police Verification Report (PVR) is done, or if your passport is ready for printing.

It works for both Normal and Tatkal passport renewals, and helps avoid confusion caused by RPO file hold or PVR not updated delays.

Follow these steps to check:

• Log in to the Passport Seva portal
• Click on Track Application Status
• Select your application type from the list
• Enter your file number and date of birth
• Click on Track Status to view live passport file movement

You will see updates from Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) to RPO dispatch, including any block in the queue. Always match your ARN token with the portal for best accuracy.

Common Mistakes People Make During Passport Renewal

Even a small mistake can stop your passport renewal file at the PSK counter or lead to a delay from RPO. Below are the most common errors people make during passport renewal in India.

• Chose fresh passport instead of renewal by mistake
• Forgot to attach Annexure E for name update cases
• Booked wrong PSK location or selected wrong city
• Entered Aadhaar name mismatch in the renewal form
• Paid passport fee twice by UPI or card confusion
• Picked Tatkal but missed the Verification Certificate
• Uploaded blurry scan of old passport or Aadhaar card
• Submitted incorrect file number on Track Status page
• Visited PSK without print of ARN token or fee receipt
• Gave invalid mobile number, missed SMS from Passport Seva
• Filled 60-page form without real travel need, delayed approval
• Failed to check police report status before RPO file hold

To avoid these mistakes, always double-check your details on the Passport Seva Portal, match your Aadhaar name and address, and follow the right Tatkal or Normal flow.

One small check before payment or form upload can save you from delays at the Passport Seva Kendra or Regional Passport Office.

What Are the Differences Between Renewal and Reissue of Passport?

Many people get confused between passport renewal vs reissue on the Passport Seva Portal, but they are not the same. If your passport has just expired, you do not always need reissue. But if you lost your passport or made a name change, you must pick a reissue.

Passport Renewal

Passport renewal is used when your passport is expired or about to expire, but your details stay the same. No major edits, no loss, no damage. It is just for extending validity. The form remains simple, and the RPO will treat it like a reprint case.

Passport Reissue

Passport reissue is used when your passport is lost, damaged, or if any personal detail changes — like name, gender, or address. In such cases, you need to submit extra proofs like Annexure E, Annexure F, or new Aadhaar updates. It counts as a fresh file in the RPO queue.

Main Differences Between Passport Renewal and Reissue

• Renewal means expired passport with same details
• Reissue is for lost, damaged or changed passport
• Renewal skips Annexure unless name mismatch
• Reissue often needs Annexure E or Annexure F
• Renewal only updates passport validity
• Reissue updates identity or replaces file
• Tatkal passport reissue needs extra verification
• Passport reissue reason affects timeline
• Renewal after validity is faster if no edit
• Indian passport expired = renewal, not always reissue

Renewal of Short Validity Passport (SVP)

If you were issued a Short Validity Passport (SVP) in India, maybe due to incomplete documents, emergency travel, or pending police verification, you can apply to renew it into a full-validity passport. This passport renewal must be done before expiry or soon after, using the Passport Seva Portal or walk-in at your nearest PSK.

To renew an SVP, follow these real steps:

• Get the passport renewal form from the Passport Seva Portal or from a nearby PSK counter
• Fill in the form carefully, selecting Short Validity Passport renewal as your option
• Collect your required proofs like Aadhaar card, old passport, and supporting documents
• Pay the correct passport renewal fee online or at the PSK cash counter
• Book your PSK slot and take a print of your ARN receipt
• Carry the old SVP, your ID copy, and passport photocopies (first 2 and last 2 pages)
• Also carry your ECR/Non-ECR page copy with signature, and Annexure E if your details changed

At the PSK, officers will check your file. If everything is clear, your file goes to the Regional Passport Office (RPO) for final review. Most SVP renewals get full validity if the police report and ID proof match.

What to Do If Your Passport Is Expired for Many Years

If your passport is expired for over 3 years, you can still apply for renewal in India — but expect extra checks. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) allows Indian passport reissue after long expiry, but you may be treated like a fresh case by the Regional Passport Office (RPO).

The steps are mostly same as regular passport renewal, but with tighter checks:

• Fill the reissue form on the Passport Seva Portal, not fresh passport
• Upload or carry your expired passport, Aadhaar card, and a valid photo ID
• Choose Normal or Tatkal passport slot, but Tatkal is rarely allowed for long-expired files
• Submit old passport copies (first 2 + last 2 pages) and a new passport-size photo
• If your name or address changed, add Annexure E and Aadhaar match proof

Police verification is mandatory in most long expiry renewals, even for Tatkal

If passport was damaged, lost, or had wrong data earlier, the RPO file hold may trigger more delay

Once your file is accepted at Passport Seva Kendra (PSK), keep checking status using your ARN token or passport renewal portal login. Allow 30–45 days for full cycle.