A navy blue cover is what most people in India carry when they travel abroad. But that is not the only kind. Some passports come in white. Some in maroon. The difference is not about design. It is about who holds it and why.
India issues different passports based on purpose and role. An ordinary citizen planning a family visit abroad carries the common type. A government officer sent on duty uses a white-cover passport. A diplomat on official assignment travels with a maroon one. Each of these is issued under the same legal law, but their function is not the same.
These categories are not recent. They are written into the Passports Act, 1967. Each one has a set use case. Each one signals something about the bearer.
Over the years, the system has changed. More passport offices, better processing, e-passports with chips now starting to roll out. But the basic idea stays – the passport is not just a document. It shows purpose. It carries status. And it tells the world something about the person who holds it. That is why these types matter. Even before a stamp is added.
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Meaning and origin of types of passport in India
The word passport has been part of Indian travel law for over a century. In Hindi, it is called पारपत्र, meaning a paper to cross borders. The English term stayed in use after independence and was later written into the Passports Act of 1967. It became the legal name for what the document allows—a way to leave or return under India’s protection.
Different types of passports did not come later. They were always part of the system. During British rule, the Indian Passport Act of 1920 set up controls for travel, including who needed documents and where they could go. India kept the system but made it its own.
Each type reflects the bearer’s role. Ordinary for personal travel. Official for those on government duty. Diplomatic for high-level missions. The color coding—blue, white, and maroon—is not decoration. It shows what the passport stands for before the first page is even opened. These categories have stayed fixed, even as the system grew and changed.
Overview of types of passport in India
In India, a passport is more than a travel document. It shows who issued it, why it was issued, and what purpose it serves. That purpose decides the type. Not all passports are the same, even if the format looks similar at first glance.
The ordinary passport is the one most people carry. It has a navy blue cover. It is used for vacations, studies, job interviews abroad, or family visits. Almost everyone who applies for a passport in India ends up with this type.
The official one looks different. It comes in white and is used when a government employee is sent out of the country on duty. Then there is the maroon one. The diplomatic passport. This is held by people who represent India internationally—diplomats, envoys, or top officials.
Each of these is issued under the same legal law but under different rules. The Ministry of External Affairs oversees all passport services. That includes printing, processing, and the network of passport offices. Regional offices handle the approvals. Seva Kendras—some set up inside post offices—take in new applications.
India has more than 92 million active passports. Most are ordinary type. But the number is not the only thing that changed. Biometric e-passports with digital chips are also being introduced. These look the same outside, but the technology inside is not.
A passport in India is designed to show more than identity. Its color shows what kind of responsibility or clearance the person is carrying. That is the difference that defines these types. Before the first stamp is added.
Timeline of how types of passport in India were introduced
India did not begin with three types of passports. That came later.. It was 1920 when the British administration passed the Indian Passport Act. Travel controls were being introduced around the world after the war, and this was part of it. Provincial authorities like Bombay or United Provinces handled the process. There were no types. Just a travel document to move in or out.
After independence in 1947, passport responsibility shifted to the centre. For a few years, states continued issuing them. That changed in 1954 when the first five Regional Passport Offices opened. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Nagpur. This became the base for national passport services.
In 1966, the Supreme Court ruled that a citizen could not be stopped from travelling abroad without proper legal grounds. The Passports Act came the next year. That is where the types were written in. Ordinary. Official. Diplomatic. Each one for a different role. Each with a purpose.
Later, India allowed some people near Bangladesh or Sri Lanka to carry passports limited to those countries. Those were withdrawn once machine-readable booklets became standard.
The structure kept building. More offices came. Technology improved. But the categories stayed. The color told you what it was for. Blue meant personal. White meant on duty. Maroon meant diplomatic.
In recent years, India added e-passports with embedded chips. The booklet changed inside. Not outside. The types are still in place, exactly as they were written into law in 1967. They were never decorative. They were always functional. And they still are.
What each type of passport in India looks like
Indian passports are designed to follow a standard format, but each type has distinct visual features. The cover color is the first way to tell them apart, but there are other details inside that show what the passport is for and who it is issued to.
Ordinary passport
This is the passport most Indians carry. The cover is navy blue. On the front, it shows the Emblem of India and the words Republic of India and Passport in both Hindi and English. Inside, the booklet contains either 36 or 60 pages.
It includes the photo, personal details, and a machine-readable zone on the data page. A note from the President of India appears inside, asking foreign authorities to allow free passage. This passport is valid for ten years for adults. For minors, it is issued for a shorter term.
Official passport
The white-cover passport is used by individuals travelling abroad for government work. This includes officers sent on official duty or government-sponsored training.
The booklet format is similar to the ordinary type, but the cover clearly sets it apart. It is only valid for the time of the assignment and is not for personal use. Holders usually have a separate navy blue passport for private travel.
Diplomatic passport
This passport has a maroon cover. It is issued to Indian diplomats, top officials, and others representing India in an official capacity abroad. The format and layout are similar to other types, but the passport grants additional privileges during travel.
It is only to be used for government business. Each page includes security features to prevent tampering or misuse. The cover itself signals official standing.
Purpose of each type of passport in India
Indian passports are issued based on the reason a person is travelling and their role at the time. Each type has its own rules, and each is meant for a specific purpose.
Ordinary passport
This is for regular international travel. It is used by Indian citizens for tourism, studies, job applications abroad, business trips, or visiting family. It is also accepted as proof of identity in many places. About 92 percent of Indian passport holders have this type. It is the default choice for anyone not travelling on government duty.
Official passport
This passport is issued to people sent abroad by the Government of India. That includes officers of the armed forces, ministry staff, and those deputed for training or international assignments.
It is not used for personal travel. Anyone holding this type must also have a separate ordinary passport for private trips. It is issued for the length of the official posting and signals the bearer is on duty.
Diplomatic passport
This is given to those representing India at a diplomatic level. That includes Indian Foreign Service officers, some members of Parliament travelling for official delegations, and people carrying out work under international protocol. It is not meant for holidays or personal travel.
Many countries allow visa-free or fast-track entry for holders of this passport, based on agreements. The maroon cover also signals diplomatic standing, which is recognised by foreign authorities.
How passport types in India are classified
Passports in India are issued under the Passports Act of 1967. The law does not just define who gets one. It separates them by use. Not everyone travels for the same reason, and not every passport means the same thing.
The ordinary type is the most common. It is used for private travel—study, tourism, work visits. Most people who apply receive this one.
Some are sent abroad by the government. For them, there is the official type. It looks different, and it is meant only for that specific assignment. Not for family holidays. Not for anything outside duty.
A few carry the maroon one. These are diplomats or top officials on foreign visits. The diplomatic type gives them specific recognition in other countries. It is not for general use.
These three types are clearly separated. The categories are fixed in policy, not just in design. Each tells a different story.
How passport types in India are managed and issued
All types of passports in India are issued through a central system managed by the Ministry of External Affairs. The process begins online. Applicants use the Passport Seva Portal to fill forms, upload documents, and book appointments. Those without access to digital tools can take help from Common Service Centres in rural areas.
Appointments are handled at Passport Seva Kendras or Post Office PSKs. These centres collect biometrics, verify documents, and process applications. Each one operates under the supervision of a Regional Passport Office.
Tata Consultancy Services supports the backend systems. It manages the portal, data entry, call centres, and workflow tools. The system is fully digital. Every step—from form submission to status updates—is recorded electronically.
Police verification is done through a secure link between passport offices and local police stations. Reports are sent online. Some states use mobile apps for faster field updates.
Once cleared, the application is sent to India Security Press in Nashik. This press prints the booklet and personalises it. For e-passports, the chip is embedded here.
The passport is then dispatched to the applicant by post. The entire system is built to handle volume, reduce delays, and keep the rules for each passport type clear at every stage.
Who manages passport types in India
Passport services in India are run by the Ministry of External Affairs. The Consular, Passport and Visa Division sets the policy. The Central Passport Organisation handles day-to-day operations under the Chief Passport Officer.
Regional Passport Offices issue and approve all types of passports. Each RPO oversees Passport Seva Kendras in its region. Post Office PSKs are managed in partnership with the Department of Posts. This setup helps extend services to small towns.
Tata Consultancy Services supports the system with digital infrastructure. It manages the portal, appointment booking, data entry, and call centres.
India Security Press in Nashik prints the blank booklets. Once an application is cleared, ISP personalises the passport. It also embeds the electronic chip for e-passports.
Police departments handle address verification. Their reports are needed for most applications.
For Indians abroad, embassies and consulates accept applications and issue passports after checking with authorities in India.
Each type of passport moves through this network based on rules and purpose. Every agency has a role tied to a specific part of the process.
Legal and ethical rules behind passport types in India
The rules for issuing passports in India are based on the Passports Act of 1967. This law applies to all types, including ordinary, official, and diplomatic. It lists the reasons a passport can be issued, denied, or taken back. These reasons are specific. A passport may be refused if there is a security concern, a serious criminal record, or if a court has stopped the person from travelling.
Before this law, passport approvals were done through executive orders. That changed after court rulings in the 1960s and 70s. The right to travel was brought under personal liberty, protected by the Constitution. After that, denial of a passport had to be backed by law.
Ethical rules came into focus later. The system now accepts different family structures and recognises gender identity as declared by the applicant. Some forms were updated to make things easier for single parents and adopted children.
For e-passports, data stored in the chip is protected using secure digital codes. If a passport is stolen, details are shared with Interpol. Notices can be issued so other countries are aware. These steps are not just procedural. They are part of how India maintains trust in its passport system, both inside and outside the country.
Challenges in managing passport types in India
Passport services have improved across India, but managing different passport types still comes with real challenges. These problems are uneven and affect applicants in different ways.
Offices are still far for some applicants
In many rural or remote areas, people need to take a bus or train just to reach the nearest passport centre. Post Office Seva Kendras have helped, but some districts remain uncovered.
During peak seasons, appointments vanish quickly
When school results are out or holiday periods begin, the number of applicants rises fast. In some locations, slots fill up in a single day, leaving others to wait or try again.
One weak link is police verification
Every application that needs address verification depends on how fast the local police respond. Even a short delay at that level stalls the rest.
Some people never applied because they lack papers
No birth certificate. No permanent address. These are common in low-income homes or among people born outside hospitals. Many do not know which other documents can work.
Money is a bigger hurdle than the fee itself
For families on daily wages, the passport fee is just one part. Travel, ID proofs, missed work—it adds up fast.
Not everyone can fill an online form
Forms are mostly in English. Internet is not stable everywhere. Some people rely on others just to submit a basic application.
New e-passports carry digital risks
The chip holds personal data. If that is misused or tampered with, it affects the person and weakens trust in the system.
These problems continue to affect how different passport types are delivered and who gets them smoothly.
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Impact of passport types on Indian society and travel
The way India handles passport types has shaped how people move, work, and connect beyond the country. What was once seen as a document for the few is now part of everyday life for many. More than 92 million people in India now hold a valid passport.
As ordinary passports became easier to get, more citizens were able to study abroad, find jobs in other countries, or visit family overseas. The number grew not just because of demand, but because the process improved. For workers and students, the blue passport opened real opportunities.
Official and diplomatic passports played a different role. These helped India build relationships abroad. Easier travel for diplomats, faster visa access, and clear recognition of India’s presence in international forums came with the maroon and white covers.
The passport system also supported changes inside the country. Forms were updated to include new gender options. Single parents and adopted children faced fewer barriers. Social realities were added to official forms.
Over time, trust in Indian passports grew. Some countries began offering visa-on-arrival for Indian citizens. This shift came not only from numbers, but from how well the passport system was managed.
Each type of passport reflected India’s place at home and abroad. That is the legacy.
References
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https://www.passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/pdf/passports_act.pdf
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https://www.mea.gov.in/rajya-sabha.htm?dtl/39325/QUESTION_NO_3753_CHIPBASED_EPASSPORTS
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https://www.mea.gov.in/lok-sabha.htm?dtl/33707/QUESTION_NO411_ORANGE_PASSPORTS
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https://www.mea.gov.in/diplomatic-official-passport-menu.htm
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_passport