E Passport India Revolution: A Game-Changer for Secure and Hassle-Free International Travel

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E Passport India Revolution: A Giant Leap Toward Secure, Smart, and Seamless Travel

New Delhi, May 2, 2025 — In a landmark move set to redefine the future of international travel for its citizens, India has begun the nationwide rollout of chip-enabled e-passports, ushering in a new era of secure, forgery-resistant, and digitally empowered travel documentation. Spearheaded by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in collaboration with the India Security Press (ISP) in Nashik, the National Informatics Centre (NIC), and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), this ambitious project marks the second phase of the Passport Seva Programme (PSP-V2.0).

Launched as a pilot in April 2024, the initiative is now gaining full momentum with a phased rollout across all 97 passport offices by the end of 2025. The upgrade brings India’s passport infrastructure in line with global standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), offering citizens a smoother, faster, and safer journey across borders.

From Legacy to Leadership: E Passport India – A Digital Milestone

The E Passport India initiative has come a long way since its modest beginnings in 2008, when 20,000 biometric passports were issued to diplomats and officials, including one to then-President Pratibha Patil. Now, after over a decade of technological evolution and careful planning, this innovation is being extended to every Indian citizen.

Cities like Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Jammu, Goa, Shimla, Raipur, Amritsar, Jaipur, Chennai, Hyderabad, Surat, and Ranchi were among the first to pilot the initiative. Following successful trials, the MEA greenlit the full-scale deployment in May 2025.

Speaking on Passport Seva Divas (June 24, 2024), External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar hailed the move as a cornerstone of India’s Digital India mission. The E Passport India is a testament to our resolve to provide secure, efficient, and citizen-centric services. It enhances not only security but also the ease of international travel for millions of Indians,” he stated.

What Sets the E Passport India Apart?

Unlike traditional passports, E Passport India is embedded with a secure, contactless microchip in the back cover. This chip, equipped with 64 KB of storage, holds critical personal and biometric data, including the holder’s name, date of birth, passport number, fingerprints, facial image, and potentially iris scans.

Key Features of E Passport India Include:

Enhanced Security: Digitally signed encryption makes the chip nearly impossible to clone or tamper with, addressing long-standing issues of passport forgery.
Biometric Verification: Advanced identification through facial recognition and fingerprints ensures accurate, tamper-proof identity validation.
ICAO-Compliant: Fully aligned with global standards, the passport guarantees smooth interoperability at international checkpoints.
Speed and Efficiency: RFID-enabled chips allow for automatic scanning at e-gates, cutting down immigration time by more than half.
Durability: Designed to endure physical wear and technological stress, the chip ensures long-term reliability and protection.

Simple Application, No Extra Cost

Obtaining an E Passport India is as seamless as before. Applicants must:

Register on the Passport Seva Portal.
Complete the online form and pay the standard fee.
Schedule a visit to a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Regional Passport Office (RPO).

During the visit, biometric data is collected, and verification is carried out. The e-passport is then dispatched to the applicant’s address.

Costs remain unchanged:

₹1,500 for a 36-page passport (10-year validity, adults)
₹2,000 for a 60-page passport
₹1,000 for a 36-page passport (minors and senior citizens)

Processing time ranges from 10–30 days, depending on whether the application is normal or tatkaal.

Powering the Future: Technology and Production

The technological foundation of the E Passport India program was co-developed by IIT Kanpur, NIC, ISP, and the MEA, while production is handled by the ISP in Nashik. Approved in 2019, the facility now procures ICAO-compliant electronic inlays for passport chips.

TCS provides essential digital infrastructure—including application interfaces, call centres, and staff training—while core data and sovereign functions remain under government control. The encrypted chip is designed to activate only when scanned during border checks, safeguarding users from data theft and unauthorised access.

A Global Leap with Local Impact

With over 92–96 million Indians currently holding valid passports, the scale of this transformation is monumental. Once fully rolled out, India will significantly contribute to the global e-passport ecosystem, joining the ranks of over 185 nations already issuing biometric travel documents—including Germany, the UK, and Bangladesh.

Domestically, the initiative will dovetail with the Trusted Traveller Programme, launched in 2024, which introduced biometric e-gates at major airports like Delhi and Mumbai. This program is expected to expand to 15 more airports by 2027, allowing pre-verified passengers to bypass lengthy immigration queues entirely.

Public Response and Future Challenges

Public reception has been overwhelmingly positive. Social media platform X has seen a surge of support, with many calling the initiative a “game-changer” for security and travel convenience. “This is a huge leap forward,” one user commented. “The chip technology will make Indian passports among the most secure in the world.”

However, challenges lie ahead. The success of this transformation depends heavily on infrastructure upgrades, especially the availability of chip-reading systems at all border checkpoints and passport offices. Staffing constraints at RPOS have also raised concerns, but the MEA is addressing them through public-private partnerships and plans to open Passport Seva Kendras in every Lok Sabha constituency.

Looking Ahead

E Passport India initiative is not just a technological upgrade—it’s a visionary leap into the future of secure identity and smart governance. As infrastructure scales up and adoption accelerates, the e-passport promises to transform how Indians travel the world—swiftly, securely, and with pride.

E Passport India Revolution: A Game-Changer for Secure and Hassle-Free International Travel