On the occasion of the 13th Passport Seva Divas, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced extensive reforms aimed at modernizing and simplifying India’s passport services by adding an e-passport. From chip-enabled e-passports and faster police verifications to passport vans for distant locations and a global technology upgrade in embassies, the move represents what Jaishankar calls a “remarkable transformation” in service delivery over the last decade.
Greetings to all Passport Authorities in India and abroad on the occasion of the 13th Passport Seva Divas.
Your commendable efforts, guided by ‘Seva, Sushasan and Garib Kalyan’, are instrumental to ensuring ease of travel, deepening access to global workplace and empowering the… pic.twitter.com/pDn53sjyyJ
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 24, 2025
The redesign is part of the extended Passport Seva Programme (PSP) Version 2.0, which has now been rolled out across the country, and it corresponds with the government’s greater aim for citizen-centric governance and a more connected global India.
In Tamil Nadu, e-passports will be issued at the Regional Passport Office in Chennai. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, as of March 22, more than 20,700 e-passports have been issued in the state.
What Is An e-Passport?
An e-passport contains an electronic chip. The chip holds the same information that is printed on the passport’s data page: the holder’s name, date of birth, and other biographic information. An e-passport also contains a biometric identifier. The United States requires that the chip contain a digital photograph of the holder. All e-passports issued by Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries and the United States have security features to prevent the unauthorized reading or “skimming” of data stored on the e-passport chip.
How e-Passports Are Different From Traditional Passports?
Unlike regular passports, the e-passport contains data in both printed and secure smart chip formats. Immigration inspectors around the world may verify the chip to guarantee the data is authentic.
The data saved on the chip is safeguarded by a technique known as Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). This protects sensitive personal and biometric information from tampering or theft.
Advantages Of e-Passport
The e-passport considerably increases the security of your personal information. It has two levels of protection: physical (printed information) and digital (encrypted data on the chip). This protects your passport’s authenticity, making it highly resistant to fraud and forgeries.
The implanted chip has been digitally signed, allowing immigration authorities to authenticate it globally. This protects against identity theft and maintains the integrity of your biometric data when you travel.
The e-passport’s security is powered by Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), which encrypts critical information and verifies the origin and integrity of the data stored on the chip, providing an additional layer of protection against tampering.
Cities Offering e-Passport Services:
- Nagpur
- Bhubaneswar
- Jammu
- Goa
- Shimla
- Raipur
- Amritsar
- Jaipur
- Chennai
- Hyderabad
- Surat
- Ranchi
Steps To Apply For An e-Passport Online
- Visit the Passport Seva website
- Create an account or log in, and then fill out the e-passport application form.
- Choose either Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK).
- Make payment for the e-passport fee.
- Schedule an appointment.
- Attend your scheduled appointment at the PSK or POPSK for biometric data collection and document verification.
Key Upgrades Announced
- PSP Version 2.0 has been executed statewide, integrating emerging technology to enhance transparency, security, and simplicity.
- Global PSP V2.0 has entered the pilot phase in Indian embassies and consulates, with a global rollout planned.
- To strengthen immigration and travel security, e-passports with embedded chips and contactless technologies have been adopted across the country.
- The mPassport Police App has shortened police verification time to 5–7 days in 25 states and union territories.
- Ten new Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) have opened in the last year, with the 450th opening in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, in April 2025.
- Mobile passport vans are used to deliver services in remote and underserved locations.
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