Indian Passport in 2026 – How to Apply, Renew, and Track Online

An Indian passport is your single most important travel document. Here’s everything you need to know about getting or renewing one in 2026.

Where to Apply

Official portal: passportindia.gov.in. Apply for fresh, renewal, lost, damaged, or change of details all on the same portal. Application requires creating an account first – free.

Fee Structure (2026)

• Normal 36-page passport, 10-year validity (18+): Rs.1,500
• Normal 60-page passport (frequent travelers): Rs.2,000
• Tatkal 36-page: Rs.3,500
• Tatkal 60-page: Rs.4,000
• Minor (18 and under) 36-page: Rs.1,000
• Lost/damaged passport: Rs.3,000 (normal) or Rs.5,000 (tatkal)

Documents Required

Identity Proof (any one): Aadhaar (preferred), PAN, Voter ID, Driving License

Address Proof (any one): Aadhaar, Voter ID, Electricity bill (last 3 months), Bank statement, Rental agreement registered

Date of Birth Proof: 10th class marksheet, Birth certificate, or PAN (in priority order)

For minors: Annexure D (parental consent), both parents’ passports/IDs, child’s birth certificate

Step-by-Step Application Process

• Step 1: Create account at passportindia.gov.in
• Step 2: Fill the application form (saves draft so you can resume)
• Step 3: Pay fee online (UPI, card, net banking)
• Step 4: Schedule appointment at your nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) – book 2-3 weeks ahead in metros, 1 week in tier-2 cities
• Step 5: Visit PSK with all original documents + 1 set photocopies. Biometric capture, photo. 45-60 min appointment.
• Step 6: Police verification at home address (1-3 weeks)
• Step 7: Passport printed and dispatched via Speed Post

Tatkal vs Normal

Normal: 30-45 days delivery from appointment (includes police verification). Cheaper.

Tatkal: 1-7 days delivery without police verification (police verification happens AFTER passport issued). Costs ~2x. Worth it if you have urgent travel.

Renewal – 3 Scenarios

• Re-issue before expiry: Can apply within 1 year before expiry. Recommended 6 months ahead.
• Re-issue after expiry: Must apply for “Re-issue” not “Fresh”. Same fee.
• Damaged/full pages: Apply for re-issue, mention reason

Track Status

Use the file number (received at appointment) at passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/statusTracker – or download mPassport Seva app for real-time updates including police verification stage.

Common Mistakes

• Aadhaar address mismatch with current address – fix Aadhaar first via UIDAI
• Not carrying ALL parents passports for minor applications
• Booking PSK appointment far from home – police verification happens at the address you mentioned, not where you applied
• Applying for re-issue when you should apply for fresh (lost passport requires fresh + police FIR)