Everything You Need to Know About India's New E-Passport Initiative

The Indian government has introduced e-passports, which combine electronic passport technology with traditional paper passports, to improve security and identification. The e-passport initiative began as a pilot program alongside the Passport Seva Programme (PSP) Version 2.0.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the pilot program commenced on April 1, 2024.

Currently, twelve regional Passport Offices are equipped to issue e-passports to Indian citizens. These offices are located in Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Jammu, Goa, Shimla, Raipur, Amritsar, Jaipur, Chennai, Hyderabad, Surat, and Ranchi. There are plans to expand the program to include more locations in the future.

In Tamil Nadu, the issuance of e-passports began on March 3, 2025, at the Regional Passport Office in Chennai. By March 22, 2025, the state had issued a total of 20,729 e-passports.

Indian e-passports are designed with advanced technology. They include an antenna and a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip embedded in an inlay. A distinctive gold-colored symbol printed beneath the front cover makes them easily distinguishable from standard passports.

The Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) plays a crucial role in the e-passport system. It establishes a robust framework for protecting private data. PKI also verifies the accuracy and legitimacy of the biometric and personal information stored on the chip.

E-passports offer enhanced data security. This protects the passport holder's personal information and reduces the risk of forgery and fraudulent activities, such as creating fake passports during border checks.

"CHECK: Indian Passport rules change in 2025: Full list of documents required"

"HOW TO: Indian Passport online application: Step-by-step guide on applying for a new passport online"

It's important to note that switching to e-passports is not mandatory.

"However, it is important to keep in mind that switching to e-passports is not a prerequisite. All passports issued by the Indian government will remain valid until their respective expiration dates."

This means that all previously issued passports will remain valid until their expiration dates.