Details about E-Passports in India: Launch Date, Features & Benefits

In today’s digital era, passports are getting a major upgrade. One such example is the e-passports which are designed to make travel faster, secure, and easier for the citizens of India. However, if you don’t know what exactly an e-passport is, how to apply for it, or what are the features of an e-passport, you have come to the right place. In this blog, you’ll get to know everything about e-passports in India. So, let’s dive into the details.

What Is an E-Passport?

An e-passport is a modern passport with a small electronic chip in it. This chip plays a crucial role in a passport as it contains all the important details about an individual, including their name, date of birth, and even their biometric details, such as fingerprints and iris scans. When a flyer passes through an immigration check at the airport, this chip will be scanned. The details will be checked instantly, making the immigration clearance process faster and more convenient for the traveller. This chip-based passport is more secure as it is difficult to steal or forge the details of a person.

What Are the Key Features of an E-Passport?

If you are wondering about the key features of an e-passport, let us help you. Below are some of the key e-passport features:

• Biometric Data: The digital passports have all the important biometric details of the flyers, including their iris scans, fingerprints, and colourful photographs for some extra security.
• 64 KB Storage: Another feature of this e-passport is that the chip can store all personal details of a traveller along with their biometric data with a 64 KB storage capacity. So, it makes the digital passport more secure than the conventional passport.
• Automatic Scanning: This chip is equipped with an antenna, permitting it to be scanned automatically at the immigration point so that the flyer doesn’t have to wait in long queues.
• Digital Signature: The digital signature on an e-passport helps the traveller to confirm their identity and prevents others from tampering with their passport.

What Are the Benefits of E-Passports?

There are multiple benefits of e-passports. Below are some of the reasons that make it a better decision to switch to an e-passport from a traditional one:

• Better Security: One of the key advantages of the chip in the passport is that it contains all your personal data and biometric information, making it almost impossible to forge. So, zero risk of fake passports.
• Time-Saving: It speeds up the entire checking procedure, which means flyers don’t have to stand in long queues to have their details verified.
• Less Risk of Losing Your Data: The chip in e-passports is designed to protect the details of a passenger. Thus, it’s difficult to tamper or delete the data stored inside.
• Hassle-Free Tracking: Another advantage of a digital passport is that it is easy for the officials to track all the important details as these passports have the biometric details of the traveller.

How to Apply for an E-Passport in India?

The process to apply for e-passports in India is quite easy. You can follow the given steps to submit your application for e-passport:

• Visit the official website of Passport Sewa.
• Go to the homepage and choose the “New User Registration” option if you don’t have a profile. Or you can choose the “Existing User Login” option if you want to apply to renew your passport.
• Now, choose the application’s type, whether it's a request for a new passport or a renewal to upgrade to an e-passport.
• Next, enter all the required information, and upload all the essential documents.
• After that, pay the passport application fee to complete the procedure.
• Now, schedule an appointment at your nearest Passport Seva Kendra.
• Lastly, pay a visit to your Passport Seva Kendra during your scheduled appointment to verify documents, collect biometrics, and complete other formalities.

By following the above-mentioned steps, you can easily apply for a digital passport in India.

Indian Cities Offering E-Passports with Embedded Chip

India rolled out its biometric e-passport project under the Passport Seva Program (PSP) 2.o, a technology-driven update of the national passport system. Below are all the cities with e-passport services:

• Nagpur
• Bhubaneswar
• Jammu
• Goa
• Shimla
• Raipur
• Amritsar
• Jaipur
• Chennai
• Hyderabad
• Surat
• Ranchi
• Delhi

So, these were all the 13 cities that have e-passport services. Now, make sure to apply for the e-passport and make your flight ticket booking without any inconvenience to enjoy quality time with your loved ones.

The Final Thought

As per the Ministry of External Affairs, the e-passport launch date in India was April 1, 2024, in a pilot phase. These e-passports will become a crucial document in the forthcoming years. This type of passport is not only faster but is more convenient for applying for visas while planning for international trips with your loved ones. Also, applying for a digital passport is a crucial step towards a secure and hassle-free trip with your loved ones.

Since these passports are the future of travel documentation, if you live in any of the above-listed cities, make sure to apply for chip-based e-passports in India to make your travel more secure, quick, and convenient.