Police verification for passport is a mandatory process to confirm an applicant’s identity, address, and background before or after issuing a passport. It applies to fresh applications, Tatkaal cases, and, in certain cases, renewals. The verification is conducted by local police authorities and directly impacts the approval of your passport.
Key Highlights:
- Types: Pre-police, post-police, or no verification (for eligible categories).
- Fresh passports: Verification is almost always required.
- Renewals: In some cases, yes – especially if details like address change.
- Tatkaal: Post-police verification after passport issue.
- Timeline: Usually 5–14 working days depending on the location and documents
Police verification for passport is the process where local police authorities verify the applicant’s identity, residential address, and background to confirm eligibility for a passport.
The applicant has to come down to the police station to complete the police verification for passport process. In some cases, a police officer might visit the applicant at his residential address to verify the details they have provided in their application.
After police verification and approval, the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India will issue the passports to eligible candidates only. There are three different types of police verification for passport, they are:
There are some rules that a passport applicant must follow for a hassle-free police verification for passport. Here are a few of them:
Police verification for passports is a very crucial step, as a wrong step can raise suspicion among the police officials, leading towards rejection of your passport application. Read the pointers below to understand why a police verification process is significant for passport application:
There are three main types of police verification for passports in India. They are discussed as follows:
Local police conduct this type of verification before issuing passports. Here, the official verifies the credibility of the applicant’s documents, address, and other details. Once the verification is complete and approved, your passport will be issued within a few days.
For urgent passport applications, post-police verification occurs after the passport is issued. After the passport is delivered, the police check the applicant's information. Authorities have the right to cancel a passport if there are inconsistencies with the information in the passport. This ensures security while guaranteeing faster processing.
This verification provides a privilege to select individuals to get their passports issued without a police verification. Government employees, PSU, statutory employees or diplomatic and official passport holders can obtain this privilege on submitting the Annexure B.
The police verification for passports works in two ways, online and offline. In the following section, we have discussed the steps for each mode in detail:
Here are the steps for offline police verification:
Step 1: Once you submit your passport application, the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) will start the police verification process.
Step 2: The PSK forwards the residential address you provided to your local police station for verification.
Step 3: The police station assigns an officer who will either visit your home or ask you to visit the police station with your original documents.
Step 4: The officer will check your identity proof, verify your address, and ask you to sign the verification papers.
Step 5: After the verification, the police will return their report to the Passport Seva Kendra.
Step 6: If the report is positive and your documents are clear, the Ministry of External Affairs will approve and issue your passport within a few working days.
You can apply for a police verification of your passport online using the Passport Seva portal or the mPassport portal. Here are the steps to follow:
Step 1: Register on the official Passport Seva Portal.
Step 2: Log in to your account and select “Apply for Passport Clearance Certificate” from the menu.
Step 3: Fill in all the required details accurately in the application form and submit it online.
Step 4: Head to the “View Saved/Submitted Applications” section and click on “Pay and Schedule Appointment” to pay the applicable fee and book your appointment at your nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK).
Step 5: Once payment is successful, click on “Print Application Receipt” — this receipt serves as proof of payment and will be needed during your appointment.
Step 6: On your appointment date, visit the Passport Seva Kendra with all the necessary original documents for verification.
In 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs launched Passport Seva 2.0, introducing enhanced digitisation, paperless processes, and e-passports. A major component is the mPassport Police App, now operational in over 25 states and union territories. This app allows local police to upload verification reports directly from the applicant’s home, eliminating paperwork and reducing delays.
The fees for passport police verification vary according to the service type needed. The "Fee Calculator" on the Passport Seva website allows applicants to view the precise fees. Generally, the Global Entry Program (GEP) charges Rs. 500 for a background check and a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).
All Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) and Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) require online payment to schedule appointments. Credit/debit cards, SBI Wallet, and internet banking can all be used to make payments. Applicants must bring their application to the Passport Seva Kendra and pay in cash to make an offline payment.
Application and approval of passports require a list of documents to be submitted. You must duly update all your documents to raise your chances of approval. Here is the list of the required documents for police verification for passport:
If you are thinking, is police verification required for passport renewal, the answer is yes. So, here is a list of documents that are necessary for the renewal or reissue of a passport:
To answer your question, how to check the police verification for passport status, the detailed guide about the steps is given below:
Step 1: Visit the official Passport Seva Application Status Tracker.
Step 2: Click on ‘Track Application Status’ once you’re on the page.
Step 3: Enter your Application Number and Date of Birth (DOB) in the required fields.
Step 4: Click on ‘Track Status’ to view the real-time update of your passport application.
You can also check your passport via other methods such as:
Here are the various stages of passport status checks.
Under the Tatkaal scheme, police verification for passport is done after the passport is issued (post-police verification). You can receive the passport within 1-3 working days after document submission. However, failure to clear the post-verification could lead to passport cancellation. Carry Annexure F and I, along with standard ID proofs, for a smoother process.
A minor under the age of 18 requires a passport to travel abroad. The candidate’s parents or legal guardian must apply for the passport on their behalf. These passports are valid for up to five years and until the minor reaches 18.
In most cases, minors do not need a police verification process if their parents or legal guardians have a valid passport. However, if police verification is necessary in such scenarios, here are the documents that the legal guardian has to gather for a minor’s police verification for passport:
Police verification for passport for senior citizens follows standard rules. If applying under Tatkaal or renewal with no changes, police verification may be waived. For fresh passport applications, police verification is mandatory.
The police usually take two to three weeks to complete the police verification for passport. The time period varies depending on the level of verification an officer performs to satisfy an applicant's credibility and legitimacy. Police verification is typically completed within:
The timeline may be delayed if:
Police verification for passport is a crucial step to verify applicant identity and ensure compliance with security rules. Understanding the rules, required documents, and timelines helps applicants avoid delays and secure passports without hassle. Typically, verification is completed within 5–14 days, but may extend in rural areas.
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