Passport Types in India: Expert's Latest Guide in 2024

A passport is an important document enabling citizens worldwide to travel internationally legally, which differs from a visa, is an another important document for the same. Even for countries that don’t require a visa, a passport is still necessary for entries into multiple countries. There are various passport types in India according to categories of travellers, from ordinary citizens to government officials. All citizens require passports to travel internationally and each passport has a file number as well.  All citizens in India are set to receive biometric e-passports by 2025, which will start in 2024. The question is “How many types of passport in India are there)? In this guide, we’ve compiled a list of different passport types in India, the eligibility criteria to apply for different passport types in India, the process to apply for a passport, and information about the latest update on getting the different passport types in India.

How Many Types of Passport in India?

How many types of passport in India are there and how are they classified? They are according to the purpose of travel, the role of the traveller, and security requirements. These categories help the authorities check the holding’s status and ensure hassle-free, safe travel. How many different types of passport in India are there?

• Ordinary Passport (blue): For General traveller going abroad for personal, educational, or professional reasons.
• Official Passport (white): For Government Officials on state business. 
• Diplomatic Passport (Maroon): reserved for diplomats and their top officials and gives international protection. 

These are the different passport types in India. Furthermore, people travelling to some countries for work continue to be able to apply for this extra protection under the Emigration Check Required (ECR) status. It makes the handling of travellers and security needs more efficient.

1. Ordinary Passport (Blue Passport)

The Ordinary Passport or the Blue Passport is basically the most common sort of passport among the passport types in India. The primary target audience of this passport is everyday travellers who can use it to travel abroad for normal purposes as an internationally recognized identification document for Indian citizens. The purposes for which are sought or in use are leisure and tourism, employment opportunities, higher education, family visits, and business engagements. Made of additional space for consular assistance while abroad, the Ordinary Passport also meets international travel authorization standards necessary to facilitate travel. It is issued to citizens who do not have government, diplomatic, and ECR status and is a useful, versatile document for the general public.

Key Features:

The key features of the blue passport are as follows:

• For personal and professional travel issued to regular citizens

• Only for ECR and ECNR holders.

• Expedited options are available under the Tatkal Scheme, standard processing times apply.

There it is, the Blue Passport, which acts as the backbone of India's travel document system and is handed out to millions of Indian travelers.

2. Official Passport (White Passport)

If Indian government officials travel abroad on official duties, they are issued White passports, which are also called Official Passports. A White passport has the authority to represent India in an official capacity for undertaking government and diplomatic activities. White Passports are different from ordinary passports because they contain information that indicates and demonstrates that the possessor of such a passport has official status and can accomplish his government-related responsibilities abroad without a regular passport. They are recognized by foreign governments, so these documents make it easy for smooth diplomatic and business interactions. However, white passports are strictly restricted to official use; they are not meant to be used for personal travel.

Key Features:

Here are the key features of the White Passport:

• Available only to government officials and employees on official assignment abroad

• Applicable for the life cycle of the official mission or posting.

• Entitlement to special privileges as touching diplomatic processing and custom in the country of a foreign power

This passport type allows this representative of the Indian government to enjoy certain privileges.

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3. Diplomatic Passport (Maroon Passport)

The Maroon Passport, otherwise known as the Diplomatic Passport, is the passport for Indian Dignitaries, high-ranking Government officials, and their dependents when going abroad on official assignment. Originally used by diplomats serving under winning empires, the diplomatic immunity of this passport allows third-country holders not only to be exempt from prosecution and detention by native governments while fulfilling official functions but also to detain foreign nationals. In addition, they enjoy special treatment at borders (exempted from lines, expedited processing) international airports, and certain tax breaks which makes their function possible (official roles, responsibilities, and status). The privileges are meant to protect diplomats who are doing the work of building India’s international relations and representing the country’s interests abroad. However, diplomatic passports are only for official use and cannot be used for personal travel.

Key Features:

The following are the key features of the Maroon Passport:

• Only available to high-ranking officials and diplomatic missions.

• It facilitates privileged entry and exit processes at foreign borders.

• Exempts holders from various taxes and inspections.

A Maroon Passport is a very high-security document that denotes India's diplomatic representatives from home.

4. Orange Passport (Emigration Check Required)

Earlier, an Orange Passport was issued to Indian travellers who were going to work in certain enumerated countries, but how they will get their visiting visas has not been decided yet. This ECR status is required for those travelling for work, especially those without the requisite education qualifications, to protect them from exploitation abroad. The Orange Passport has now been discontinued. However, the application for the ECR status continues to merit those eligible Indian citizens. At present, ECR info is a part of the regular Blue (Ordinary) Passport structure and leads to a single consolidated document that declares the ECR position whenever required and achieves emigration regulation compliance in conjunction with the protection of Indian people abroad.

Key Features:

The key features of the Orange Passport are as follows:

• Goods and services were originally set aside for people with no education beyond high school, or in specific categories of labor.

• There are countries to which you should travel with emigration clearance

• It's supposed to shield unskilled laborers from exploitation in foreign countries.

Changes to the Blue Passport include a marking within places of ECR status making it simpler for the system without weakening its ability to protect vulnerable groups.

Which Type of Passport Do You Need in India?

There are currently three primarily issued passport types in India, each designated for different categories of travellers: There are passport types in India, the Blue Passport (Ordinary Passport), the White Passport (Official Passport), and the Maroon Passport (Diplomatic Passport). For common citizens traveling for purposes like tourism, employment, and education, a Blue Passport is issued. It issues White Passports to government officials travelling for official purposes and Maroon Passports to Diplomat representing India internationally.

Among these different passport types in India, a similar Orange Passport was introduced previously for those on Emigration Check Required status, often granted to those wishing to take up work abroad in specified countries. However, this Orange Passport has been integrated into the Ordinary Passport framework, with ECR status existing in the Blue Passport in its subcategory. Such categorization makes the passport system simpler, ensures ECR holders are distinguished clearly under the Ordinary Passport categories, and there is a streamlined yet effective mechanism for meeting different traveller needs.

What is P Type Passport in India?

Among the different passport types in India, P Type Passport also known as the Ordinary Passport is the most commonly provided travel document in India. What is P type passport in India? This is a type of passport that a regular citizen can use to travel internationally for various purposes, meaning travelling for tourism, employment, educational, or business reasons. Its function is to provide a secure and internationally recognized identity for Indian citizens, thereby enabling them to pursue opportunities and experiences across the globe.

Features of the P-Type Passport:

The features of the P-Type passport are:

• For standard travel purposes, it is recognized worldwide.

• Applicable to: Citizens Above the age of 18, Specific to minors

• Provides the option of expedited processing under the Tatkal scheme.

• Indian passport holder, this passport is versatile and enough to travel visa-free or at least visa-on arrival in 62 countries as of 2024.

Also, read: What is File Number in Passport? Latest Experts Guide 2024

E-Passports: The Future of Indian Travel Documents

To step up the passport types in India, the country is introducing the e-passport following global trends in the manner in which security measures are enhanced and border control processes streamlined. Biometric passports such as these use an embedded microchip, holding the owner’s personal information – fingerprints, a digital photograph, and the rest – in a secure manner. Biometric passport technology is about reducing the advent of fraud, speeding up the verification process, and safely travelling overseas through faster, more accurate methods of identity confirmation at checkpoints. This technology puts India in line with global standards, allowing its citizens to travel more easily and securely.

Benefits of E-Passports:

Here are some benefits of e-passports:

• Improved security and a reduction in forgery risk

• Minimizing delay at airport Automated Passport control gates

• And increased accuracy in identity verification

In India, all new passport applications for existing passport types are expected to use e-passports by 2025, and clearly, this is a big step forward in secure travel technology.

Different Passport Types in India Eligibility Criteria

There are different eligibility criteria that are given to different passport types in India. Here’s a quick overview:

 Also, read: How to Get a Job Abroad After B.Tech or MBA from India 2024?

Indian Passport Application Process: Latest Update

A one-time application for an Indian passport of the passport types in India is made of several steps, including filling out the online form, document verification, and police clearance. Here’s a breakdown of the process:

• Online Application: You may visit the Passport Seva website and fill up the application form by paying its required fees.

• Document Submission: Information, as required, on passport type, will include: submit identification, proof of address, etc.

• Appointment Booking: Go to your first document verification schedule at Passport Seva Kendra or a designated center.

• Police Verification: Police verification is necessary just for first-time applicants to confirm their residential details.

• Passport Issuance: The passport is verified and, after confirmation, is issued and sent to the applicant’s address as registered.

The offered options also cover both new applications and renewals and expedited processing.

Latest Passport Fees and Processing Times

Passport fees for different passport types in India depend on the type, urgency of the passport, and validity period. Here’s a snapshot of the fees and processing times:

Tatkal services are an expedited processing facility, which is offered at a higher cost to provide convenience to those who need to do that in a quick time frame.

Special Passport Categories and Concessions

Apart from the standard types, there are unique passports and provisions for special cases:

• Minor Passports: For children under 18 with a 5-year validity is available.

• Tatkal Passports: Urgent travel needs, such as trips to attend to a family emergency or for medical reasons.

• Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card: A special card that does not provide a passport but gives Indian-origin people the freedom to live and work in India for life.

Each of these categories is geared for a particular group among the Indian diaspora or for a particular travel situation.

Also, read: How to Get Job in Abroad After MBA from India? Latest Guide

Conclusion

Getting the right one among different passport types in India is very important. Going from ordinary blue passports for personal and professional travel to the upcoming e-passports, many options are available to Indian citizens to fulfill their diverse travel needs. Travelers can choose among the passport types in India depending upon their requirement, and their application process and their criteria are well organized.

If you want to know which passport is applicable for you and to learn the process to obtain one, do contact us at TerraTern to ensure a smooth passport process.