Do you Need Indian Passport Urgently?

Tatkal is a passport issuance program started by the Government of India to facilitate and issue a passport quicker than the normal procedure. These are also known as expedited passports or emergency passports in India. There is an additional fee for tatkal passports. The Tatkal Scheme/Program is only applicable in the following two cases:

  • Where police verification report is not required (for example, minors less than 15 years of age), or,
  • Where a passport can be issued on the basis of past police verification. Some examples are
    • duplicate passport/re-issue of passport without change in address,
    • government servants and their spouses with No objection certificate (NOC)
    • applicants with Verification Certificate.

You can also use the Tatkal Program if:

  • You need a new Passport (first time applicant)
  • You're applying for a Passport Renewal or replacement and need it urgently.

Who can apply under the Tatkal Scheme?

Not everyone is eligible to apply for the Tatkal Program. In general the following are broad categories/reasons to be considered as legitimate emergency reasons:

  • Businessman wishing to travel abroad urgently for trade, conferences, trade fair etc.
  • Blood relatives of a person residing abroad who is critically ill.
  • Spouse, parents, children, brother, and sister of individuals working abroad.
  • Winners of promotional awards and schemes where foreign travel is a prize/ incentive.
  • Spouses of official passport holders going abroad.
  • Individuals wishing to go abroad to attend marriage of relatives such as children, brother, sister.
  • Persons going abroad for their own marriage.
  • Patients traveling abroad for medical treatment (without any enhanced fee).
  • Spouse, father, mother, children, brothers who have to travel abroad in the event of death of a close relative.
  • Students requiring a passport for appearing in examinations such as SAT, TOEFL, GRE.
  • Students going abroad to join foreign universities.

Applying for the Tatkal Program

If an applicant desires to obtain his passport under the Tatkal Scheme, he /she must submit:

1. Verification Certificate (See Sample)

The Verification Certificate should be on official letter head of Issuing Authority with office seal and should also bear the reference number of Issuing Authority. The applicant is required to appear in person before Officers in Regional Passport Office. They should carry the application, fee, and supporting documents.

The Passport Issuing Authority shall retain the right to verify the authenticity of the Verification Certificate from the official who has issued it. All applicants seeking a passport out of turn under the Tatkal Scheme are advised to submit their application, documentation and fee as specified below. No proof of urgency is required for Out-of-Turn issue of passport. Post Police Verification shall be done in respect of all passports issued under the Tatkal Scheme.

2. Standard Affidavit (See Sample)


3. Photograph of the applicant

Photograph of the applicant must be pasted on the Verification Certificate and signature of the verifying officer should be partly on the photograph and partly on the Verification Certificate. An out-of-turn passport or emergency passport is issued only in cases of specified emergencies on production of documentary evidence.

4. Supporting Documents

The applicant also has the option to obtain a passport under Tatkal Scheme on submission of three documents from the fourteen documents mentioned below, provided one of the three documents is a photo identity document and at least one of the three is amongst the documents indicated from (a) to (i) and a standard affidavit (Annexure "I") on non-judicial stamp paper notarized:

  • Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC);
  • Service Identity Card issued by State/Central Government, Public Sector Undertakings, local bodies or Public Limited Companies;
  • SC/ST/ OBC Certificates;
  • Freedom Fighter Identity Cards;
  • Arms Licenses;
  • Property Documents such as Pattas, Registered Deeds etc.;
  • Rations Cards;
  • Pension Documents such as ex-servicemen's Pension Book/Pension Payment order, ex-servicemen's Widow/Dependent Certificates, Old Age Pension Order, Widow Pension Order;
  • Railway Identity Cards;
  • Income Tax Identity (PAN) Cards;
  • Bank/ Kisan/Post Office Passbooks;
  • Student Identity Cards issued by Recognized Educational Institutions;
  • Driving Licenses; and
  • Birth Certificates issued under the RBD Act.

All the above documents must be produced in original along with self-attested copies.

Estimated time to receive a passport under the Tatkal scheme

Not all applications are guaranteed to be accepted for the Tatkal scheme. Merely applying does not guarantee issuance of the passport under any circumstances. It is the sole discretion of the passport officer as per the ministry's guidelines to accept or reject requests for tatkal services. If you application is accepted,

  • It takes 5-10 days if applied with an additional 1500 Rs fee.
  • It takes 10-35 days or more if applied with an additional 1000Rs fee.

Fee Structure for Tatkal Passport

Fresh Passport

1

Within 1-7 days of the date of Application

Rupees 1,500/- plus the passport fee of Rs.1000/-

2

Within 8-14 days of the date of Application

Rupees 1,000/- plus the passport fee of Rs.1000/-

Duplicate Passport (in lieu of Lost/Damaged Passport)

1

Within 1-7 days of the date of Application

Rupees 2,500/- plus the duplicate passport fee of Rs.2500/-

2

Within 8-14 days of the date of Application

Rupees 1,500/- plus the duplicate passport fee of Rs.2500/-

Re-issue cases after expiry of 10 years validity

1

Within 3 working days of the date of application

Rupees 1,500/- plus the passport fee of Rs.1000/-