New e-passports for Indian expats: 10 things you need to know
Residents in the UAE who are planning to apply for a new Indian passport or renew their old passport will have to follow new procedures, authorities said. The Indian mission in the UAE started a new Passport Seva Programme (GPSP 2.0) for all passport-related services from October 28.
Applicants will only be issued an e-passport (combined paper and electronic passport with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip and an antenna embedded as an inlay of the passport that contains the personal particulars) from now on.
Here are 10 things you need to know about the new procedure and e-passports:
1. Application
Those interested in applying for a new passport or re-issue of an existing one, can access the portal .
(https://mportal.passportindia.gov.in/gpsp/AuthNavigation/Login.). The new GPSP 2.0 will allow applicants to complete the form and upload necessary documents from home.
2. Auto-fill option
An auto-fill feature has been included in the new portal. Applicants seeking re-issue of a passport, can key in their existing passport number, the system will retrieve all their details. Officials say that it will take two minutes to fill the fields.
3. ICAO-approved photograph
The most significant change to applying for a new passport is the need for an ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) approved photograph. This means a plain white background, neutral expression with eyes open, direct frontal view with even lighting and a face size that fills 70-80 per cent of the photo. The photo must be in high resolution, be sharp and not been altered in any photo editing software. Photos with shadows, red-eye or glasses that cover the eyes are not acceptable.
4. Visit service provider
After completing the online application, the applicant can proceed to visit the service provider (In the UAE it is BLS International) in person. They will be required to bring along original copies of documents such as passport, Emirates ID and proof of address (if needed). A complete list of documentation will be available on GPSP2.0.
5. No charges for edits
Yet another change that comes with the new system is that there will be no charges for small edits in future. Until now, if there was a small spelling mistake, for example, the service provider was required to re-do the entire application — a service that attracted a fee. Now, with small edits done without having to redo the application, the service will be free.
6. No biometrics required
Biometrics of those applying for the passport services from the UAE will not be collected as of now. Those applying from within India will have to furnish their biometrics. Officials from the Embassy and Consulate say that the Indian government will facilitate overseas biometric collection in the future.
7. No change in charges
Officials have also confirmed that the service charges for the new e-passport will remain unchanged. They added that efforts are on to ensure that the turnaround time also remains unchanged.
8. New format of passport
The new RFID-embedded passport will also have a new look and serial number. According to officials, while existing passport numbers have one alphabet followed by a number, the new passport would have two alphabets followed by a serial number. A small golden-coloured RFID symbol would also be seen on the new e-passport.
9. No rush for existing passports
Indian passport holders already in possession of the existing passport need not get it renewed in a hurry as it will remain valid till the date of expiry. Those who have a pending application for an existing passport and have already filled in the form can also choose to have a regular passport. However, going forward, each applicant will be issued an e-passport.
10. Be patient
In a statement, the Indian mission in the UAE has also requested applicants to be patient in the initial few weeks as they are expecting some teething troubles. According to officials, they have been testing the system for some time and have ironed out much of the operations. However, they are still expecting some delays as more people start using the portal.
The new e-passports, which have already begun being issued, ushers in a new era for Indian travellers. According to officials, the chip can be read and verified at e-gates and immigration systems globally, which would reduce waiting times and make travel smooth.
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