The Passport Seva Programme (PSP) Division of the Ministry of External Affairs deals with the following issues and frames the policy matters related thereto:
Vision Statement
To deliver passport services to citizens in a timely, transparent, more accessible and reliable manner and in a comfortable environment through streamlined processes; and by a committed, trained and motivated workforce.
About Us
The Passport Seva Programme (PSP) Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, provides passport services through the Central Passport Organization (CPO) and its network of Passport Offices, Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs); and Post Office
Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs). Consular, Passport and Visa services to overseas Indians/Foreign nationals are provided by the PSP Division through the Indian Missions and Posts abroad.
Indian passports are issued through the network of 36 Passport Offices, Headquarters at CPV Division (only Diplomatic and Official passports) and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Administration. This network has been expanded by adding 93 PSKs and 412 POPSKs
as extended arms of the 36 Passport Offices. For Indians living abroad, passport and other miscellaneous services are rendered by the 190 Indian Missions/Posts abroad. All Passport Offices issue machine-readable passports as per the guidelines prescribed by
the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Central Passport Organization (CPO)
The Central Passport Organization (CPO) was created in 1959 as a subordinate office of the Ministry of External Affairs and is headed by Joint Secretary (Passport Seva Programme) and Chief Passport Officer, who also acts as the Appellate Authority under
the Passports Act,1967 and the Head of Department under the Delegation of Financial Powers Rules 1978. The Head Quarter of the CPO is in the Passport Seva Programme (PSP) Division of the Ministry. The Division works under the supervision of Secretary (CPV
& OIA). Joint Secretary (CPV) is responsible for the issue of diplomatic and official passports, consular and visa matters. The passport services are provided throught the CPO and its network of Passport Offices; Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs); and Post Office
Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs). Consular, Visa and Passport services to overseas Indians/ Foreign nationals are provided through the Indian Missions and Posts abroad.
Office of the Chief Passport Officer (CPO)
The Central Passport Organization, which is a subordinate office of the Ministry of External Affairs, is headed by Joint Secretary and Chief Passport Officer, who also acts as the Appellate Authority under the Passports Act, 1967 and the Head of Department
under the Delegation of Financial Powers Rules 1978.
Shri Arun K. Chatterjee
Joint Secretary (PSP) and CPO
PSP Division, Ministry of External Affairs
Room No. 8, Patiala House, Tilak Marg,
New Delhi – 110001.
Tel. No.: +91 11 23387013/23384536
Fax No.: +91-11-23071370
E-mail:jscpo@mea.gov.in
Bio-profile of Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Joint Secretary (PSP) & CPO
Shri Arun K. Chatterjee joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1992.
At various Missions abroad, he has served as Third/ Second Secretary in Embassy of India, Almaty, in Kazakhstan; as First Secretary/ Counsellor in Permanent Mission of India (PMI), Geneva and as Counsellor in Embassy of India, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
At headquarters, he has worked as Under Secretary/ Deputy Secretary (East Europe), Director (Finance), and Director/ Joint Secretary (CNV & I) and Chief Vigilance Officer of the Ministry of External Affairs. He assumed charge has Joint Secretary (PSP) &
CPO on 1 April, 2016.
He is married and has a son.
Organogram
PASSPORTS
Applying for Diplomatic/ Official Passports
The CPV Division issues diplomatic and official passports to Indian Government officials proceeding abroad for official assignments/visits.
Diplomatic/Official passports are issued with specific validity 5 years or less, depending on the position of the holder and the nature of assignment/visit.
To apply for a Diplomatic/ Official passport, please visit the Passport Seva Portal atwww.passportindia.gov.in
Diplomatic/Official passports are issued by the Passport Offices concerned subject to clearance by the CPV Division.
It needs to be noted that the PSP Division does not deal with Diplomatic/Official passports. Clearance for issue of Diplomatic/ Official passports to the concerned Passport Office is issued by the CPV and not the PSP Division.
Applying for ordinary passports in India
An applicant must confirm the jurisdiction of the Passport Office, the Passport Seva Kendra and the Post Office Passport Seva Kendra before submitting an application for issue of an ordinary passport in India.
An applicant can also apply for passport from anywhere in India. Applicants can choose the Passport Office (PO) and thus the desired Passport Seva Kendra (PSK)/ Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) under the PO where they wish to submit their application
irrespective of whether the present residential address specified in the application form lies within the jurisdiction of the selected PO or not. The Police Verification would be conducted at the address specified in the application form. The passport will
be printed and dispatched by the PO selected for application submission by the applicant.
To apply for issue of an ordinary passport in India, please visit the Passport Seva Portal atwww.passportindia.gov.in.
Applying for Police Clearance Certificate(PCC) in India
To apply for issue of a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) in India, please visit the Passport Seva Portal atwww.passportindia.gov.in.
Applying for Surrender Certificate in India
A Surrender Certificate is issued to applicants willing to surrender their passport at Passport Offices mainly for renunciation of Indian citizenship and acquiring foreign nationality. This is a chargeable miscellaneous passport service and can be availed
after applying for Surrender Certificate through Passport Seva Website and later visiting the Passport Office with the required documents.
It may be noted that individuals applying for Surrender Certificates with any reason other than 'Acquiring Foreign Nationality/Renunciation of Indian Citizenship' need to visit the Passport Office directly i.e. without filling the application form physically
or online. Examples of such applicants may be the Diplomatic/Official passport holders willing to surrender their ordinary/diplomatic/official passport.
To apply for issue of a Surrender Certificate in India, please visit the Passport Seva Portal at www.passportindia.gov.in.
Applying for Certificate of Indentity in India
Certificate of Identity is issued to stateless persons residing in India. Such persons may apply for Certificate of Identity at the Passport Office within whose jurisdiction they are currently residing. It is issued subject to clearance by the Ministry of
External Affairs (PSP Division).
To apply for issue of a Certificate of Identity in India, please visit the Passport Seva Portal atwww.passportindia.gov.in.
Background Verification for GEP
It is a miscellaneous passport service rendered by the PSP Division to conduct vetting of the Passport and Police/Criminality check for Indian Citizens willing to enrol for the United State of America’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Global Entry Program
(GEP). Please to refer to the link for details: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/international-arrangements/global-entry-indian-citizens
To apply for the background verification for GEP in India, please visit the Passport Seva Portal atwww.passportindia.gov.in.
Applying for Ordinary Passports at Indian Mission/ Posts Abroad
To apply for issue of an ordinary passport in a Mission/ Post abroad, please visit the Passport Seva Portal athttps://embassy.passportindia.gov.in/
Mobile Passport Seva Application
Riding on the new wave of information dissemination, Ministry of External Affairs has brought the passport related services on the mobile for smartphone users. Users can now access these services on smartphones using mobile appmPassportSeva.
It is a light weight, easy to use app that provides all the functions as available over the Passport Seva Portal such as New User Registration, existing User Login, Apply for Passport Services, Pay online, Schedule appointment, Know Location of Passport Centers,
Fee Details, Application Status, Contact Information and other General Information.
- The app provides facility to Register, Apply, Pay and Schedule appointment for Passport related services.
- The app provides information on various steps involved to obtain a passport related service and where to call in case of queries or concerns.
- The users are able to search for a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK). Citizens living overseas can find out relevant information about the
- Missions/Posts abroad. For certain states and districts, the users can search for Police Stations as well.
- Fee Calculator feature of the application enables users to find out the required fee based on the service and mode of submission.
- Document Advisor helps users to find out the required documents they need to carry while visiting Passport Office for application submission.
- The users can track status of their passport applications using file number and date of birth. For dispatched passports, the delivery status can also be tracked
mPassport Seva is now available on Android and iOS platforms. Latest version of the application can be downloaded from the following: