Good news! Now get your passport in just 7 days

New Delhi, Jan 27: This will definitely bring big smile on the face of people who want to make passport without any hassle. Reportedly, now onwards the police verification for the passport will be done once the travel document is issued to you. One may get passport within a week.

The Government on Monday announced the move which is apparently aimed to make whole process faster and hassle free. But there is a condition attached to it.

Reportedly, one has to submit required identity documents at the time of filing the application form. Sources says that if application form will be attached with required documents i.e copies of Aadhaar card, electoral photo identity card (EPIC) and PAN card, password will be handed over in a week itself

Besides above documents, applicants will also have to sign an affidavit in the format of Annexure-I (declaration of citizenship, family details and no criminal record).

It is part of the government's efforts to improve and liberalize police verification procedure for passport issuance.

"...henceforth normal passport applications of all first-time applicants furnishing Aadhaar, Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC), Permanent Account Number (PAN) and an affidavit will be processed on post-police verification basis, enabling faster issue of passport, without payment of any additional fees," a statement issued by the external affairs ministry said.

It said passport will be issued subject to successful online validation of Aadhaar number. EPIC and PAN card may also be validated, if required, from their respective databases.

In August last year, government had said that no police verification was required for reissue of passports. The external affairs ministry has also launched a smartphone application, mPassport Police Application, for speedy submission of police verification report.

The app would facilitate field level verification officers to directly capture the report into the system digitally.

"With the launch of this app, the need to download and print the physical personal particulars form and questionnaire would no longer be required, resulting in paperless end-to-end digital flow of the process, further reducing the time required for completion of verification, within the desired time limit of 21 days," the release said.

OneIndia News

(With inputs from PTI)