OK. Here is some info. I had been to the Passport Office thrice in the last one month. Before heading to the Office I had my usual preconceived notions about Governmental Bureaucracy. Quite to my surprise, after dropping my application and that of my Parents, I received my re-issued Passport as well as my Father’s Passport in about 8 to 10 business (working) days. Considering the fact that I made a normal application and our Passports were valid (i.e. not expired).
Point is…if you are in real hurry (i don’t know how you might end up in such a situation), you can opt for Tatkal and the Passport will be (re)issued to you in about 2 weeks timeframe (or earlier). Based on my personal experience, I received my reissued Passport (i.e. renewed for another 10 year period) within 8 working days (spread across 2 - 3 weeks). More or less, it is wise to use the normal application as you pay INR 1500 less (at the time of writing this).
Please follow the instructions listed on the Passport India website. It is pretty much self explanatory. As an additional information, if your (about to expire) Passport has been issued by an out of region Passport Office (say, abroad), it still takes about 10 working days (about 3 weeks) to get the reissued Passport.
NOTE: For some reason the word renewal is used by the Ministry of External Affairs to indicate the renewal of passport for the next nine years after an emergency passport was issued for a short period of one year. That service is done on a free-of-cost basis.
Titbits: Apply for Passport re-issual at about 8 months ahead of its expiry date. Most of the countries expect at least a Passport that is valid for six months. If you are out of Country (say, abroad), I think you can factor in the processing time at the nearest Embassy/Consulate.
Fresh Passport Applicants can check this link if they prefer to submit the Police Clearance Certificate along with the application.
July 27th, 2009 at 9:52 pm MDT
Sub: Passport renewal experience
Location: Madurai Passport Office, Tamil Nadu, India
Date : End of July 2009.
Reason for visit: Renewal after 10yrs.
FYI: I’m planning to post the same comments in other blogs too.
Madurai Passport office employees are ridiculous, totally hideous, so ignorant. It is very obvious; they just don’t want to make it easy for people. They want to act SMART. For no reason, they pin-point errors in your application. Here are the sample questions you will be asked even if you go for renewal or reissue of your passport.
Example:
Bring a proof of Old Door Number to New Door Number.
Where the hell I can bring this? It is the postal service, who changed our door number from one to another. Who is the world can bring a proof for this?
Signature seems to be not correct?
Hey you Moran… don’t you see I’m here after 10yrs for my passport renewal. Do you expect me to sign how I signed 10 years ago?
Hoo you are married…. where is the proof?
Hey you illiterate idiot, I’m here for renewal (or reissue). YOU issued me a passport with my spouse name 10 yrs ago. It is clearly written who is my spouse is. Why the hell you want a proof of wedding than what is written in my passport? Ok Super (smoke-smelly) hero, here it is the copy of my wedding certificate. Hooo…it is not attested, go to a green ink signee.
Do you have a bank pass book for address verification?
Sure, here it is Mr. All-in-All-Alahu-Raja…(there were such an ugly looking Neem-oiled Ranies too).. but I opened my bank account like 15 yrs ago which has the oldest address. No it is acceptable… go the bank and change it.
Long list of their ridiculous questions ranges from Misspelled Ration-card to ECNR. These so-called Indian Government Passport officers (total SOBs… sorry my bad, actually DOBs) are decided (or they are told) to be rude. Hell with them.
Some one has to train them, dictate them, lay out the process and EDUCATE them that we are proud Indians who wants to visit/work abroad to relieve our family burdens. Hope a Press or service-minded politician could help us. (Any body there????)
Tips for applicants:
Carry as much as proof of documents with you.
Speak courteously; yelling will not help as they are adamant to listen.
Online appointment time is not legit.
Prepare yourself for two or three trips.
Fill up your applications with extra care.
Carry a pen and a water bottle (you will be thirsty after a long wait n arguing).
Read and understand the necessity of required documents like Birth/Wedding/Degree/Heir Certificates, Affidavits, etc.
Brokers roaming outside of the office can give some vital info.
Peter-ing or Mary-ing may help a bit, not a significant.
Are you living in abroad? Please do the renewal in abroad. India is still the third-world country.
BTW, I live in New York. My spouse went for passport renewal/reissue. You may think I used harsh words which may sound offended. I’m sure you will know if you had been there. Thanks for spending time to read. Let us hope and pray for the better India(ns). Still hope for Naalai Namathey. JaiHind!
Yours brotherly,
Proud Tamilan (yet).
December 22nd, 2009 at 9:49 pm MST
“Signature seems to be not correct?
Hey you Moran… don’t you see I’m here after 10yrs for my passport renewal. Do you expect me to sign how I signed 10 years ago?”.
What proof you gave for signature change… I am appearing for reissue of passport at Madurai passport office. May be the information would be helpful for me.
Thanks
Dinesh
December 23rd, 2009 at 11:29 am MST
@Dinesh
Check with the Ex-Servicemen (Tent set up in the premises of Passport Office). They should offer some assistance. If not, check with the nearest Notary Public and ask him if he can attest the change in Signature affidavit (or something similar) along with three specimen signature of yours.
In any case I don’t see any complication with the Passport office folks at Madurai. I’ve seen the verification clerks (after your token number is called) to be tard cautious and panicky. But if you have issues - raise it duly with the Passport Officer (as always, redress al of grievances might take its own time).
Cases with clear supporting proof and no mismatch of addresses have seen no issues. Just follow the checklist and FAQ page on the Passport site. If something is not answered, you can check with the Ex-servicemen out there.
Be patient. I’ve noticed misinformed or less aware individuals waiting on line to misrepresent the Staff out there. I would say the greedy/unscrupulous Citizens (65%) and panicky and less-helpful Staff (35%) share the blame (100%) of what is supposed to be a procedural re-issue or renewal or new issue of Passport.
January 9th, 2010 at 6:09 pm MST
Hi all,
I applied my passport reissue on 29th Dec 2009 and signature was not a problem at all. I added my spouse name with marriage affidavit, the signature was sufficient. Only horrible thing in madurai passport office is 4 hours waiting for the completion of procedure to get the receipt and application number.
Today 9th Jan 2010 I received the passport (under normal scheme, only 10days). It is quick service isn’t it?
The amenities in madurai passport office should be improved. I saw couple of persons were waiting in the queue were fallen because of standing for the long two hours. Hope it will improve soon.
Dinesh
January 20th, 2010 at 6:49 pm MST
Hi,
I have also reissued my passport as it was about to expire in Spe 2010.
I want to know whether reissued passport will be sent to home by post and whether police verification will be required.
Regards
Amit
March 25th, 2010 at 5:10 pm MDT
I have applied for reissue of passport on 2nd march 2010, 9 mth before expiry date. after almost 25 days i am getting infromation from site is police varification is pending (address change is also required in same juridiction). Is PV is required. How i can get the real status of my application.
March 26th, 2010 at 11:39 am MDT
@Aashish,
Usually PV is NOT required for re-issuing currently active Passports unless otherwise the paranoid Ministry of Home Affairs has instructed the MEA to carry out a mandatory PV for all passport re-issue requests. PV is usually done by the Passport Office if it is a new Passport request or if you have been issued a Passport by an overseas mission of India.
Please approach proper channel for reliable information.