Applicants born on or after 1 October 2023, must now submit a birth certificate as the sole proof of date of birth. The updated passport rule also modify address details on passports for privacy reasons.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has recently introduced crucial amendments to the Passport Rules, 1980. The latest update mandates that for passport applicants born on or after 1 October 2023, a birth certificate issued by designated authorities will be the only acceptable proof of date of birth. The amendment was announced through an official notification and will be enforced once published in the Official Gazette of India.
The government has been refining passport regulations over the years to streamline documentation, enhance security, and simplify the application process. Below are five key changes in the latest passport rule amendment:
Mandatory Birth Certificate for New Applicants
For individuals born on or after 1 October 2023, only a birth certificate will be accepted as proof of date of birth. This certificate must be issued by one of the following:
- Registrar of Births and Deaths
- Municipal Corporation
- Any authority empowered under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969
This change eliminates the possibility of using other documents such as school certificates, PAN cards, or Aadhaar cards for date of birth verification.
Passport Rules for Those Born Before 1 October 2023
For applicants born before 1 October 2023, the existing rules remain unchanged. These individuals can submit any of the following documents to prove their date of birth:
- Birth certificate
- School leaving, matriculation, or transfer certificate (from a recognised educational institution)
- PAN card issued by the Income Tax Department
- Driving license
- Extract of service record (for government employees)
This ensures flexibility for older applicants while aligning new regulations with a single, standardised proof of birth for future applicants.
Residential Address No Longer Printed on Passports
To enhance privacy and security, the government has decided to remove the residential address from the last page of the passport. Instead, immigration authorities will now access residential details electronically by scanning a barcode embedded in the passport. This move aims to:
- Protect the applicant’s privacy
- Reduce instances of identity theft
- Simplify data access for officials without compromising security
Gazette Notification to Enforce Changes
The new rules will come into effect only after the amendment is published in the Official Gazette. This publication serves as the official confirmation and legal enforcement of the amended Passport Rules. Once published, all future applicants will need to comply with the updated requirements.
Continuous Reforms in Passport Regulations
Over the years, the government has been simplifying passport application procedures to improve efficiency. Some of the notable reforms include:
- E-passports with biometric features for enhanced security
- Simplified documentation for single parents and orphans
- Reduction in police verification timelines to speed up processing
These continuous reforms aim to make passport applications more accessible, secure, and applicant-friendly.
Conclusion
The latest passport rule amendments bring significant changes, especially for those born on or after 1 October 2023, who must now submit a birth certificate as their only proof of date of birth. Additionally, removing residential addresses from passports improves privacy and security. While applicants born before this date still have multiple options for birth verification, all changes will be officially enforced after the publication of the Official Gazette. These reforms reflect the government’s efforts to streamline documentation, enhance privacy, and simplify passport procedures for Indian citizens. If you need any legal help consult our experts from Vakilsearch today.
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