Get Police Verification for Passport with these Easy Steps!

Select your destination, pack your bag, take your passport, and you are all set to travel. Passports act as a gateway to your world of dreams where you can enjoy the beauties of the natural world, or you can augment the business trade by paying a quick visit to your commerce clientele.

Acquiring a passport nowadays is a hassle-free task, all thanks to digital transformation. However, the only step that might cause hindrance is getting through the verification procedures. Here, in this piece of writing, the police verification for a passport will be explained.

Know Everything About Passport

A passport can be defined as a document that identifies any person as an inhabitant of a reliable country, which a person has to display while returning or going out of the country. The Ministry of External Affairs issues passports in India. The passports can be further segregated into two categories:

• Ordinary Passport: This type of passport is issued to the public in general for overseas travelling regarding business or leisure.

• Official/ Diplomatic Passport: These Passports are issued to people who are travelling to foreign countries on official duties.

How to Apply for a Passport?

Any Indian native can reach the official website and simply follow the instructions for applying for a passport online. Here are the steps for applying:

• Registration:You must register yourself on the Passport Seva Online portal and fill in the necessary details.

• Apply: After filling in the details, you would have to click on apply for fresh passport/ reissue of passport link.

• Payment: Next, click on "pay and schedule appointment" for scheduling an appointment for documentation.

• Visit: Visit the allocated passport seva Kendra (PSK) on the scheduled date with the set of full documentation as per prerequisites.

Application for the passport can also be done via offline procedures. For that, you would have to download and take a printout of the form, fill in the details and submit it to the nearest passport collection centre with a copy of the necessary documents required.

Documents Required for Passport Application

The documents required for passport issuing are listed below:

• Passport Application Form
• For non-ECR categories, documentary proof is required.
• Address Proof Documents, such as Bank account passbook, landline/ mobile bill, Voter I.D., water bill/ electricity bill etc.
• Documents for Date of Birth, such as PAN Card, aadhaar card, voter I.D. card, driving license, and birth certificate

Passport Fee Structure

There are small charges incurred while undergoing passport application or re-issuance as given below:

• For new or reissuing of the fresh passports, an amount of 1500/- INR is charged for 36 pages passport and 2000/- INR for 60 pages passport.
• For new or reissuing of the passport under the tatkal scheme, an amount of 3500/- INR is charged for a 36-page passport and 4000/- INR for a 60-page passport.

How is Police Verification done for a Passport?

Passport verification is the part of security measures that has its significance as the credibility and authenticity of the applicant is required to be cross-examined. The police verification scrutinizes the comprehensive niceties of the applicant on accounts of credentials, illegal offences, charge sheets and criminal activities.

This assists in making sure the authenticity of the applicant as it not only reassesses the data and documentation provided but also brings out a clear picture of whether to approve the passport application or not. Being a security protocol, it is a much looked-for endeavour to cross-asses the applicant's legitimacy.

Modes of Police Verifications

The police verification commonly has three modes of verifications -

Pre-Police Verification for Passport

In most scenarios, police verification is initiated after the submission of the documents. However, Pre-Police verification is done before the approval of the documentation or before the tatkal passport issuance. This verification is done by the respective police station under whose jurisdiction the address of the applicant falls. First, a police officer is assigned to verify the details submitted by the applicant, such as the name, age, and address. Then, the assigned officer visits the applicant's place to cross-verify the details.

Post-Police Verification for Passport

There are instances wherein certain cases post-Police corroboration is obligatory for the approval of a passport. For example, in cases where the passport has already been issued to an individual but lost or expired, a post-Police verification is subjected to cross-validate the details provided by the person initially. For example, it is cross-examined whether the candidate's initials are all perfect and they have no criminal cases against them. This comes under the passport renewal police verification category.

No Police Verification for Passport

In some special cases, there is no requirement of police verification where the passport has to be issued to a Government, Statutory Body, or Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) candidate. These applicants, along with the passport application form, submit an "Identity Certificate" document via Annexure- B. This eradicates the requirement of police verification for these candidates. Moreover, applicants with official/ diplomatic passports don’t require going through the police verification process at the instance for the application of an ordinary passport as they have already submitted their "Identity Certificate" initially.

Online Passport Police Verification

Passport verification generally initiates the passport authorities informing the local police station to cross-verify the applicant's details by visiting their respective residence. An applicant can simply go online and register for online police verification through the Tatkal Passport Seva Website. In addition, the website has a passport police verification status tracking feature to help the applicant keep an update.

Here is how the police verification procedure goes:

• The applicant is required to visit the Passport Seva Online portal.
• Click on the "Register Now" link to proceed to the next step.
• Once the applicant's registration is done, they will be provided with the user I.D. and password that can be used to log in to their respective info page.
• Click on "Apply for a Police Clearance Certificate."
• The candidate is required to add the details on the form to move ahead.
• Next, click on "Pay and Schedule Appointment" and make the payment.
• After the payment, the applicant can take a printout of the same page by clicking "Print Application Receipt".
• The receipt has the necessary Application Reference Number (arn). Also, the applicant will receive an SMS comprising ARN details on the registered mobile number.
• The candidate will have to visit the respective PSK on the scheduled date with original documents.

Police Verification Status Check

When police verification is conducted, it issues different statuses to bring out a clear picture of the passport application. Here are the statuses that classify the passport application-

Clear

If there are no discrepancies in the application's details and documentation, the police department issues a clear status. Further, the passport authorities proceed to issue a passport to the respective candidate. This status also signifies the applicant's authenticity by putting a right tick that the applicant has no criminal records or cases against them.

Adverse

If the police department finds any contradiction in the course investigation irrespective of the passport application, they mark adverse status. This could be an indication that the passport application is being cancelled or under surveillance. It can be due to any information misleads or criminal cases filed in progress against that particular candidate.

Incomplete

This status is highlighted when the police verification team finds that the submitted documents are incomplete or missing. It could also mean that the assigned police station has not piled up the verification report appropriately. In some cases, when the applicant is not residing at the location mentioned in the passport application form for a long time, the incomplete status is marked. Sometimes, this can be the reason for the cancellation of a passport application. Thus, it is recommended for any passport applicant to provide the correct information in the application form to avoid any time depletion.

Apparently, based on the police verification report, the passport application is approved or cancelled. For incomplete and adverse statuses, the applicant can visit the local police station and can ask for clarity on the report.

For example, suppose the applicant was not available when the officer went to his place. In that case, the applicant can write to the Regional Passport Office (RPO) with his application number and ask for a re-verification.

For any delay in the passport application process, it is requested to visit the concerned RPO and seek a reason. There are instances where the applicants were given opportunities to clear the issues and finally get a clearance report for passport issuance.

Conclusion

Unendingly, the passport police verification process is time-consuming. But one should comprehend the safekeeping protocols behind it as the government is pledged to issue the passports to the right candidate and avoid its misuse.

To avoid any postponement in passport issuance, it is recommended to fill the application form with the correct information. Once the whole process of passport application and approval is completed, one can easily travel overseas.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why is police verification essential for passport issuance?

A. A passport is an important document for any individual travelling overseas. With police verification, you get a clean chit as they conduct a background check. After clearing the verification process, you can travel abroad without any hassle.

2. How much time does the passport police verification process take?

A. For a new passport and reissue where police verification is required, the process takes 30 days.

3. What to do when police verification is still pending for a passport?

A. In case you have applied for a passport, and police verification is still pending, visit the nearest Passport Office (PO).

4. What to do if police verification is not clear in the passport?

A. Visit the Regional Passport Office (RPO) with the received letter that says the passport application is not clear. Further, if the passport officer (PO) is convinced, the police verification can be initiated again.