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Online Passport Renewal Application for NRI’s- Step by Step Procedure!

When their Indian passport expires, NRIs residing all over the globe are faced with a similar dilemma: how to renew their passport before it expires. It has become more difficult to travel internationally to and from India as a result of COVID-19 limits on foreign travel to and from India. So, in this article, we have provided a step-by-step guide for passport renewals for an NRI.

Renewal vs Re-Issue

Ordinary passports are granted for a term of ten years, and they may be renewed for an additional ten years if they are renewed before they expire. This must be done at least 12 to 9 months before to the expiration date of the licence. It assures that you have at least six months of validity remaining on your existing passport at the time of renewal application, allowing you to travel without interruption.

If you renew your passport before the expiration date, your passport number stays unaltered. If your passport has expired, you will need to have a new one produced, and your passport number will change as a result.

Because of this, you will have to update your new passport number in all relevant places, such as rental agreements, employment records, foreign health and life insurance policies, foreign pension funds and NEW/NRO accounts held in India, as well as Demat accounts and other financial accounts, among other things. As a result, timely renewal is the most prudent course of action in order to prevent all of these avoidable difficulties.

However, there are a variety of additional reasons why you may want to renew your Indian passport even if it hasn’t yet expired. The following are the reasons:

• Validity has expired or will expire in less than six months.
• Changes in crucial personal information, such as a permanent Indian address, are permitted.
• The passport has reached the end of its pages.
• Damaged, lost, or stolen passports are among the possibilities.

Online Renewal for Passport in India for NRIs

NRIs may renew their passports at any of the Missions of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, if they live within the jurisdiction of the individual Missions, which is where they should submit their application. The cost, application method, and documentation required are all detailed on the websites of the individual Missions, which are also updated from time to time with the most recent information available.

The Ministry of External Affairs’ website, via its service Locate Mission, provides a comprehensive list of the addresses and websites of Indian missions across the world. Similarly, the Passport Seva service at the Indian Embassies and Consulates webpage of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) provides Passport services and support to Indian citizens who are residing in other countries.

NRI Passport renewal is much the same as applying for a new passport: submit an online application, visit a Mission or a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) if you are in India, undergo police verification, and then get your new passport in the mail. Let’s take a closer look at each of these processes.

Online Renewal Application Process for NRIs Living Abroad

1. If you are currently located outside of the country, you may begin the process by visiting the Online NRI Passport Application page.
2. For Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), the NRI Tax Guide is a straightforward guide on Indian taxation.
3. You may choose a mission from the drop-down list of all current Indian missions across the world, and you will be redirected to the Passport Seva at Indian Embassies and Consulates page.
4. Click on the “Register” link, after which you will be taken to the registration page.
5. Then, using your already registered login ID and password, log into the system.
6. The link that states “Apply for Ordinary Passport/Emergency Certificate/Police Clearance Certificate/Surrender of Indian/Diplomatic or Official Passport” may be found on the Applicant Home Page and should be used to submit a new application. Certainly, that is an overly lengthy title, but what can we do? We have no choice!
7. You should print a copy of the online application form when it has been successfully submitted. In the application form, there are still certain columns that you will have to fill out by hand.
8. If there are any open spaces, you will be given an appointment on a certain day and time.
9. Visit the relevant Application Processing Centre at the Indian Mission, Embassy, or Consulate, and bring the necessary supporting documentation with you to the application processing centre. The list of Application Submission Centres may be found on the same page, under the link “Embassy/Consulate” Connect, which is accessible from the menu bar.
10. You may download a blank application form from the internet, fill it out by hand, and present it to the Indian Mission of your choice in person.

Online Renewal Application Process for NRIs Living in India

1. If you are in India, you may begin the procedure by visiting the Passport Seva Portal.
2. Registration is required for first-time users; if you are a current user, just log into your account. Once you have signed in, choose Renewal/Reissue Service from the drop-down menu before entering your information.
3. The kind of application must be specified: either “Normal” or “Tatkal.”
4. Fill out the application form on the internet.
5. When applying for a passport using the Apply Anywhere programme, you may do so at any PSP, POPSK, or PSLK. Before applying for a passport, you should first verify the availability of slots at all neighbouring centres by clicking on this site.
6. Make an appointment at your local PSK/POPSK/PSLK based on the time slots that are currently available.
7. To confirm your appointment, make a payment online or input the bank challan information you may have provided at one of the specified bank locations.
8. Print the application receipt and bring it, together with the other required papers, to the PSK on the day and time specified in the schedule.

Document Required When Visiting Indian Mission/PSK

• Passport must be in its original, current, and valid state.
• Proof of the highest level of educational qualification.
• Proof of permanent residence in India.
• If you have just been married or are currently married, you will need a marriage certificate.
• Spouse passport is required in order to endorse your spouse’s name in your passport.
• Your travel tickets are required for Tatkal passports.
• Proof of residency in a foreign country, such as the most recent utility bill, residence permit, or other official document.
• You will need supporting documentation in the event that your name or permanent Indian address has been changed. These include a court-approved affidavit, land register or a new utility bill in your name, as appropriate.

Charges Incurred for Renewal

If you are renewing your Indian passport in India, there are no fees to pay for the renewal of an Indian passport for a non-resident Indian citizen. In contrast, if you are using the services of an Indian Mission, a High Commission, or a Consulate in another country, you may be charged service fees in the local currency, which may seem to be rather substantial at times.