India is set to introduce e-passports in 2025, marking a major upgrade to the current passport system. While the new passport will look largely the same, it will include a built-in electronic chip that stores your personal and biometric details like your photo, signature, and fingerprints. This change is designed to speed up immigration checks, improve security, and prevent passport fraud.
Along with the chip, other updates include the removal of printed home addresses and parents’ names for better privacy. The new passports will also follow a color-coded system: blue for ordinary citizens, white for government officials, and maroon for diplomats.
What is an E-Passport?
An e-passport, or electronic passport, is a travel document that incorporates an embedded microchip containing biometric data. This chip securely stores personal information such as the holder’s photograph, fingerprints, passport number, and date of birth. The inclusion of this chip enables faster immigration processing and improved security against identity theft and fraud.
Key Features of India’s New E-Passport
Enhanced Security with Embedded Chip
The new e-passports feature an embedded RFID chip and antenna, securely storing encrypted biometric and personal data. This advanced design allows for secure storage of the holder’s personal and biometric data, improving resistance to counterfeiting and offering greater durability and reliability compared to traditional laminated pages.
Faster Immigration Processing
With the integration of biometric data, immigration authorities can quickly verify the identity of travelers, reducing wait times and enhancing the efficiency of border control processes.
Digital Storage of Residential Address
In a move to safeguard privacy and prevent misuse of personal information, the central government has removed residential addresses from the last page of passports. Instead, a barcode inserted in the paper will be scanned by immigration officials to retrieve this information.
Removal of Parents’ Names
The updated rules remove the requirement to print parents’ names on the last page of passports, improving privacy and benefiting individuals from single-parent or separated families.
Passport Color Codes
To simplify passport identification, the government has introduced a color-coded system:
Blue: Issued to ordinary Indian citizens for private travel, such as for vacation, study, and business trips.
White: Issued to individuals representing the Government of India on official business, including members of the Indian Armed Forces stationed abroad.
Maroon: Issued to Indian diplomats, Members of Parliament, members of the Union Council of Ministers, certain high-ranking government officials, and diplomatic couriers, as well as their dependents.
This classification will assist in distinguishing travelers based on their roles, making immigration processes faster and clearer.
How to Apply for the New E-Passport
The application process for the new e-passport remains largely unchanged:
Online Application: Visit the official Passport Seva Portal and complete the application form.
Document Submission: Submit the required documents, including proof of date of birth and address.
Biometric Enrollment: Schedule an appointment at a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) for biometric data collection.
Processing and Dispatch: Once processed, the e-passport will be dispatched to the applicant’s address.
The new e-passports are produced at the India Security Press in Nashik, aligning with the “Make in India” initiative .
Timeline for Rollout
The rollout of e-passports began in 2024 with pilot projects in select cities. As of 2025, the initiative has expanded to include 13 cities, with plans for nationwide implementation by mid-2025. Namely Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Jammu, Goa, Shimla, Raipur, Amritsar, Jaipur, Chennai, Hyderabad, Surat, Ranchi, and Delhi.
Tamil Nadu started e-passport issuance on March 3, 2025, with 20,729 passports issued by March 22, 2025.
Final Thoughts
India’s transition to e-passports marks a significant step towards modernizing travel documentation. By enhancing security, streamlining processes, and aligning with international standards, the new e-passports aim to provide a safer and more efficient travel experience for Indian citizens.
