Consulate General of India, Belfast

GENERAL INFORMATION

Normally, an ordinary passport is valid for ten years from the date of issue. Minors are issued passports for 5 years or until attaining 18 years of age, whichever is earlier. Minors who are more than 15 years of age have the option to apply for reissue of a 10-year passport.

However, the Passport Issuing Authority may issue a passport even for a shorter duration, subject to certain conditions.

CAUTION

• It is an offence to hold more than one valid passport at a time.
  
  

• Under Section 12(1A) of the Passport Act, 1967, possession of an Indian passport by a foreign national is a cognizable offence. This equally applies to Indian nationals who have acquired foreign nationality.
  
  

• It is an offence under the Passport Act, 1967 to furnish false information in the application. Passport facilities may be denied on grounds of suppression of material information, submission of incorrect particulars, willful damage/loss of passport, or unauthorized change/tampering. The passport can be impounded or revoked for violation of one or more provisions of the Passport Act.
  
  

• Loss of passport must be immediately reported to the nearest Police Station and to the Passport Office or Indian Mission, if abroad. The passport holder shall be responsible for misuse of the passport due to non-intimation of loss to the concerned Passport Office/Indian Mission. A passport is government property and must be surrendered when demanded in writing by any Passport Issuing Authority.

  How to Apply

  1. The application for a passport or passport-related service must be filled online on the Global Passport Seva Portal (GPSP): https://mportal.passportindia.gov.in/mission/
  
  

  2. Please read the instruction booklet carefully before filling out the application.
  
  

  3. The online application form for passport service must be properly filled in with complete and correct details in all respects. A printout of the application must be submitted at VFS Global Centres (Outsourced Service Provider – OSP) along with appointment confirmation. Applications submitted in any other form will not be accepted. 
  
  

  4. Two addresses must be furnished in the application form:
  
  

  • One Indian address, and
    
    

  • One current UK address along with proof of current address. 

  
  

  Kindly mention the correct and complete Indian address in the application for the purpose of police verification.
  
  

  5. Any change in personal particulars or address must be supported by the requisite documents.
  
  

  6. All applicants (including minors) seeking passport-related services must submit the application in person at VFS Global Centres in the UK for identification. To book an appointment for submission please click the following link:

   https://services.vfsglobal.com/gbr/en/ind/external-interim
  
  

  7. All signatures in the application must be made using a black or blue ballpoint pen. Applicants who cannot affix their signatures (such as infants, minors, or illiterate persons) should provide their thumb impression in place of a signature. The applicant’s signature must fit exactly within the prescribed column.
  
  

  8. All applications to be accompanied by photocopy of the current passport (first and last page). A self attested copy of UK eVisa (online immigration status) along with share code or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), as the case may be, also to be enclosed.
  
  

  9. The delivery of processed documents will be done preferably to the applicant himself/herself or to the person authorized by the applicant in writing and accompanied by the official receipt given to him/her at the time of submission.
  
  

  10. The fees for renewal and various passport related services including all kinds of miscellaneous services on passport, are prescribed by Government of India from time to time and are subject to change.
  
  

  11. The old Passport will be retained during the period of the processing of the application.
  
  

  12. It is absolutely necessary to use your recent original Indian Passport details whilst filling your Passport Application. Incorrect address may cause delay in the issuance of Passport.
  
  

  13. Information on the passport application form, your existing passport and all supplementary forms must be identical.
  
  

  14. Applicants are required to furnish original documents along with one set of self-attested photocopies of the same at the time of submission of application.
  
  

  It is mandatory for applicants to upload ICAO compliant photograph along with the requisite documents for passport services. 

  Please click the following links to view 
  
  

  (i) Guidelines for ICAO Compliant Photographs for Passport Applications
  
  

  (ii) SOP for document uploading in Applicant Portal
  
  

   Late Passport Renewal:

  • Declaration for Expired Passports: A passport expired more than three years ago should be supported by a declaration on a plain paper by the applicant explaining the circumstances and reasons for the delay in renewal.

  PLEASE NOTE:

  • Editing of applicant's personal information WILL NOT be allowed after their applications are physically received at Outsourced Service Provider.
    
    

  • The application will be REJECTED on technical grounds if there is a variance with information in passport.
    
    

  • The rejected application will be returned to the applicant and they will have to redo the entire process.
    
    

  • The Fee is not refundable
    
    

  •  Any variance in the data mentioned in the applicant's passport and that mentioned in the online application form will be the sole responsibility of the applicant and they have to ensure that the data is validated correctly before sending their application to Collection/Delivery Center.
    
    

  • Outsourced Service Provider is not authorised to 'Edit' the details in the application form.

    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

    1. Question: Till what time Passport Application could be submitted for reissue before the date of expiry?
    
    

    Answer: You can apply for reissue of Indian passport when passport has less than one year (12 months) of validity left. You can also apply for reissue of Indian passport anytime if you have a change in personal particulars, appearance, signature, or if passport is lost or damaged or pages are exhausted.
    
    

    2. Question: Can I apply for additional pages in my passport/ apply for additional booklet?
    
    

    Answer: There is no facility to add more pages to the existing passport or avail an additional booklet for appending it to the current passport. Applicants are required to apply for a new passport due to exhaustion of pages.
    
    

    3. Question: Can I apply for fresh passport under TATKAL category?
    
    

    Answer: Consulate General of India, Belfast does not have TATKAL category.
    
    

    4. Question: Can a UK address be reflected in an Indian Passport?
    
    

    Answer: Usually, a UK address is not permitted on the Indian passport. However, in exceptional circumstances only, when the applicant proves that he/she does not have a permanent address in India and he/she has Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in UK, an applicant may be permitted to reflect his/her UK address in his/her Indian passport. An affidavit from the applicant about his/her not having a permanent address in India, must be attached with the application.
    
    

    5. Question: Can I retain my Indian Passport for travel after acquiring a foreign nationality?
    
    

    Answer: Indian Citizenship Act does not provide for dual citizenship. Thus, Indian nationals (including minors) who have acquired foreign citizenship are required to apply for Renunciation of Indian citizenship and also surrender their Indian passports to get a certificate of Surrender of Indian Passport. Possession of Indian Passport by foreign nationals is a cognizable offence. This equally applies to Indian nationals who have acquired foreign nationality.
    
    

    Note:- Please follow the website of PSP Division of Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi - https://passportindia.gov.in/ and Passport Act/ Rules to know more details. If any discrepancy regarding the website is noticed, it may be brought to notice of CGI, Belfast immediately at pic.belfast@mea.gov.in.