e-Passport in India: Chip Passport, Validity and What Changes
All guides ↓Independent guide by India Customer Care. Not the Ministry of External Affairs or Passport Seva. Apply only at passportindia.gov.in.
On this page
An e-passport is the usual passport booklet with a small electronic chip and antenna inside. You can spot it by a small gold-coloured symbol below the text on the front cover. All new passports issued in India have been e-passports since May 2025. Your old passport stays valid until it expires; you don't need to replace it. The form, documents and steps are the same as for any passport.
What the chip does
- The chip holds your personal details and biometric information, the same details that are printed in the passport.
- The data on the chip is digitally signed by the government, so immigration officers anywhere can check that it is genuine and hasn't been changed.
- This makes the passport much harder to forge and can speed up checks at airports with e-gates.
The chip doesn't track your location and has no battery. It is read only when the passport is held close to a reader.
Who gets an e-passport
First passport
You get an e-passport automatically. Apply as usual: see how to fill the passport form.
You have a passport without a chip
Keep using it until it expires or the pages run out. Replacing it early is optional, not required. When you renew, you get an e-passport: see how to renew a passport.
Applying from abroad
Indian missions abroad also issue e-passports, according to the Minister of State for External Affairs (August 2026). Check with your embassy or consulate for local timelines.
What stays the same
- Form and steps: no separate e-passport form or option; you apply for a fresh passport or re-issue as usual.
- Documents: the same date-of-birth, address and other proofs. In our experience no extra document is asked for the chip. See documents required.
- Fee: the normal passport fee for your case. See the passport fee calculator.
Looking after the chip
- Don't fold, bend, punch or staple the passport, especially the cover with the chip.
- Keep it away from water and heat; a washed or soaked passport counts as damaged.
- Don't put stickers or covers with metal inside; use a plain cover if you want one.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to replace my old passport with an e-passport?
No. All passports issued by the Government of India stay valid until their expiry date. You get an e-passport automatically the next time you apply.
Is there a separate form or fee for the e-passport?
No. You apply for a fresh passport or re-issue in the usual way. In our experience no extra document is asked for the chip.
What if the chip stops working?
A failed chip is treated like a damaged passport. Apply for re-issue so you aren't refused at immigration.
Sources
- Passport Seva: e-passport FAQs (what it is, gold symbol, digitally signed data, old passports stay valid), accessed 1 Nov 2026.
- News On AIR: Minister of State, MEA, in Rajya Sabha on e-passports (Aug 2026), accessed 1 Nov 2026.
- Our passport help desk in Dehradun: customer questions about the chip (recorded Oct–Nov 2026).