How to Renew a Passport in India: Re-issue Steps and Documents
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
Renewal is called Re-issue on the Passport Seva portal. Log in, choose Apply for Fresh Passport/Re-issue of Passport, select Re-issue and the reason, pay online and book an appointment. Take your old passport and the documents for your case to the PSK. In our experience at RPO Dehradun it takes about 20–25 days in Normal and 8–10 days in Tatkaal.
Fresh or Re-issue?
| Your situation | Choose |
|---|---|
| You never had an Indian passport | Fresh |
| Passport expires within a year or has already expired (even 10+ years ago) | Re-issue |
| Pages are full | Re-issue |
| You want to change your name, address, spouse or other details | Re-issue |
| Passport lost, stolen or damaged | Re-issue (see lost passport) |
Documents for your case
Still valid, or expired less than 3 years ago, no changes
- Your old passport (original) with copies of its first two and last two pages, including the ECR/Non-ECR page.
- Proof of present address if it differs from the address in the passport.
- Officially, carry self-attested copies. At the Dehradun PSK staff often have you sign the copies at the counter.
This is the simplest case. Tatkaal is allowed.
Expired more than 3 years ago
- Still apply under Re-issue.
- In our experience it is handled almost like a new application: carry full date-of-birth and address proofs along with the old passport, and expect police verification.
- We have not seen Tatkaal accepted at our PSK in these cases, so apply in Normal.
Renewal with a change of details
| Change | Extra document |
|---|---|
| Address | Proof of the new address (see change address in passport) |
| Name | Two newspaper advertisements (one local, one national) or a gazette notification. No Tatkaal. |
| Add spouse's name | Marriage certificate, or Annexure J if you don't have one |
| Remove spouse's name | Divorce decree or death certificate |
| Remove ECR | 10th or higher certificate, or proof of paying income tax. PSK only, not POPSK. |
With any change, also carry the old passport, Aadhaar, PAN and your 10th or higher certificate.
Full lists: documents required for a passport. Forms: passport annexure forms.
Steps to renew online
- Log in to Passport Seva (OTP login works) and choose Re-issue
- Tick the reason: validity expired or expiring, pages full, or change in particulars
- Fill the form; copy details exactly as in your documents
- Pay online and book an appointment
- Visit the PSK or POPSK with the old passport and documents
- Police verification if needed, then the new passport comes by Speed Post
Step-by-step help with the form: how to fill the passport form. Fee for your case: passport fee calculator.
What happens to your old passport and visas
At the PSK the old passport is cancelled (a corner is cut) and returned to you, usually with the new one or at the counter. If it has a valid visa, it is stamped to say the visa remains valid. Carry both passports when you travel on that visa.
Whether police verification is needed is decided by the passport officer. In our experience a renewal with no change and a clean record often has no pre-verification, but don't plan around it.
When to renew
- Apply at least a year before expiry. Many countries need 6 months' validity left on arrival, and some visas need more.
- Renew early if pages are nearly full, the chip has failed, or the passport is damaged (washed, torn, loose stitching, writing on pages).
- Moved to another city or state? Renew there with address proof for the new place. For example, an officer posted from Delhi to Gujarat can renew in Gujarat.
Common renewal problems
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| OTP goes to the old mobile number or email | If you can still log in, update the mobile and email in your profile. If not, register a new account with your current mobile and email and apply for Re-issue from it |
| Aadhaar or PAN details are wrong | Correct them first. In one case at our desk a senior citizen renewed using the valid old passport and a bank passbook instead |
| Fresh chosen by mistake and already paid | Tell the first counter at the PSK; they decide whether it can continue or must be filed again |
| Name or address differs between old passport and documents | Apply with "change in particulars" and carry proof for the change |
Frequently asked questions
Should I apply as Fresh or Re-issue if my passport expired years ago?
Re-issue. Anyone who has ever held an Indian passport applies under Re-issue, however long ago it expired. Choosing Fresh is a common mistake that gets files stuck.
Will my old visas still be valid?
Yes. The old passport is cancelled and returned to you with a stamp saying any valid visa in it remains valid. Carry both passports when you travel.
Is there a senior citizen discount on renewal?
No. The 10% discount for senior citizens and young children applies only to fresh Normal applications, not to re-issue.
Related guides on our other websites
Sources
- Passport Seva: online form submission steps, accessed 1 Nov 2026.
- Passport Seva: fee payment FAQs, accessed 1 Nov 2026.
- Ministry of External Affairs: revised passport fees from 1 July 2026, accessed 29 Oct 2026.
- Passport Seva: official portal (apply here).
- Our passport help desk in Dehradun: applicants assisted since 2019 (answers recorded Oct–Nov 2026).