DigiLocker PVR Storage: How Indian Citizens Can Digitally Save Passport Verification Records?

The National e-Governance Division (NeGD), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), has made a significant upgrade to citizen services by enabling the Passport Verification Record (PVR) on the DigiLocker platform. This marks a historic first, allowing a verification record linked to the passport application process to be accessed directly through a widely used government digital platform.

According to DigiLocker's official statement, "Passport Seva (passportindia.gov.in) issues Passports to Indian citizens. Now, Passport Verification Record (PVR) is readily available to be securely pulled by respective holders into their DigiLocker account." This integration ensures that citizens can now access, store, share, and digitally verify their PVRs, promoting a paperless, contactless, and convenient experience.

What Is A Passport Verification Record (PVR)?

A Passport Verification Record is generated after the verification stage of a passport application. It contains details of the verification completed by authorities before a passport is issued or reissued. Previously, applicants could not access this record digitally, and it was only maintained by passport authorities. The availability of PVR on DigiLocker now ensures instant, secure access for applicants.

How To Add Your Passport To DigiLocker?

While the PVR is issued digitally, citizens can also upload a digital copy of their passport to DigiLocker. This ensures that all passport-related documents are available in one secure place.

Steps to upload a passport to DigiLocker:

1.Log in to the DigiLocker website or mobile app.
2.Go to the "Uploaded Documents" or "Upload Documents" section.
3.Select "Passport" from the list of document types.
4.Upload a scanned copy or image of your passport.
5.Save the file to your DigiLocker account.

Notably, citizens can fetch their Passport Verification Records in the "Issued Documents" section of DigiLocker.

Benefits Of Accessing PVR Through DigiLocker

•Convenience and Anytime Access: Citizens can access their PVR from any device, removing the need to carry physical documents.

•Faster Processes and Reduced Paperwork: Digital PVR access streamlines verification processes for travel, employment, and compliance, saving time for both citizens and organizations.

•Easy Sharing: PVRs can be shared digitally wherever accepted, reducing delays in verification.

•Tamper-Proof Digital Record: As DigiLocker stores authentic documents from authorized issuers, PVRs are secure, reliable, and verifiable.

•Eco-Friendly Service Delivery: Moving verification records to a digital format reduces paper use and supports India's vision of digital governance.

The integration of PVR with DigiLocker is a key step toward empowering citizens with secure, instant access to their government-issued documents. It aligns with the government's broader vision of digital India, making public services more transparent, efficient, and user-friendly. With this, citizens now have a one-stop solution to access their passport-related documents digitally, minimizing paperwork, ensuring security, and simplifying processes.