e-Passports In India Explained: How They Work, What Data They Store, And How To Apply

India's Ministry of External Affairs has begun rolling out e-passports to make international travel safer, faster and more efficient for citizens. The new biometric passports are part of the Passport Seva Programme (PSP 2.0), an upgraded digital system designed to strengthen passport security and streamline identity verification, which aims to align India's passport system with global standards used by several countries.

What Is An e-Passport?

An e-passport, also known as a biometric passport, combines the traditional paper passport booklet with an embedded electronic chip. This chip contains important personal and biometric details of the passport holder.

The passport includes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip and antenna embedded within the booklet. These components store the holder's personal data in a secure digital format. e-Passports can be easily identified by a small gold-coloured symbol printed on the front cover, indicating the presence of the electronic chip.

What Information Is Stored On An e-Passport?

The electronic chip inside the passport securely stores several key details about the holder, including -

•Passport holder's photograph
•Fingerprints and other biometric data
•Demographic details such as full name, gender, date of birth and address
•Digital signature of the issuing authority
•Unique passport number along with issue and expiry dates

How To Apply For An e-Passport In India?

Applicants can apply for an e-passport online through the official Passport Seva Portal by following these steps -

1)Visit the Passport Seva website.
2)Register or log in to your account.
3)Fill out the passport application form.
4)Select a nearby Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK).
5)Pay the applicable passport application fee online.
6)Book an appointment for document verification.
7)Visit the selected PSK or POPSK for biometric data collection and verification of documents.

Currently, the e-passport rollout is being implemented in phases across select cities. Eligible applicants in these locations will automatically receive an e-passport instead of a traditional one.

Benefits Of e-Passports India

One of the biggest advantages of e-passports is their ability to protect the integrity of the passport holder's data. The information is printed on the booklet and also digitally stored in the chip, where it is protected by strong encryption.

Immigration officials around the world can securely authenticate this data, making it much harder to forge passports or manipulate identity details. As a result, e-passports help prevent fraudulent activities such as the use of fake travel documents.

The security of the system is supported by Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) technology, which ensures that the personal and biometric data stored in the chip is genuine and has not been altered.

Automatic Issuance of e-Passports In India

Starting November 14, 2025, all new passport applications and renewals, whether submitted within India or through Indian embassies abroad, are being issued as e-passports by default. Applicants do not need to specifically opt for this version.

Existing passports without chips will remain valid until their expiry date. However, frequent travellers are being encouraged to renew their passports early so they can benefit from automated immigration gates being introduced at major airports, including Delhi, Mumbai and several others in the coming months.