Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
1. Can I apply for a Machine-Readable Passport if I hold a handwritten one?
Yes. If you are an overstayed Indian national or G-1 card holder with a handwritten passport, you must apply for a reissue. Handwritten passports are considered non-Machine Readable and are no longer accepted for international travel.
2. How early can I apply for passport renewal before expiry?
You can apply for a reissue within 12 months before the expiry of your current passport. If personal particulars have changed, or if your pages are exhausted, apply even if the passport is not yet expired.
3. I need to change my Indian address in the passport. Is it allowed?
Yes, you may change your Indian address during reissue. No extra fee is charged specifically for address change, but the standard reissue fee applies. Make sure to submit appropriate address proof issued by an Indian authority.
4. Do I have to submit my original passport during application?
Yes, original documents including your passport are required for verification at the time of submission.
5. I need to update my spouse’s name in my passport. What is required?
You must submit a copy of your marriage certificate along with your spouse’s passport copy. Additional documents may be required as per the “Documents Checklist” section.
6 What if my passport was lost or stolen along with my visa or G-1 card?
Apply for a reissue under the “Lost/Damaged Passport” category. Submit a police complaint report and a certificate confirming the visa/G-1 card status, including validity details.
7. Can I still use my old passport with valid visas during the processing of a new one?
No. Once a new passport is granted, the old passport gets canceled, even before physical delivery. You must not travel using the canceled passport. However, valid visas on the old passport remain usable—carry both passports while traveling.
8. Can I apply for a passport for my newly-born child while being overstayed or on G-1?
Yes. Birth registration and passport application for the child can be done simultaneously at Du Digital ICAC. Both parents must visit in person with prior appointment and submit required documents. Children of Indian citizens born in South Korea must also comply with the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955.
