This post is to share my experiences and learning’s thereof while applying for a passport for my baby. Like everybody else i did spend lot of time over Internet to find answers to my queries for this whole process but all in vein. I still had quite a few doubts and was unclear of many things when i walked into the passport office. I must admit i faced a few issues there because of it and hence i want to put it straight this time for others benefit.

General Gyan:-

>> Put a thumb impression of the baby wherever the form asks for applicants signature. Left hand thumb for boy and right hand for girls. Others i don’t know.

>> Get two photocopies of all original documents.

>> You will get maximum 5 yr valid passport for minors.

>> INR 600/- as passport fee for minors. Cash accepted.

>> After payment you will get a receipt on it.

>> You dont need to submit any original documents. However you do need to carry them to passport office and produce it on demand while on the counter.

Documents Required:-

>> Birth & Age proof – copies of the birth certificate.

>> Copies of passport of both the parents. Only need the copies of first four pages and last four pages, not the complete passport.

>> Address proof – letter from company, bank statement, rental agreement, ration card, DL etc. If one of the parents passport has correct address, then address proof is not required.

>> Copies of the marriage certificate of the parents. It is not required if either of the parents passport has its spouse name endorsed in it.

Filling up the form:-

>> The application form has clear instructions on many of the items. Please read carefully before putting ink on the form.

>> You can safely apply for ECNR if either of the parents have ECNR cleared in their passport. No need to submit any supporting document.

>> Item 19 should be counter signed by both the parents.

>> Un-staple your form and create two sets. Set 1 (main application form + one copy of all the documents mentioned in ‘documents required’ above.). Set 2 (Personal particulars forms + one copy of all the documents mentioned in ‘documents required’ above.).

Step-by-Step Process at Passport Office for Applying:

>1> Fresh passport applications are accepted in counters in first floor in Bangalore office.

>2> Get queued up by 0945 hrs as the gate opens that time.

>3> After entering the gate, you get a stamp on your application. It has a token number on it. Please sign on the stamp.

>4> Go to first floor and look for a queue other than the counters. This is where you have final chance to get your papers verified. Get queued up and verified.

>5> Keep watching the electronic boards on the cellar for your token number to appear and go to the counter number mentioned there. It will be counter 2 or 3 mostly.

>6> Go to the counter, submit papers and show the originals. The officer will verify, put a stamp and if everything is fine (and her mood is fine ) ask you fees and give you a receipt.

>7> Wait for six weeks and keep praying. If either of the parents of the applicant is passport holder then you can expect a faster processing, ie, four weeks.

After filing the application:-

>1> The personal particulars forms are sent to the nearest police station in your locality.

>2> Within a week of applying, you should get a call from the police station to visit them along with the applicant.

>3> In case you dont, please the passport site for the status of your application. If it says that they have sent it for police verification, please make a visit to the police station.

>4> Do not forget to carry the applicant photograph, address proof, age proof and the passport application file number.

>5> The official there will use your documents and verify the form received from passport office. If all is correct, they will put a stamp on the forms and get it signed from the station in-charge.

>6> After completing the formality they usually send the form to passport office very next day. There are dedicated officials to handle these concerns in each police station.

>7> However, if you didnt stay in same address for last one year, then the application will again be sent to a police station nearer to your earlier address. You will have to repeat the above process for the next police station.

>8> Expect a gap of two weeks for the application to travel from one police station to another.

Useful links and Contacts:-

>> official site

>> Email L:- rpo.bangalore@mea.gov.in (before submission), poblr@dataone.in (after submission)

>> phone: (+91)-80-2558 4536, 2558 4543