Valid Passport: Essential For Travel To India

If you are an Indian citizen, you can travel to India with a passport that has less than six months' validity remaining. However, for any other international travel, your passport must be valid for a minimum of six months. If your passport has expired, you can apply for an Emergency Certificate (EC) to return to India.

Indian citizens travelling to India from the US with less than 6 months' validity on their passport

For Indian citizens travelling to India from the US, it is important to ensure that your passport is valid for the duration of your trip. Most countries require that your passport is valid for at least six months from the date of entry for visa-free travel, and this includes India.

If your passport is not valid for at least six months, you may not be allowed to board your flight to India and could be denied entry upon arrival. To avoid any issues, it is recommended that you renew your passport if it has less than six months of validity remaining.

In some cases, you may be able to obtain an emergency certificate (EC) to return to India. This is a temporary travel document issued by the Indian Consulate for Indian citizens who are facing an emergency, such as a serious illness or death in the family. However, this is not a substitute for a valid passport and may not be accepted by all airlines.

Additionally, if you are a US resident or have a visa that allows you to reside in the US, you should check the requirements for re-entry as some countries, like the US, require your passport to be valid for at least six months when entering the country.

Therefore, it is always best to renew your passport if it has less than six months of validity remaining to avoid any potential issues during your travel to and from India.

Indian citizens travelling to India from San Francisco with less than 6 months' validity on their passport

If you are an Indian citizen in San Francisco with a passport that has less than six months' validity, you will not be able to travel internationally on this passport. You will need to renew your passport before you can travel.

To renew your Indian passport in San Francisco, you can follow these steps:

Step 1: Visit the VFS Global Website

Go to the VFS Global website (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/ind/apply-passport) and read the "Step-by-Step Guide" thoroughly.

Step 2: Apply Online for Reissue of Passport

Apply online for the reissue of your passport on the Government of India website https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in/. Use the application reference number to apply on the VFS Global website.

Step 3: Print the Application

Print the application submitted online on both websites, along with receipts.

Step 4: Submit the Physical Application

Submit the physical copy of your application, along with the required documents (as per the checklist) and fees. The fees must be in the form of a Cashier Check/Banker Check/Money Order, made payable to "VFS Services (USA) Inc". Send your application to:

> VFS Global – San Francisco Centre

> 642 Harrison Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94107

The normal processing time for a passport is three weeks. However, if your Police Verification Report (PVR) is not clear or pending, the processing time will be approximately 30 days or more. In such cases, the processing time depends on the availability of a clear PVR from the concerned authorities in India.

Please note that if you are a student, you can get your passport reissued within two years of its expiry date. For other applicants, you can apply for reissue within one year of the expiry date.

Indian citizens travelling to India from the US with an expired passport

For Indian citizens travelling to India from the US, it is important to ensure that your passport is valid for the duration of your trip. Most countries require a passport to be valid for at least six months from the date of entry, and this includes India. This means that if your passport is expired or will expire within six months of your planned travel dates, you will need to renew it before your trip.

If you are an Indian citizen residing in the US with an expired Indian passport, you may be able to apply for an Emergency Certificate (EC) to travel to India. The EC is a temporary travel document issued by the Indian Consulate in case of an emergency, such as the serious illness or death of a family member. Please note that the EC is only valid for one-way travel to India, and you will need to apply for a new passport to return to the US.

To apply for an EC, you can visit the website of the Indian Consulate in your jurisdiction. For example, if you live in New Jersey, you can visit the website of the Indian Consulate in New York (https://www.indiainnewyork.gov.in). If you live in San Francisco, you can visit the website of the Indian Consulate in San Francisco (www.cgisf.gov.in). On the website, you will find information on how to apply for an EC, including the required documents and fees.

In addition to the EC, you may also need to apply for a new Indian passport. The process for renewing an expired Indian passport from the US can vary depending on your visa status. If you have a valid visa status, you can apply for a reissue of your Indian passport through the Indian Consulate. However, if your visa status has expired, you may need to first apply for an EC or legalise your stay in the US before applying for a new passport.

When applying for a reissue of your Indian passport, you will typically need to submit your old passport details, a completed application form, and the required fees. The processing time for a normal reissue of an Indian passport is usually around three weeks, but it can take longer if police verification is required.

It is important to plan your travel arrangements only after you have obtained your valid travel documents, as the processing times can vary and there may be unexpected delays. Additionally, please note that the requirements for entering India may change, and it is your responsibility to ensure that you meet all the necessary requirements at the time of your travel.

Indian citizens travelling to India from San Francisco with an expired passport

If you are an Indian citizen living in San Francisco and your passport has expired, you will need to apply for a reissue of your passport. Here is some information on how to do this:

Where to Apply:

You can apply for a reissue of your Indian passport through the Consulate General of India, San Francisco. Their address is:

> Consulate General of India, San Francisco, California

> 540 Arguello Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94118

Application Process:

The application process for reissue of passport can be done online and by postal mail. Here are the steps:

• Visit the VFS Global website (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/ind/apply-visa) and read the "Step-by-Step Guide" thoroughly.
• Apply online for the reissue of passport on the Government of India website (https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in/).
• Print the submitted application form from both websites, along with the receipt(s).
• Submit the physical copy of the application along with the required documents and fees to VFS Global by postal mail at the following address:

> VFS Global – San Francisco Centre

> 642 Harrison Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94107.

Required Documents:

The required documents for reissue of passport may vary depending on your specific situation. However, here is a general list:

• Completed application form
• Valid visa status or Emergency Certificate (EC) if visa status has expired
• Previous passport details (passport number, date of issue, date of expiry, place of issue)
• Proof of address (driver's license, state ID, utility bill, rental lease agreement, university housing letter, etc.)
• Applicable fees in the form of a cashier's check, banker's check, or money order payable to "VFS Services (USA) Inc."

Processing Time:

The normal processing time for a reissue of passport is around 3 weeks. However, if the Police Verification Report (PVR) is not clear or pending, the processing time may take approximately 30 days or more. In such cases, the processing time depends on the availability of a clear PVR from the concerned authorities in India.

Passport Validity:

It is important to note that for any international travel, your passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months. Therefore, if your passport has less than 6 months of validity, you will not be able to travel on that passport.

Indian citizens travelling to India from the US with a lost or damaged passport

For Indian citizens travelling from the US to India, a valid passport is required for international travel. Passports must be valid for a minimum of six months. If your passport is lost or damaged, you cannot use it for travel. Here is some information on what to do if you are an Indian citizen in the US with a lost or damaged passport who needs to travel to India:

Reporting a Lost or Damaged Passport

First, report the loss or damage to your passport to the local Indian Police Station and obtain a police report. You should also report it to the nearest Passport Office or the Indian Mission. This is especially important to protect yourself from identity theft. Once you report your passport as lost or stolen, it is invalid and cannot be used for international travel.

Obtaining an Emergency Certificate (EC)

If you need to travel to India urgently, you can apply for an Emergency Certificate (EC) to return to India. The EC will be issued after verification of your Indian nationality, origin, and particulars. You can apply for an EC at the Consulate General of India, New York, USA, or through their website.

Applying for a Re-issued Passport

To obtain a re-issued passport, you will need to apply under the 're-issue' category, selecting 'Lost/Damaged passport' as the reason. You will need to submit the following documents along with your application:

• Proof of present address
• Proof of date of birth
• Affidavit stating how and where the passport was lost/damaged (Annexure 'F')
• Original police report
• Self-attested photocopy of the first two and last two pages, including the ECR/Non-ECR page of the old passport, if available

If you are in the US on a B1/B2 visa and are not a resident, you may be issued a Short Validity Passport (SPV) after clearance from the original Passport Issuing Authority in India. Alternatively, you will be issued an EC to enable your return to India.

Additional Information

Please note that duplicate passports are not issued. Instead, a new passport with a different number and fresh validity will be issued. The new passport will be valid for 10 years. If you do not have a photocopy of your old passport, it is not mandatory to submit it. However, you will need to provide the previous passport details (number, date of issue, date of expiry, and place of issue) when filling out the application form.

Frequently asked questions