The facilities and services being offered by Passport Seva portal, that was temporary down for a couple of days due to technical maintenance, is up ahead of the scheduled time.
“After successful completion of technical maintenance well before schedule, Passport Seva portal including the GPSP is now up & running w.e.f. 1900 hrs IST on 01 September 2024.System is now available for citizens and for all MEA/RPO/BOI/ISP/DoP/Police Authorities,” the official Passport Seva website has mentioned.
Earlier we had reported that Passport Seva portal will be down for five days starting from Thursday, 29 August 2024. Passport Seva official website has mentioned that as a part of planned maintenance, the portal will be down between 29th August 2024, Thursday 20:00 hrs IST to 2nd September, Monday 06:00 hrs IST. During the maintenance timings, system was not available during this for citizens and for all MEA/RPO/BOI/ISP/DoP/Police Authorities.
Passport Seva portal technical maintenance: What will happen to scheduled appointments ?
Passport Seva official website had said that the already booked appointments for 30th August 2024 will be suitably rescheduled and informed to applicants
“Passport Seva portal will be down for technical maintenance from 29th August 2024, Thursday 20:00 hrs IST to 2nd September, Monday 06:00 hrs IST. System will not be available during this period for citizens and for all MEA/RPO/BOI/ISP/DoP/Police Authorities. The already booked appointments for 30th August 2024 will be suitably rescheduled and informed to applicants,” the Passport Seva official website has mentioned.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs has said that many fraudulent websites and mobile applications are collecting data from applicants hefty charges for filling up the online application form and scheduling appointment for Passport and related services.
“It has come to the notice of the Ministry that many fraudulent websites and mobile applications are collecting data from applicants and also levying additional hefty charges for filling up the online application form and scheduling appointment for Passport and related services. Some of these fake website are registered in the domain name *.org, *.in, *.com such as www.indiapassport.org, www.online-passportindia.com, www.passportindiaportal.in, www.passport-india.in , www.passport-seva.in, www.applypassport.org and many other similar looking websites,” it added.
The ministry has advised to all citizens applying for Indian Passport and related services that they should NOT visit to the above mentioned fraudulent websites or make payment related to passport services. The official website of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, for applying Passport services is www.passportindia.gov.in.
Alternatively, applicants may also use the official mobile App mPassport Seva which can be downloaded from Android and iOS application stores.
The online passport application portal will be temporarily shut down for maintenance, the government announced. From 8:00 PM on August 29th, 2024, until 6:00 AM on September 2nd, 2024, the system will be unavailable. During this period, no new appointments can be scheduled, and previously booked appointments for August 30th will be rescheduled, with applicants notified accordingly.
This maintenance is part of routine procedures, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
“Passport Seva portal will be down for technical maintenance from 29th August 2024, Thursday 20:00 hrs IST to 2nd September, Monday 06:00 hrs IST. System will not be available during this period for citizens and for all MEA/RPO/BOI/ISP/DoP/Police Authorities. The already booked appointments for 30th August 2024 will be suitably rescheduled and informed to applicants,” a note on the Passport Seva portal reportedly said.
Contingency plans have been reportedly set in place to avoid any public inconvenience.
The Passport Seva portal is essential for booking appointments at centers nationwide, whether for new passport applications or renewals. Applicants must appear in person at their scheduled appointments, provide necessary documents for verification, and undergo a police verification process. Depending on the service chosen—regular or Tatkaal—the passport is delivered within 30-45 working days or just a few days, respectively.
If you’re planning to apply for or renew your passport, here’s a simple step-by-step guide to help you navigate the process through the Passport Seva Online Portal:
- Register on the Portal: Start by registering on the Passport Seva Online Portal. You can do this by clicking the “Register Now” link on the homepage.
- Login: Once registered, log in to the portal using your Login ID.
- Apply for a Passport: Click on the “Apply for Fresh Passport/Re-issue of Passport” link. Fill out the required details in the form and submit it.
- Pay and Schedule Your Appointment: After submitting your application, go to the “View Saved/Submitted Applications” screen. Click on “Pay and Schedule Appointment” to choose a date and time for your visit to the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK).
- Note on Payment: Online payment is mandatory for booking appointments at all Passport Seva Kendras. You can pay using:
- Credit/Debit Card (MasterCard and Visa)
- Internet Banking (SBI and other banks)
- SBI Bank Challan
Print Your Application Receipt: After scheduling your appointment, click on “Print Application Receipt” to get a copy of your receipt, which includes your Application Reference Number (ARN) or Appointment Number. However, carrying this printout is no longer required—a simple SMS with your appointment details will suffice when you visit the Passport Office.
Visit the Passport Seva Kendra: On the day of your appointment, go to the PSK/Regional Passport Office (RPO) you selected, bringing along your original documents.
Special Cases: Only those with emergencies or preapproved cases can visit the PSK without an appointment, but this is at the discretion of the Passport Seva Kendra in-charge.
For Minors: If you’re applying for a minor under 4 years of age, remember to bring a recent passport-size photograph (4.5 X 3.5 cm) with a white background.
Resubmission Requirement: If you don’t visit the PSK within 90 days of submitting your online form, you’ll need to resubmit your application.
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The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that the Passport Seva portal will be offline for five days, beginning Thursday, August 29, due to technical maintenance. During this period, users will be unable to schedule new appointments, and any pre-booked appointments will be rescheduled. Most travellers know they need a passport and visa to go abroad. However, there’s another document that functions like a passport and even allows the holder to bypass visa requirements at the airport. If you’re unfamiliar with it, let us introduce you to the Seaman Book.
A Seaman Book serves as an official document for certain professionals, enabling them to travel internationally both through airports and seaports. This document isn’t available to everyone – it’s specifically issued to employees in the Merchant Navy, Cruise Line workers, and fishermen on fishing vessels. Just as a passport is essential for regular travellers, the Seaman Book is a crucial identification document for those working at sea
Similar to a passport, a Seaman Book contains essential details such as the employee’s name, date of birth, nationality, and more. It also includes the employee’s educational qualifications, job title, the name of the ship they’re assigned to, and the duration of their journey. This document serves as the primary means of identification for workers on vessels operating in international waters, and it facilitates the immigration process at foreign ports.
Can Seaman Book be Used at Airports?
According to a senior airport security official, all air travellers – whether for tourism, business, or medical reasons – must present a valid passport and visa at the airport. However, for individuals employed in the Merchant Navy, Cruise Lines, or other vessels, the Seaman Book is accepted as a passport when they are travelling to join their duty. In such cases, the Seaman Book is recognised at the airport, but the traveller must also present the Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC), also known as the Seafarer Identity Document, during the immigration check.
Does a Seaman Book Holder Need a Visa?
According to the senior airport security official, the Seaman Book, along with the Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC), can function as a crew transit visa. For personnel in the Merchant Navy, on vessels, or working on cruises, the Seaman Book can be used as a transit visa when passing through different countries during travel. Additionally, those travelling to join duty at a port can also use the Seaman Book and CDC in place of a traditional visa. However, if the journey is personal and not work-related, the traveller will need a standard passport and visa for the destination country.