Passport Information

How to Obtain a New Passport?

• Please fill up the online application form in the following URL: https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in/ and select the Indian Mission as Qatar-Doha and select the service desired as Fresh Passport.
• Fill all columns carefully and legibly; the print out of the application may be submitted in the counter at the embassy either in person or through a representative authorized by the Embassy.
• The "Application Form for an Indian Passport" along with your passport (in original), copy of the passport, copy of Permanent Residence Permit for Qatar and an affidavit should be submitted.
• Furnish 2 photographs (colour) size 50 mm x 50 mm front view of full face against a white background. Photos taken with coloured or dark glasses and in uniform are not acceptable.
• If the application is found to be in order and if no prior reference is required to be made to the original Passport Issuing Authority, the passport will be issued in the normal course.
• If you need the passport urgently you can avail of the Tatkal Scheme introduced by the Government of India. Under the scheme passports can be obtained out of turn from the embassy on the next day after the day of submission of application in the Embassy. An out of turn passport is normally issued only in cases of specified emergencies, against an additional fee of QR 550/-.

An application for a new passport can be made within one year from date of expiry of the old passport.

• Please fill up the online application form in the following URL: https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in/. and select the Indian Mission as Qatar-Doha and select the service desired as Re-issue Passport.
• Fill all columns carefully and legibly; the print out of the application may be submitted in the counter at the embassy either in person or through a representative authorized by the Embassy.
• The "Application Form for an Indian Passport" along with your passport (in original), copy of the passport, copy of Permanent Residence Permit for Qatar and an affidavit should be submitted.
• Furnish 2 photographs (colour) size 50 mm x 50 mm front view of full face against a white background. Photos taken with coloured or dark glasses and in uniform are not acceptable.
• If the application is found to be in order and if no prior reference is required to be made to the original Passport Issuing Authority, the passport will be issued in the normal course.
• If you need the passport urgently you can avail of the Tatkal Scheme introduced by the Government of India. Under the scheme passports can be obtained out of turn from the embassy on the next day after the day of submission of application in the Embassy. An out of turn passport is normally issued only in cases of specified emergencies, against an additional fee of QR 550/-. Cases that require a referral to India (due to Adverse or Incomplete PVR Status) cannot be processed under Tatkaal.
• All applicants are advised to submit their applications for renewal of passport upto 1 year before the Expiry Date.

Quality

(a). The Photographs must be:

(i). Square shaped of size 50 mm X 50 mm (2” X 2”), with white background

(ii). Close up of head and top of shoulders so that face takes up 70 - 80% of the photograph

(iii). In sharp focus and clear.

The Photograph must:

(b). Show looking directly at the camera.

(i). Show skin tones naturally.

(ii). Have appropriate brightness and contrast at high resolution.

(c). The Photograph must be:

(i). Color neutral.

(ii). Show the eyes open and clearly visible - no hair across the eyes.

(iii). Show facing on the camera, not looking over one shoulder (portrait style) or tilted & showing both edges of the face clearly.

(iv). Taken with a plain light colored background.

(v). Taken with uniform lighting and not show shadows or flash reflections on the face & no red eye.

2. Photographs - Glasses and Head Covers

(a). If Wearing Glasses

(i). The photograph must show the eyes clearly with no flash reflection off the glasses and no tinted lenses (if possible avoid heavy framed glasses to be worn).

(ii). Make sure that frames do not cover any part of the eyes.

(b). Head Coverings

Head Coverings are not permitted except for religious reasons, but the facial features from bottom of chin to top of forehead and both edges of the face must be clearly shown.

3. Photographs - Expression and Frame

The Photograph must show alone (no chair backs, toys or other people visible) looking at the camera with a neutral expression and the mouth closed.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had set a deadline of the 24^th November, 2015 for globally phasing out of all non-Machine Readable Passports (MRPs). From the 25^th November, 2015 onwards, foreign Governments may deny Visa or entry to any person travelling on a non-Machine Readable Passport.

The Government of India has been issuing Machine Readable Passports since 2001. The Passports, however, issued before 2001 and particularly those issued during mid 1990s with a validity of 20 years will fall in the category of non-MRPs. All handwritten passports with pasted photographs are also considered non-MRPs.

By the end of November 2014, it is estimated that there are approximately 2.86 lakh handwritten passports in circulation. Approximately 6 crore Indians hold valid passports.

Indian citizens residing abroad and holding such passports or those Indian Citizens whose passports’ “Date of Expiry” has been extended through an endorsement in their passports with validity beyond the 24^th November, 2015 are advised to apply for re-issue of their passports in order to avoid any inconvenience in obtaining valid visa or international travel document.

Many international travelers may not realize that having an unexpired passport is sometimes not enough to obtain Visas or to enter certain foreign countries. Indian citizens travelling on Passports which may expire in less than six months should renew their passports before any upcoming international travel. It is especially important to check the passports needs of any minor who may be accompanying their parents as passports for minors have a shorter validity period (5 years) than passports for adults (10 years). The universal practice in vogue now is; “Once your passport crosses the nine-year mark, it is time to get a new passport”.

Some countries do not accept passports which may have fewer than two pages remaining. Please check your passport to ensure that you have enough pages for visa. There is no provision of additional booklets/pages and you will be required to apply reissuance of passport following standard procedures. Frequent travelers may opt for Jumbo Passport containing 64 pages during fresh application/re-issue of passport.

All Passport Issuing Authorities have instituted a simple and fast-track procedure for renewal of passports. For more details related to passport services, visit the website – http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/welcomeLink - or the National Call Centre (1800-258-1800 - Toll Free) may be accessed. Indian citizens living abroad should visit the website of respective Indian Mission/Post for any further clarifications.

With effect from Tuesday, 16^th September 2014, the following regulation would be implemented by the Consular Section, Embassy of India, Doha, with respect to issue of Short Validity passports:

• Indians residing abroad and visiting India for a short period: SVP can be issued immediately, valid for one year, on production of return ticket to the country from which the applicant came and/or a document of identity such as Aadhaar Card, driving license, Green Card, employment permit, social security card, health card, labor card etc. indicating the applicant's identity and nationality. If the application is for issue of duplicate passport in lieu of damaged passport, the damaged passport itself may be accepted as proof of identity provided the personal particulars are clear and legible.


• No extension endorsements would be made on the short validity passports.


• Applicants requesting for Short Validity Passports would be charged with an amount equivalent to the charges for re-issue of minor’s passports (QR 184.00) (vide CPV Circular No. VI/401/66/2000, Dated: 11/09/2014).


• For passports having the validity for more than 5 years but less than 10 years (validity of normal passport), the fees prescribed for issue of a normal validity passport (QR 274.00) would be charged.

• It is compulsory to have a separate passport for a minor as the procedure of endorsing names of minor children in their parents' passports has now been discontinued with. This measure has been introduced in the wake of the practice, increasingly being followed by major foreign diplomatic missions, by granting visas to minor children only if they are in possession of separate passports. A minor in this case refers to a child who is less than 18 years of age and the passport for the minor child will be valid for five years from the date of issue or till 18 years of age, whichever is less. The five year validity period has been stipulated because the physical appearance of a child changes considerably over five years.


• Those children whose names have already been endorsed in their parents' passports need to apply for new passports only when the validity of the parents' passport expires. The Birth Certificate of the child is required to be submitted along with the passports of both the parents. Furthermore, a Declaration from both the parents of the minor has to be completed along with the application.


• The fee for issue of a passport to a minor child in Qatar is QR 95/-.

As per Government of India rules and regulations following categories of persons are entitled to get the ECNR passports:

(a). Gazetted Government Servants, Income-tax payees.

(b). Persons holding professional degrees.

(c). Persons staying abroad for more than 3 years.

(d). Spouses of the above mentioned categories.

(e). Persons holding matriculation certificate or higher degrees.

(f). Seamen in possession of Continuous Discharge Certificate and Deck Cadets if they have passed final examination of three year B.Sc. Nautical Sciences Courses at T.S. Chanakya, Mumbai, or if they have undergone three months Pre-Sea training at any of the Government approved Training Institutes after production of Identity Cards issued by the Shipping Master, Mumbai / Calcutta / Chennai.

(g). Persons holding two year diplomas from recognized institutions like Polytechnics or certificates of vocational training from Government recognized institutions, Nurses possessing qualifications recognized under the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947 but vide circular F.No. OI-11012/10/2013-EP Dated: 12/03/2015, PGE has notified that emigration of nurses for overseas employment in 17 ECR Countries will require emigration clearance from POE offices with effect from 30/04/2015, despite their graduate level educational qualification, in view of the war-like condition in a few Gulf countries.

(h). Dependent children of parents eligible for ECNR and

(i). All persons above the age of 60 years.

All these categories of people can get the ECNR passports at the Embassy of India in Doha during office hours. All children who apply for separate passports will be granted endorsement of "Emigration Clearance Not Required (ECNR)" provided their parents have the same endorsement on their own passports.

List of 17 countries under the purview of the Emigration Act for the purpose of emigration clearance for employment:

Note: All such ECR Passport holders should essentially obtain Emigration Clearance from the Protector of Emigrants (POE) for employment purpose before their travel out of India.

How to Apply for a Duplicate?

• If you lose your passport, then please inform the nearest police station or the CEID and obtain a copy of the FIR. Also inform the Embassy without delay. Passport is a valuable document and in case it gets misused, you can be held responsible, if you have not informed the police and the Embassy.


• You may apply for a duplicate passport with the documents enumerated above. If your passport gets damaged, you can get it replaced.


• In case of damaged / lost passports (except in case of habitual losers), provided your original passport was issued at the Indian Embassy in Doha, you should get a passport in about 10 days.


• If you have applied for a duplicate passport in place of a passport which was originally issued at some other passport office, it can take up to 45 days.


• A duplicate passport may not be issued for the second loss/ damage of passport unless the circumstances are adequately explained. Habitual losers of passports will be denied further passport facilities. All such duplicate passports which have been re-issued against lost/damaged passports will be submitted for post-police verification. Hence, the applicants are requested to fill up and submit the Personal Particulars Form along with the application.

• If you change your name/ surname, please get your passport booklet changed. For change of name or surname, consequent to marriage, you may submit the original marriage certificate duly attested in India, along with a photocopy and husband's original passport.


• In case of divorce, a divorce deed authenticated by a court in India is required. In case of re-marriage, divorce deed or death certificate of spouse duly authenticated along with the original marriage certificate issued by Registrar of Marriages / duly attested in India and husband's original passport may be submitted.


• In all other cases of change of name and/or surname in the passport, the change has first to be advertised in a daily newspaper, both in Qatar and in India at the area of your residence. Original newspaper clippings are required to be submitted along with the application. An affidavit, duly notarized, is also required. Service is provided after a waiting period of 30 days from the date of publication of advertisement in the newspaper.


• For separation of the name into given name and surname, the applicant (if adult) has to give a self-declaration to that effect. In case of minor, the legal guardian of the minor applicant is authorized to give the self-declaration on his/ her behalf.

If you already have a passport and want to change the address recorded in it, apply for the same in EAP -I form with the proof of new address. A new passport will be issued. If the passport is issued for the first time from Doha, then the applicant is eligible to change the Date of Birth after furnishing such documents like Birth Certificate within a maximum period of 5 years from the Date of Issue.

It is important to furnish full, accurate and truthful information in the form. Application forms should be filled in fully, legibly (in capital letters) and accurately and submitted with the passport. Misrepresentation of the facts may result in denial of passport/consular service. Applications received with incomplete details will remain unprocessed. It is an offence under the Passports Act 1967 to give false information in the Application. Passport facilities can be denied on grounds of suppression of factual information, submission of false particulars, willful damage of passport and for making unauthorized changes in the passports. Your passport can be impounded or revoked by the Government of India under the provisions of the Passports Act 1967, in which event you will have to surrender the passport to the nearest Indian Passport authority.

An Emergency Certificate (one-way travel document) which authorizes an Indian to enter India, is issued to the citizen of India whose passports have been lost, stolen or damaged and to whom new passports cannot be issued without approval from India. This is primarily with the objective of ensuring their return to India.

According to Section 14, Chapter 4 of Passport Manual, 2016, Passports for Female Domestic Helps who are working in Middle East Countries that are covered under Emigration Act, 1983, will be renewed for one or two years only, after consular officers have satisfied themselves regarding the welfare of female domestic helps. HOM/HOP will issue necessary guidelines for the same in this regard.

Since the Embassy receives a number of requests from Indian Nationals working as housemaids, for renewal of their passports so as to facilitate the renewal of their Qatari IDs/residence permits. The following guidelines will be followed w.e.f. 11/12/2017:-

• The Embassy will facilitate the renewal of the passport, if it leads to a regularization of the status of the worker and renewal of his/her residence permit/ID Card.


• Before the service is provided, the Embassy will ascertain whether the worker took emigration clearance from PoE as per the established procedure.


• In all such cases, a copy of the valid employment contract should be submitted along with the application for renewal of the passport, in addition to a copy of the visa of the worker, copy of the ID Card of the Qatari employer and confirmation from the worker that he/she has been treated well by the employer and has been receiving salaries on a timely basis.


• In cases where the worker has entered Qatar on a visit visa without following the established procedure for emigration clearance, a copy of the visa, copy of the ID of the Qatari employer, details of the recruiting agent in India and details of the Qatari/local recruiting agent will be sought. Other requirements stipulated for Emigration Clearance will also be enforced post facto.

Fees are for processing the application. Once received, they cannot be refunded, even if the application is withdrawn or service cannot be rendered.