New Delhi, November 12: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday that all passports issued henceforth will be e-passports, equipped with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip and antenna to ensure security of citizens’ information as per International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
The Ministry said that this step is an important milestone in the Passport Seva Program (PSP V2.0) initiative to modernize, secure, and speed up passport services across the country.
The Ministry of External Affairs announced the successful implementation of its Passport Seva Program (PSP V2.0), Global Passport Seva Program (GPSP V2.0), and e-passports. These initiatives have made passport services faster, transparent, and digitally integrated.
According to the MEA, PSP v2.0 was successfully implemented on May 26, 2025, in 37 passport offices, 93 Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs), and 450 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) across the country. GPSP v2.0 was subsequently rolled out in Indian embassies and consulates worldwide on October 28, 2025.
The new PSP v2.0 is a digitally integrated ecosystem that connects all stakeholders involved in passport services. It features AI-based chat and voice bots to enable citizens to receive immediate assistance during the application process or with complaints. The new portal and mobile app are now even more user-friendly, featuring features such as auto-fill forms, easy document uploads, and online payments through UPI and QR codes. The
Ministry of External Affairs has described the e-passport as the initiative’s biggest technological innovation. The e-passport is a hybrid passport that combines both physical and electronic elements. The RFID chip and antenna stored in the passport store the holder’s vital information in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. The chip electronically stores the same information that is printed on the passport’s data page.
The Ministry clarified that all future passports will be issued as e-passports, while older non-electronic passports will remain valid until their validity period expires.
The Ministry of External Affairs stated that this move furthers the Indian government’s policy of making citizen services digital and secure. The introduction of e-passports will not only strengthen security and data protection, but will also make international travel faster, safer, and more convenient.