India is embarking on a significant upgrade to its passport system, transitioning to e-passports with the goal of equipping every Indian citizen with one by June 2035. As of November 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has already issued 80 lakh e-passports domestically and over 60,000 through Indian missions abroad. This initiative aims to enhance security, streamline immigration processes, and provide a seamless travel experience for Indian citizens.
The e-passport is a hybrid document, combining traditional paper with advanced electronic features. Visually, it resembles a regular passport but includes a small, gold-colored symbol on the cover, indicating the presence of an embedded Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip. This chip and antenna securely store the passport holder's personal and biometric data, including their photograph, fingerprints, and other identifiers, in an encrypted format. The data is digitally signed using Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), ensuring that the information printed on the passport matches the data stored on the chip, thus making it nearly impossible to forge or tamper with.
The transition to e-passports is being rolled out under the Passport Seva Programme Version 2.0 (PSP V2.0) and the Global Passport Seva Programme (GPSP V2.0). Implemented in May 2025, PSP V2.0 is now operational across 37 Regional Passport Offices (RPOs), 93 Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs), and 451 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs). GPSP V2.0, launched in October 2025, extends these upgraded services to Indian missions abroad. Every new passport or renewal is now issued as an e-passport. The revamped system also integrates AI-driven chat and voice bots for application assistance and grievance redressal, online document uploads, auto-filled forms, and UPI/QR-based payments.
The benefits of e-passports are manifold. The contactless data-reading capability of the embedded chip enables faster and more reliable identity verification at immigration counters, significantly reducing fraud, tampering, and wear-and-tear. The e-passports also support biometric verification at automated e-gates, further expediting immigration checks at select international airports. The enhanced system verifies an applicant's biometric data against a central server, immediately flagging any existing passport in the applicant's name, which will drastically reduce passport fraud and prevent cases of individuals holding multiple passports.
For travelers holding existing non-electronic passports, these will remain valid until their expiry dates. There is no need for premature replacement; the switch to an e-passport will occur naturally upon renewal.
The introduction of e-passports is expected to simplify immigration processes, reduce manual checks, and improve data integration for law enforcement and border control. Advanced biometric and facial recognition systems, AI-based alerts, and data analytics further strengthen security and efficiency. The system is also integrated with DigiLocker, Aadhaar, and PAN for seamless document verification.
With over 100 countries currently having the capability to read e-passports, Indian travelers can look forward to faster and smoother immigration experiences. The Indian Security Press in Nashik will continue producing these e-passports, following global standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The government aims to have all Indian passports in circulation chipped by 2035, marking a significant leap towards secure and efficient international travel for its citizens.
