The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday clarified that a passport should be viewed as a travel document rather than proof of citizenship, while also highlighting the enhanced security features introduced in India’s new chip-enabled e-passports, including biometric data integration aimed at improving global acceptance and preventing fraud.
The remarks were made ahead of Passport Seva Divas, observed annually on June 24 to mark the enactment of the Passports Act, 1967. Officials also announced that the MEA will host a two-day Human Resource Mobility Forum next week to promote legal migration opportunities and connect Indian job seekers with overseas employers.
Passport is a travel document, says MEA
Officials emphasised that a passport serves primarily as a document that certifies an individual’s nationality while travelling abroad and should not be considered a standalone proof of citizenship.
“A passport is issued only after extensive verification and scrutiny based on documents obtained from multiple government agencies,” an MEA official said.
Over 14 million e-passports issued
The ministry revealed that around 14.7 million e-passports have been issued since the rollout of chip-based passports last year under the upgraded Passport Seva Programme.
These e-passports currently account for nearly 10 per cent of all passports in circulation, while all newly issued passports are now chip-enabled.
The documents contain an embedded RFID chip and antenna that store personal information along with biometric details, providing an additional layer of security.
Officials said the technology significantly reduces the possibility of data tampering, unauthorised access and fraudulent passport issuance.
“It is far more difficult to create counterfeit passports now. The additional security features also improve confidence among immigration authorities overseas and help speed up clearance procedures,” an official said.
The chips used in the e-passports are supplied through the India Security Press in Nashik, which sources them internationally. Officials said global best practices were studied while developing the system and efforts are continuing to further strengthen security standards.
They also clarified that while Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) provides technological and operational support for the Passport Seva Project, all passport-related data remains stored on MEA servers.
Human Resource Mobility Forum next week
The MEA will organise the Human Resource Mobility Forum on June 30 and July 1 in collaboration with the labour and education ministries.
Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia have been identified as focus countries for the event, which aims to bring together foreign employers, recruitment agencies and Indian professionals seeking opportunities abroad.
Officials stressed the importance of proper training, awareness and structured recruitment systems, particularly in light of incidents involving Indian nationals being misled into joining foreign conflicts, including the Russian military.
“Ethical employers need to be connected with aspiring workers, while candidates must also be educated about potential risks and fraudulent recruitment practices,” an official said.
More visa-free access and faster passport services
The ministry said efforts are underway to expand visa-free and visa-on-arrival access for Indian citizens while further improving passport services nationwide.
Currently, 27 countries offer visa-free entry to Indian travellers, compared to 16 in 2019. The number of countries providing visa-on-arrival facilities has increased from 38 to 47, while 66 countries now offer e-visa services to Indians.
India has also signed migration and mobility agreements with 25 countries, primarily in Europe, creating more legal migration pathways and facilitating the return of undocumented migrants.
Officials noted that passport application processing times have now been reduced to an average of five to six days. Measures have also been introduced to ensure applicants spend less than 45 minutes at Passport Seva Kendras.
The number of Passport Seva Kendras and Post Office Passport Seva Kendras across the country has grown to 544, up significantly from just 77 centres a decade ago.
The ministry is also working with state governments to speed up police verification processes, aiming to replicate the performance of states where verification is completed within two to three days.
