In a major leap towards secure and seamless international travel, the Government of India has officially launched chip-enabled e-passports for its citizens. This new generation of passports, embedded with advanced electronic chips, promises enhanced security, faster immigration, and a host of digital benefits, aligning with India’s vision of a technologically empowered future.
A chip-enabled e-passport is a biometric passport containing an embedded electronic microprocessor chip. This chip securely stores the passport holder’s personal and biometric data, including:
Name, date of birth, and passport number
Digital photograph
Fingerprints and iris scan (if provided)
Digital signature
The data is encrypted, making the document highly secure and tamper-resistant, and enabling quick authentication at automated e-gates in airports worldwide.
The encrypted chip makes the passport nearly impossible to forge or tamper with, significantly reducing the risk of identity theft and fraud.
e-Passports are compatible with e-gates and automated border control systems, ensuring quicker immigration checks at major airports in India and abroad.
The e-passport meets ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standards, making it valid and recognizable in over 120 countries.
The chip stores all essential data, reducing manual entry errors and simplifying the verification process for authorities. As more countries adopt automated border controls, Indian travelers with e-passports will enjoy smoother, faster international journeys.
All Indian citizens are eligible to apply for a chip-enabled e-passport, whether for new issuance or renewal.Existing passport holders can upgrade to an e-passport at the time of renewal or by applying for a re-issue.
The e-passport will look similar to the traditional passport but will have a chip logo on the cover. Carry your old passport for cancellation if you are upgrading. The process time is similar to regular passports, but the new e-passport offers greater security and efficiency.