Handwritten and Non-Machine Readable Passports to Become Invalid

In continuation to a public notice dated November 22, 2014, it is reiterated that handwritten and non-machine readable passports will become invalid from November 2015. All people holding such passports are requested to apply for renewal or re-issue of new passport at a nearby passport office in India.

There are approximately 2.86 Lakh passports that need replacement. It also includes passports of NRIs living abroad who still hold handwritten and machine readable passports. Such passport holders can apply for a renewal/re-issue of passport with the Indian Embassy or Consulate.

All passport offices across India are accepting applications for replacement against the old non-machine readable passports. Regional Passport Office Hyderabad has topped the list for issuing most number of passports in India in 2014.

Eight districts currently under RPO Hyderabad will be transferred to Visakhapatnam RPO in few months - Vijayawada, Tirupati, Nellore, Chittoor, Kurnool, Kadapa, Guntur, and Prakasam district.

Passport holders whose passport expires in next six months are also required to submit a renewal application. Because to apply for any visa, passport validity of at least 6 months is must.

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