Passport Seva 2.0: What is an e-Passport, how to apply, benefits and complete guide | Today news

India has launched E-Pasports as part of the Passport Seva Program 2.0, with the aim of modernizing passport issues and improving safety. The E-Passports have an RFID disc for contactless verification, which ensures the compliance with international standards and the streamline of immigration processes. An E-Passport is a next generation travel document with a secure RFID drive embedded in the cover in significant pressure to India’s digital transformation, the government has launched the nationwide launch of E-Passports under the Passport Seva Program (PSP) 2.0. The initiative is announced by Foreign Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and is designed to streamline passport issues, improve security and provide faster immigration processing through built -in chip technology. “We introduced PSP V2.0 across the country and used advanced and high-end technologies to provide citizen-centric services,” says Dr. Jaishankar and has positioned the launch as an important step in India’s digital public infrastructure road map. What is an e-passport? An E-Passport is a next generation travel document with a secure RFID disc embedded in the cover. The chip stores key information, including the biometric data of the passport holder, photo, name and other personal details. The new e-passports can be distinguished by a gold-colored symbol printed at the bottom of the cover-a global standard for electronic travel documents. How does it work? The chip allows contactless verification and faster immigration clearance at global airports. It meets the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standards, ensuring international interoperability and improved fraud protection. How to apply for an E-Passport under Passport Seva 2.0: Visit the official Passport Seva website. Register as a new user or log in to your existing account. Fill in the application for an e-passport. Book an appointment at a passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (Popsk). Pay the fee online. Visit the center on your appointment date for biometric capturing and verification of documents. Why it matters: Benefits of E-Passports Improved Security: Biometric coding makes e-passports significantly more difficult to forge or tamper. Faster processing: chip-based verification reduces time spent on immigration scores. Global compatibility: accepted internationally for seamless journey. Future ready: pave the way for automatic border control systems in India. The launch of the E-Passport is in line with India’s efforts to modernize public service delivery and reduce paperwork and inefficiency. Although the initial launch is focused on new passport applications, future phases may include the upgrading of existing passports to e-passports.