New Passport Regulations Announced: Key Changes in Birth Proof and Passport Colors

2025/03/09

In a significant update, the government has unveiled new guidelines for passport issuance that will affect applicants looking to apply for or renew their passports soon. According to the notification published in the Gazette of India, these updated rules are referred to as the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2025 and will come into effect from the date of their official publication.



Changes to Birth Proof Requirements for Indian Passport Applications (2025)

As per the revised rules, individuals born on or after October 1, 2023, will now be required to submit their birth certificate, issued by the Registrar of Births and Deaths or the Municipal Corporation, as the sole document to validate their date of birth.



For those born before October 1, 2023, a wider range of documents can still be used to establish their date of birth. Acceptable documents include birth certificates as well as alternative proofs like school certificates, driving licenses, and other government-issued ID cards.



Documents accepted for Date of Birth verification for individuals born before October 1, 2023:



* Birth certificate issued by the Registrar of Births and Deaths or the Municipal Corporation.

* Transfer certificate, school leaving certificate, or matriculation certificate from a recognized school or educational board showing the applicant's date of birth.

* Permanent Account Number (PAN) card issued by the Income Tax Department with the applicant's date of birth.

* An official extract of the service record (only for government employees)

* Pay pension order (for retired government employees), certified by the relevant department or ministry, showing the date of birth.

* Driving license from the relevant state’s Transport Department containing the applicant’s date of birth.

* Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) issued by the Election Commission of India with the applicant's date of birth.

* Life insurance policy document from LIC or other public insurance companies, indicating the date of birth of the policyholder.



Removal of Residential Address from Passports



In a move aimed at enhancing privacy, the government has decided to remove the residential address from the physical passport. The address will no longer be printed on the passport, and instead, it will be embedded within a barcode on the document for secure access.



Introduction of Color-Coded Passports.



The new guidelines also introduce a color-coded passport system to simplify the identification of passport holders by rank.

* Ordinary citizens will continue to receive the traditional blue passport.

* Government officials will now be issued white passports.

* Diplomats will be provided with red passports.



Removal of Parent's Names from Passports
In a further step towards safeguarding personal data, the names of the passport holder’s parents, which were traditionally printed on the last page, will now be omitted. This change aims to better protect individual privacy and benefit those who may have been separated from their families.



These new amendments reflect the government's commitment to modernizing the passport application process and ensuring greater privacy and efficiency for all citizens.