Student Passport in India: Steps on How To Apply

Is your low NEET score giving you nightmares? Worried that it might land you at an undesirable college? What if we told you that you still have a fair chance of making it to your dream college— across borders? 

Thanks to the global acceptance of Indian students and entrance test scores, students can now choose their desired college from universities worldwide. That’s the reason why global universities are recording a six-year high – or over 7,50,000 – admission rates for higher education by Indian students. Yet, there are many students for whom higher education abroad is still “a dream too far” due to constraints like lack of awareness about student passport and visa process. 

This article provides a step-by-step guide to applying for a student’s passport from India. The page will also address the documents required for a passport for students. Read on to make your ‘studying abroad dream’ come true!

Who can Apply for a Student Passport in India? 

Here are the eligibility terms to apply for a student's passport in India:

• You should be at least 18 years old to apply to study abroad as an adult. 
• If you are applying for a passport as an adult of 18 years or older, you must self-attest your documents. 
• A minor student (under 18) shall require their parents to attest the documents.
• Minor students can not apply if they do not possess parental consent. 

Now that you know who can apply for a student's passport, let's move further and answer another frequently asked question.

What is The Required Fee For a Student's Passport in India?

To get a passport for students, individuals must submit a fee of ₹1500 on the official website for passport application. You can submit the fee online through credit/debit card, net banking, or SBI challan. 

The section below will guide you on how to apply for a student’s passport.

>>Also Read: Why Indian Students Choose to Study in Dubai?

How to Apply for a Student's Passport in India?

Applying for a student's passport in India is similar to other passport application processes. You can follow the following steps if you are applying for a passport as a student: 

1. Register yourself on the official website of passport services in India: passportindia.gov.in 
2. Fill in the required details to obtain the user id and password, and select the type of passport you need. 
3. Login on the passport seva portal using the registered id and password.
4. Fill in the required information, including personal details and family details.
5. In the next step, obtain and read out the passport details.
6. Select the date and venue for document verification in the "Self Declaration" column. Remember, you should be present before the officials to complete this step. Thus, you must select the appointment details after proper consideration.
7. Book the appointment slot after submitting the passport application fee online. You can use one of the three modes to submit the online fee:
   • Credit/ Debit Card
   • Internet Banking
   • SBI Challan
8. Download or take the printout of the application with the appointment number.
9. Reach the Passport Seva Kendra designated to you per the scheduled date and time.
10. Carry all the original documents and the application form to the PSK (Passport Seva Kendra).
11. Collect the acknowledgement receipt once the document verification process is complete. 

Below are the documents you will be required to fill out the student's passport application form. 

What documents are required to apply for a student's Passport In India?

Depending on the level of urgency, students can apply for a normal or tatkal passport issue. To apply for a student's passport, you would need the following documents:

• An Address Proof. (Students can submit any one of the following against the address proof.
  • Copy of the first and last page of the parent's passport.
  • Electricity bill or water bill representing the current address.
  • Voter ID card
  • Aadhar card (can be accepted as proof of address and identity once verified with the aadhaar database).
  • Passbook of an active bank account
  • Income tax Assessment Order
• Student ID Card
• Birth certificates or proof of date of birth.
• If the original documents of the applicant are retained by the current institution, the photocopies of documents can be submitted after being attested by the head of the institution.
• In the case of a minor applicant, students can submit a permanent residence address of their parents.

Wrapping It Up 

Once you are through the passport application process, you can easily apply for the same without any hiccups.  However, you should remember that a normal passport application process may take 25-30 days. Thus, it is best to apply for passport for students at the earliest. An Indian student's passport has a validity of at least ten years. Hence, you do not have to worry about passport validity once your passport is issued.

Yet, the most important thing you should make provisions for is– healthcare and financial security. 

Unprecedented medical or non-medical emergencies may arise at any time while you are studying abroad – draining your educational budget. Thus, you must secure your trip with a comprehensive student travel insurance plan. A student travel insurance plan at Care Health Insurance is designed to assist students of all age groups amidst any financial crises they may face during their term abroad.

Wait no more! While still applying for a student passport, secure your trip with a comprehensive student travel insurance plan!

Disclaimer: Plan features, benefits, coverage, and claims underwriting are subject to policy terms and conditions. Kindly refer to the brochure, sales prospectus, and policy documents carefully.