Tatkal Passport: Everything You Need to Know About Last-minute Passport

Suppose you have been allowed to travel overseas for a workshop on behalf of your organisation. You have been given two weeks to submit your passport to apply for the work permit. Unfortunately, your existing passport has expired and applying for a new passport may take 30-45 days for processing. As a result of this, you are unable to grab the opportunity.

Well, if that is the case, don’t deny this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as you can still apply for an emergency Indian passport- a Tatkaal Passport.

A tatkal passport is issued to individuals who need a passport on short notice. But what is a Tatkal passport, and how to apply for one?

Read on to know!

What is the Tatkal Passport

A tatkal passport is an expedited passport issued to individuals who wish to travel overseas on short notice. Issuing tatkal passports is typically helpful for people who travel within a few days and require documents on short notice.

Compared to a normal passport, a Tatkal passport is issued by following a quicker verification and issuance procedure. Keep reading to understand the difference between a normal and a Tatkal passport.

How is the Tatkal Passport different from the Normal Passport?

The normal and tatkal passport's validity, features and authenticity are similar. The key difference between the two lies in the duration of issuance and the passport fee. Understand the key difference through the facts tabulated below.

Wondering who can apply for a Tatkal passport? Read on to know.

What are the Eligibility Criteria to Apply for Tatkal Passport?

As mentioned above, a tatkal passport is an expedited service for individuals in urgent need of travel documents. Below are the criteria you should meet to apply for a Tatkal passport:

• The applicant should be an Indian resident born to Indian parents.
• You are not applying for a fresh passport in the Tatkal scheme. Sometimes, first-time passport applications require thorough verification; thus, your Tatkal application may/may not be approved.
• You should have the proof of urgency. Suppose you are travelling for a workshop; you should provide the details of the events that suggest the situation's urgency.
• Tatkal passport applicants need to be ready for verification with complete documents at once. You may not be eligible for the passport application if you do not have the complete set of Tatkal passport documents.

How to Apply for Tatkal Passport?

You can follow the below-mentioned steps to apply for a Tatkal passport online.

• Step 1: Visit the official website of Passport Seva and log in with your ID and password.
• Step 2: Choose the applicable option from the two options- “Fresh” or “Re-issue”.
• Step 3: In the dropdown for the scheme, choose the Tatkal scheme.
• Step 4: Download the passport application form and fill out the details carefully.
• Step 5: Upload the passport application form and pay Tatkal passport charges.
• Step 6: Download the passport application fee receipt. Keep the receipt safe for further reference.
• Step 7: Select an appointment at the nearest PSK after submitting the Tatkal passport fee.
• Step 8: Visit the chosen PSK on the opted date with all the documents.

What is the Tatkal Passport Fee in 2023?

Below is the Tatkal passport fee you must pay while applying for a Tatkal passport.

Please note that the Tatkal passport fee is subject to change. Kindly refer to the official website of Passport Seva for updated details.

Don’t Forget to Secure Your Trip with Travel Insurance

Unplanned adventures give the best life lessons.

However, you are more likely to end up in an unforeseen situation if you are on a last-minute international trip! Thus, as you apply for a Tatkal passport, securing your trip with travel insurance becomes even more crucial.

Fret not about the last-minute contingencies! Secure your trip with online travel insurance. Sit back and check out overseas travel insurance features and coverage while your Tatkal passport is being processed!

Disclaimer: All plan features, benefits, cover, age, and claims underwriting are subject to policy terms and conditions. Kindly refer to the brochure, sales prospectus, and policy documents carefully.