Passport network expands six-fold in last decade; 1.5 cr services delivered in 2025: MEA official
New Delhi, June 24
As India marks the 14th Passport Seva Divas, the government continues to expand the ease of services with over 500 Passport Kendras and a delivery of 1.5 crore passports and related services in 2025 alone, a Ministry of External Affairs official said on Wednesday.
As per the MEA official, in 2025, 1.5 crore passports and related services were delivered, of which passports alone accounted for 1.39 crore.
With six working days for passports, excluding police verification, the time spent at PSKs and POPSKs spans less than 45 minutes.
The MEA official underlined how there are now 545 Passport Kendras across the country in comparison to 77 Passport Kendras present 10 years ago--thus recording a six-fold increase in the number of Kendras.
"We opened 10 POPSKs last year, and this year another 10 will be opened," the official said.
The MEA official further informed that now for Indians, countries with visa-free entry stand at 27, seeing an increase from 16 in 2019.
"47 countries have a visa on arrival for Indians and 66 countries offer electronic visa for Indians," the official added.
The official highlighted that mobility agreements are mostly with Europe.
"They facilitate easier mobility of academics, students, apprentices, regular tourists, and businesses. Also, creating a mechanism for easier return of illegal migrants.
On the occasion of the 14th Passport Seva Divas, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday hailed the efficient, transparent, and citizen-centric passport services, highlighting the commitment of the Ministry of External Affairs to provide services to the people.
In a message shared on X, Jaishankar noted that the event marks the anniversary of the Passports Act of 1967 and serves as a reflection on the modernisation of India's passport infrastructure.
Jaishankar credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "Minimum Government, Maximum Governance" as the driving force behind the success of the Passport Seva Programme.
He further affirmed that the MEA has achieved significant digital milestones, including the successful operationalisation of the upgraded Passport Seva Programme (PSP V2.0) domestically and the deployment of the Global Passport Seva Programme (GPSP V2.0) at diplomatic missions worldwide to better serve the Indian diaspora.
He noted that one of the defining features of this technological shift is the successful rollout of chip-enabled e-Passports, which meet international standards for security and authentication.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The police verification is still the bottleneck though. In my district, it took 3 weeks after I submitted everything online. But I'm glad the number of Passport Kendras has gone up so much - no more traveling 100km just for an appointment! The e-Passport rollout is a great step too.
Not just passports, the visa-free access to 27 countries is a big deal! When I traveled to Southeast Asia last year, it was such a relief not to deal with visa paperwork. And 47 countries with visa on arrival? Makes life easier for business travelers like me. Good work MEA! 😊
The 45-minute turnaround at PSKs is impressive, but we still need to improve police verification times. My friend in Mumbai waited 2 months for his passport just because a constable was on leave! Otherwise the digital push is commendable - online appointment, tracking, and now chip-enabled e-Passports. Keep it up.
As someone who works with Indian colleagues in the UK, this is fantastic news. The mobility agreements with Europe are particularly important - we have several Indian academics and students who've benefited from streamlined processes. The e-Passport security features give peace of mind too. Well done!
Good to see the expansion of Passport Kendras from 77 to 545! But why does the article keep saying "passport is not proof of citizenship"? That's confusing for many Indians. Still, the digital transformation is real - my mother got her passport renewed in 2024 without any bribe or agent. Transparency is finally improving. 🇮🇳
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