NEW DELHI, Mar 2: In a significant update, the Central Government has amended the Passport Rules, introducing new requirements for proof of date of birth and other changes aimed at streamlining the application process and enhancing privacy. The revised rules, announced earlier this week, will impact passport applicants born on or after October 1, 2023.

According to officials, the amendment to the Passport Rules of 1980 was formalized through an official notification and will take effect once published in the official Gazette. Under the new rules, birth certificates issued by the Registrar of Births and Deaths, Municipal Corporations, or any other authority authorized under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, will serve as the sole proof of date of birth for individuals born on or after October 1, 2023.

For those born before this date, the existing provisions remain unchanged. Applicants can continue to submit a range of documents, including birth certificates, school transfer or leaving certificates, matriculation certificates from recognized educational institutions, Permanent Account Number (PAN) cards issued by the Income Tax Department, driving licenses, or extracts from service records as proof of date of birth.

Key Passport Rule Changes You Should Know:

1. Birth Certificate Requirement: Those born after October 1, 2023, birth certificates issued by authorized authorities will be accepted as proof of date of birth for passport applicants born on or after this date.

2. Residential Address Privacy: To safeguard applicants’ privacy, residential addresses will no longer be printed on the last page of passports. Instead, immigration officials will access this information by scanning a barcode.

3. Colour-Coded Passports: The government has introduced colour-coded passports to distinguish between different categories of passport holders. Diplomatic passport holders will receive red passports, government officials will be issued white passports, and all other individuals will continue to receive blue passports.

4. Parents’ Names: In a move to support children of single parents or estranged families, parents’ names will no longer be printed on the last page of the passport.

These changes are part of the government’s ongoing efforts to modernize passport regulations, improve efficiency, and address the evolving needs of citizens. The new rules aim to simplify the application process while ensuring greater privacy and inclusivity for all applicants.