Passport Service Day: Significant Improvements in Indias Passport Issuance Process

New Delhi, June 24: The process of obtaining a passport in India has become significantly faster and easier over the past few years. According to new government data, approximately 15 million passports and related services were provided in 2025, with 13.9 million passports issued.

Every year on June 24, officials from the Ministry of External Affairs highlight the improvements made in the digital age during Passport Service Day. They noted that the time taken to issue passports has drastically reduced. On average, passports are now issued in just six working days (excluding police verification). Additionally, applicants save considerable time at Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) and Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs), with the average processing time now under 45 minutes.

The network of passport centers across the country has also expanded rapidly. Currently, there are 545 passport centers operating in India, a significant increase from just 77 a decade ago. Last year, 10 new centers were opened, with plans for another 10 this year.

According to officials from the Ministry of External Affairs, the strength of the Indian passport has also increased in terms of international travel. Indian citizens can now enter 27 countries without a visa, while 47 countries offer visa-on-arrival facilities, and 66 countries provide e-visa options.

The government has established agreements with several countries, particularly in Europe, to facilitate travel for students, researchers, tourists, and business professionals. Formal arrangements have also been made with these countries to control illegal immigration.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar extended his best wishes to all citizens and passport officials via social media on Wednesday. In an open letter, he referenced the 545 passport centers, the increasing number of passports, and Prime Minister Modi‘s principle of “minimum government, maximum governance.” He stated, “Initiatives like e-passports and Passport Seva Program 2.0 are strong evidence of India’s modern, digital, and empowered administrative system. This campaign to provide citizens with simple and quality passport services will continue.”