New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs has officially announced amendments to Section 24 of the Passport Act, 1967. Changed the document required for date of birth verification
Earlier several documents could be used to confirm date of birth for passport. However, birth certificate will be the only valid document for those born after October 1, 2023. This certificate is valid only when issued by the Municipal Corporation, Registrar of Births and Deaths, an authority recognized under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act-1969
However, for those born before October 1, 2023, the old rule will be applicable. They can use documents like copies of government employee records, PAN card, driving license, school certificate, 10th class certificate to confirm the date of birth.
Home address not in passport!
Earlier the home address was printed on the last page of the passport. It has been dropped in the new passport rules of 2025. Now, the information related to the home address will be in the digital barcode in the passport. Immigration officials can scan this barcode. This will help increase privacy and security.
New colour code
A new colour code system has been implemented for easy identification of passports. Government officials will get a white cover passport, diplomats will get a red cover passport, common citizens will get a blue cover passport as at present. This change will help streamline the process of passport identification
Further, the rule of printing parents' names on the last page of the passport has been removed. Besides increasing privacy, this change will also benefit single-parents or individuals from divorced families.
Government Post Office Passport Seva Kendra’s (POPSKs) will be increased 442 to 600 POPSKs to speed up passport services in the new passport rules of 2025. This expansion will be completed in the next five years. Additional service centres will provide easy passport service to more people. The Indian Department of Posts (Department of Posts) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) have extended the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for five years for the implementation of this scheme.
How will people benefit from these new rules?
Document fraud can be prevented as birth certificate is mandatory. The home address will be in digital format to maintain privacy. New colour code makes passport identification easier. Orphans, > Parents' families can easily apply as there is no need to print parents' names. Apart from this, additional passport service centres will provide more convenience to the people. These new rules will make the passport process more secure, smooth and uniform.