Tatkal Passport Comprehensive Guide in India

The Tatkal passport scheme is an emergency passport service offered by the Government of India to citizens who require a passport urgently. This comprehensive guide provides detailed information on who can apply for a Tatkaal passport, police verification timelines, and all related service documents, based on official government sources and current guidelines.

Documents Required for Tatkal Passport

According to the Passport (Amendment) Rules, 2019, applicants aged 18 years and above must submit any three of the following documents for a Tatkal passport application:

Primary Documents (Choose any three):

Aadhaar Card or e-Aadhaar:	Containing the 12-digit Aadhaar number with a digital sign.
Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC):	Voter ID card.
Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card:	Income Tax PAN card.
Driving License:	Valid driving license within the jurisdiction of the state of submission.
Bank Passbook:	An active bank account passbook with a photo attached by my bank manager
Birth Certificate:	Issued under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.
Service Photo Identity Card:	Issued by the State Government, Central Government, Public Sector Undertakings, local bodies, or public limited companies.
Pension Document:	Such as ex-servicemen’s pension book, pension payment order, and old age pension order.
Schedule Caste/Schedule Tribe/Other Backward Class Certificate:	Issued by a competent state authority.
Arms License:	Issued under the Arms Act, 1959.
Ration Card:	Valid ration card.
Last Passport Issued:	In case of re-issue only.

Additional Requirements:

Qualification:	Class 10 admit card, Mark Sheet or Certificate, and Higher Documents
Proof of Urgency:	According to current guidelines, no proof of urgency is required for the issuance of a passport under the Tatkal scheme.

Tatkaal Passport Fees Structure

The Tatkal passport fee is significantly higher than the normal passport fee for the processing service. The fee structure varies based on the type of passport, number of pages, and the applicant’s age. The fees are typically 2-3 times higher than normal passport fees.

SERVICE TATKAAL	FEES 36 PAGE	FEES 60 PAGE
New or Fresh	3500	4000
Renewal or Reissue	3500	4000
Correction	3500	4000
Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)	500	NA

Tatkal Passport Processing and Delivery Time

The Tatkal passport service is designed for rapid processing. According to official sources:

3-5 Working Days:	Most consulates indicate a processing time of 3-5 working days after the Tatkaal appointment date.
7-10 Working Days:	In some regions or states, the processing time may extend to 7-10 working days after the Tatkaal appointment date.

How to Apply for Tatkal Passport

Step-by-Step Application Process

Online Registration: Visit the official Passport Seva website and register your application online.
Select Tatkal Option: While filling the application form, select the Tatkaal scheme option.
Upload Documents: Upload the required documents as per the checklist.
Pay Fees: Pay the applicable Tatkaal passport fees online.
Print Application: Take a printout of the completed application form.
Book Appointment: Book an appointment at the nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or authorized service center.
Visit PSK: Visit the PSK on the scheduled date with all original documents and the printed application form.
Submit Application: Submit the application and documents at the counter for processing.
Receive Passport: Passport is delivered within 3-5 working days, subject to verification.

Tatkal Passport Renewal

For passport renewal under Tatkal

Processing time is 3-5 working days or 7-10.
If there is no adverse information against the applicant and the existing passport was issued with proper verification, no police verification may be required.
For a change of address, only a document establishing the latest address is required for police verification.

Tatkal Passport Police Verification Process

Post-Police Verification

The Tatkal passport scheme is that passports are issued on a post-police verification basis. This means:

Passport is Issued First:	The passport is issued to the applicant within the timeline before police verification is completed.
Verification Happens Afterward:	Police verification is conducted after the passport has been issued.
Verification Timeline:	Police authorities are requested to send police verification reports within a period of three months.

How Many Days Does Police Verification Take?

The duration of police verification for Tatkal passports varies based on several factors:

Standard Processing:	In most cases, police verification is initiated immediately after passport issuance and typically takes 2-4 weeks to complete.
Official Timeline:	The Passport Issuing Authority requests police authorities to submit verification reports within three months of the date of application.

Clear vs. Adverse Reports:

If a clear police report is received, the passport continues to be valid.
If no report is received within three months, the passport is allowed to run its normal course.
However, if an adverse report is received at any stage after passport issuance, the Passport Issuing Authority shall impound the passport and take necessary Legal action under the Passports Act 1967.

Categories NOT Eligible for Tatkal Passport

According to official guidelines from Indian consulates, the following categories of applicants cannot apply under the Tatkal Passport Scheme.

Lost, Damaged, or Stolen Passport Cases:	Applicants whose passports have been lost, stolen, or damaged beyond recognition must apply under the regular passport category.
Major Change in Name:	Cases involving major name changes are not eligible for Tatkal processing.
Change in Sex:	Any request for a change of gender/sex requires standard processing and is not eligible for Tatkaal.
Change of Appearance:	Significant changes in physical appearance that require verification are not eligible for expedited processing.
Change or Correction of Date of Birth:	Any correction or change in the date of birth requires thorough verification and cannot be processed under Tatkaal.
Change or Correction of Place of Birth:	Similar to date-of-birth changes, place-of-birth corrections require additional verification.
Change in Signature:	Requests to change signature are not eligible for Tatkal processing.
Change of Father/Mother Name:	Changes in parent names require verification and are not processed under Tatkaal.
ECR to ECNR:	If you change your passport ECR to non-ECR, a Tatkaal application is possible.
Minor Passport:	You can not apply for a minor passport for a Tatkal Application Case.

Normal vs. Tatkal Passport: Key Differences

Information	Normal Passport	Tatkal Passport
Processing Time	30-45 working days	3-5 working days
Fee	Standard government fee	2-3 times higher than the normal fee
Police Verification	Pre-police verification (passport issued after verification)	Post-police verification (passport issued before verification)
Document Requirements	Standard document list	Must submit 3 documents (adults) list
Eligibility	All eligible applicants	Not available for certain categories (lost passport, major changes, minor, etc.)
Proof of Urgency	Not required	Not required (but service is for special cases)

What to Do If a Tatkal Passport Is Getting Delayed

If your Tatkal passport application is delayed beyond the timeframe:

Check Application Status:	Regularly check the status online through the Passport Seva portal.
Contact Passport Office:	Visit the concerned Regional Passport Office with an appointment or by mail.
File Grievance:	If the delay is unreasonable, file a complaint through the official grievance website.

Common Delay Reasons:

Incomplete documentation
Awaiting police verification report
Technical issues with the online application
Verification required for certain personal details

Question & Answers for Tatkaal Application

Q. What is a Tatkal passport?

A. These types of passport to get passport on an urgent basis, and after getting a passport, within 7 to 10 days. Also, the police verification process begins after the passport is received.

Q. Who can apply for a Tatkal passport?

A. Any Indian citizen can apply for a Tatkal passport. But a lost and damaged passport, a major change in passport, or a minor passport is not an application for a Tatkaal case. You can find all the information in the above.

Q. In how many days does a Tatkal passport come?

A. As per the rule, Tatkaal application, the passport comes within 5 to 10 days. It depends on the regional passport office workload.

Apply online Tatkaal Passport