E-Passport Issuance Begins in Hyderabad Too!

As part of the Passport Seva Programme (PSP) Version 2.0 introduced in April last year, the Central Government has officially launched the issuance process of e-passports equipped with advanced technologies. The pilot implementation of this service is currently underway in cities including Nagpur, Raipur, Bhubaneswar, Goa, Jammu, Amritsar, Shimla, Jaipur, Chennai, Surat, Hyderabad, and Ranchi.

The government is formulating plans to expand these services across the country soon. In March this year, the Regional Passport Office in Chennai began issuing e-passports. As of March 22 this year, 20,729 e-passports have been issued in the state of Tamil Nadu alone.

What sets the e-passport apart is its integration of an antenna and a small Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip into its cover. This chip securely stores the passport holder’s biometric and personal information, thereby enabling enhanced security and faster verification. These passports can be identified by a distinctive golden emblem printed beneath the front cover.

The sensitive data stored in the chip is protected through encryption under the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) system, preventing misuse.

However, the government has clarified that there is no requirement to convert existing passports into e-passports. Current passports will remain valid until their expiry. Transitioning to an electronic passport is currently voluntary.