The purpose of police verification for passport is to check the identity of the applicant and verify their proof of address. Typically, the police verification format for passport involves a visit from an officer of your local police station who conducts the process.

The verification process for your passport would vary depending on your place of residence (i.e., the state you belong to and the respective norms associated with it). The process may also vary depending on the situation of the applicant. For instance, if one needs to undergo police verification for passport renewal or complete police verification for tatkal passport.

Usually, for a new passport application, a police officer is sent to your address to confirm the details that have been entered into your passport application form. To complete your verification process, you may be expected to present relevant documents. To streamline the police verification process, you can check the nearest police station by visiting the official website of Passport Seva.

Post police verification for passport, the respective official submits a clearance report. A pertinent question afflicting individuals post police verification for passport is, “after police verification, how much more time for passport?” Once the clearance report is submitted, the passport office dispatches your passport within three days. This is done after receiving the recommendatory Police Verification Report (PVR) from the respective police station. Having answered the question, “after police verification, how much time for passport”, let’s now take a look at the different kinds of police verification.

There are essentially two kinds of police verification processes:

• Pre-Police Verification for Passport: This is the verification that is done by the police station that falls under the jurisdiction of the applicant’s address. Herein the details of the applicant are verified by the respective police officer. These details include address, age, name, etc.

• Post-Police Verification for Passport: The post-police verification for passport is conducted after the passport has been issued to the respective individual. This is usually the police verification for tatkal passport.

There is no need for police verification for passport renewal if the passport application for renewal is done before the current passport expires. In most cases, pre-police verification is a mandatory step to procuring your passport. There are, however, exceptions made for government employees who provide a No Objection Certificate (NOC) basis Annexure G or submit identity certificate basis Annexure A.

The second layer of police verification occurs after your details are verified and you receive your passport. It is generally for people working in government, statutory bodies, and the public sector. For them, the pre-passport issuance police verification step gets skipped. As per Annexure A, they can submit their original identity certificate with the application form. A No Objection Certificate has to be submitted as per Annexure G. Based on post-police verification, their passports can be issued.

Usually, the police verification process is initiated when the passport authority notifies the respective police station. However, applicants can also apply for the police verification themselves by visiting the official Passport Seva website.

Here are the steps to apply for police verification for passport online:

• Once you apply for the passport or the passport renewal, the passport office will assign the task to your local police station.
• Your local police station assigns personnel for the physical police verification for passports. They will confirm if you reside at the address mentioned on the passport.
• The confirmation is passed on to the Superintendent of Police Office.
• Next, the confirmation is sent to the Special Branch headquarter, which keeps all the criminal records.
• The Special Branch further confirms the data and approves its authenticity.
• If the Special Branch finds some issue with your application, they send the report to the passport application office. The report reveals 'adverse' to specify the same. If there are no such dubious reports, the Special Branch sends a clear report to the passport application office.
• Only after this process will the passport office take further steps for your application.

Once your registration is completed, you will need to visit your Passport Seva Kendra on the appointment date. Ensure that you carry all the relevant documents required for passport police verification.

It is important to be prepared with all the necessary documents when you go for police verification to ensure a seamless process:

When you go to the passport office to apply for a passport, you must carry all documents that they might ask for. Get a detailed list of required passport police verification documents on the passport office's official website. The essential list is as below:

Date of birth proof: This could be your birth certificate or your primary or secondary school leaving certificate. If you were born before 26 January 1989, you could also use a copy of the certificate of the institution you went to.

Address Proof: This could include your telephone, electricity, or water bills. Your ration card is also valid. You can check the other list of documents that fall under this on their official website.

Identity proof: This includes the Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Driver’s Licence, Voter ID Card, or LIC bonds.

You can check the official website after the application to see the status. Passport police verification comes under three groups. They are as follows:

Clear: When all your information gets verified and approved. It includes the Police personnel, the Superintendent of Police, and the Special Branch. It indicates that the applicant's criminal record is clear.

Adverse: If the police or the Special Branch finds some dubious reports, they tag the application as 'Adverse'. It might lead to withholding or cancellation of the application. You must ensure that all the information you provide is accurate.

Incomplete: If the police do not fill out the report, your application status might show 'Incomplete'. It could be a result of the police not being sure of your residential information.

There are certain instances wherein police verification is not needed. However, this decision relies on the passport office. These instances are as follows:

• Police verification is not needed if a passport is being renewed before expiry. The applicant only needs to submit the NOC along with the proof of police verification.
• Government employees who apply for the passport by sharing their identification certificate through Annexure B needn’t undergo police verification.
• Individuals with a diplomatic passport need not undergo verification for an ordinary passport. They will only be expected to share their identity certificate through Annexure B.

Are you wondering, after police verification, how much time the passport takes to be dispatched? It varies from individual to individual, depending on your police verifications.

Pre-passport police verification

It takes three working days after the application centre receives the police verification report.

Post-passport police verification

It takes around three working days and does not include the application submission date. But the wait is less as you need not wait for the police verification and the verification report. In the case of Tatkal, it is three working days as well.

No police verification

In such cases, the time to dispatch the passport is three working days, excluding the date of application. But, if you have applied in Tatkal Quota, the time is only one working day. It excludes the password application date.

Don't wish to wait for the passport authority to raise a police verification request for you? You can request it yourself too. The steps are as follows:

• Go to the passport authority's official website
• Click on the 'Register Now' button on the screen
• After the registration process, login with your ID
• Click on the "Apply for Police Clearance Certificate", and a form will open up.
• Fill the form with the details to the best of your knowledge
• To make the payment, click on "Pay and Schedule Appointment."
• You will reach the payment page. Pay your passport police verification fees to continue.
• Click on the "Print Application Receipt" option, and an application reference number will get allocated to you.
• You will receive an SMS on your registered mobile number with the same as well.
• Visit the RPO or PSK on the appointment date with your original and photocopies of the documents.

The process for police verification for a Passport, be it new or renewal, is crucial. It is mandatory, apart from a few selected cases, as discussed earlier. Ensure you have provided accurate information. Once you get the passport and plan to go out on a foreign trip, get international travel insurance.

A passport is a crucial travel document without which one cannot expect to travel overseas. Therefore, it is important to secure it appropriately with comprehensive travel insurance. Having the right travel insurance plan can ensure you are not stranded at an unknown destination without any assistance.

Your travel insurance can take care of mishaps such as the loss of your passport, misplaced luggage, and other such mishaps. The comprehensive travel insurance plan by Tata AIG ensures your journeys are secured against a host of unpleasant scenarios. These include trip cancellations, medical emergencies, misplaced luggage, and even distressing scenarios such as losing a passport. With the right travel insurance policy, you need not worry about mishaps when you travel and can instead focus on enjoying your trip. However, before finalising a plan, it is essential to compare travel insurance policies to ensure optimal coverage.