Passport apply and reissue: the actual timeline in 2026

Passport Seva has become dramatically faster in recent years but the experience still varies by city.

Slots Log in at passportindia.gov.in early morning. New slots typically open in bursts. If your city has none, try a neighbouring PSK — you can pick any PSK in your RPO's jurisdiction.

Documents Aadhaar, PAN, plus one address proof. For minors, both parents' passports or an annexure.

Verification Police verification is post-issue in many states for fresh applications with strong ID. Reissues on the same address are usually without further PV.

Timeline Normal — 15 to 30 days end-to-end. Tatkal — 3 to 7 working days if verification clears quickly.

Common mistakes Name mismatch across Aadhaar and school-leaving certificate. Fix at source before applying.