India's Next-Generation E-Passports: A Leap Toward Safer and Smarter Travel

The government has already issued around 80 lakh e-passports domestically and over 60,000 through Indian missions abroad, highlighting the scale of this initiative. File Photo.

India’s Next-Generation E-Passports: A Leap Toward Safer and Smarter Travel

India has come up with next-generation e-passports, a major upgrade in the country’s travel and security infrastructure. According to India Today, the new e-passports will feature advanced security measures, including RFID chips, encrypted biometric data, interlocking microletters, and relief tints, designed to prevent fraud and streamline international travel.

Each e-passport will securely store personal and biometric information such as photographs, fingerprints, and other key identifiers. These features comply with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, enabling contactless verification at immigration checkpoints, faster processing, and enhanced protection against identity theft. The government has already issued around 80 lakh e-passports domestically and over 60,000 through Indian missions abroad. It highlights the scale of this initiative.

The phased rollout ensures that all newly issued passports will be electronic, while existing non-electronic passports remain valid until expiry. The MEA's aim is to have a complete nationwide transition to e-passports by June 2035, reinforcing India’s long-term commitment to modernising travel documentation.

Central to this upgrade is the Passport Seva 2.0 (PSP V2.0) platform, launched in May 2025. Covering 37 Regional Passport Offices, 93 Passport Seva Kendras, and 451 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras, the platform integrates AI-powered chatbots, facial recognition, automated form filling, and UPI/QR-based payments. It also connects with Aadhaar, PAN, and DigiLocker, making the verification process seamless and paperless.

Further innovations include Mobile Passport Seva Vans that extend services to remote areas, ensuring wider accessibility. By the year's end, only 32 of India’s 543 Lok Sabha constituencies will lack direct passport service centres. It demonstrates the government’s focus on inclusive service delivery.

Three high-security data centres in Noida, Chennai, and Bengaluru support the upgraded network, offering robust cybersecurity and real-time monitoring. Officials say the new system will significantly reduce passport-related fraud and streamline travel processes for millions of Indian citizens.

This ambitious initiative is a move towards strengthening India’s digital infrastructure and also setting a benchmark for secure, technology-driven governance, reflecting the nation’s commitment to efficiency, safety, and innovation in public services.