Last updated: 16 September 2026
Quick Answer: For government employees, the difference between Annexure A, G and H is police verification: A skips it, G checks after issue, H checks before. Passport Seva requires one of the three from Central or State government, PSU and statutory-body staff. Choose A if your office will issue an Identity Certificate; H is the fallback when it can't.
The passport for government employees is the same ordinary passport everyone gets. What changes is the one extra document you file. Annexure A is an Identity Certificate, Annexure G is a No Objection Certificate (NOC) and Annexure H is a Prior Intimation (PI) letter.
Overview
| Point | What applies |
|---|---|
| Who must file one | Central and State government, public sector undertaking (PSU) and statutory-body employees |
| Police verification | A: none · G: after the passport is issued · H: before it is issued |
| Validity | NOC: 6 months from issue (stated on Annexure G) · Identity Certificate and PI letter: 6 months under MEA's May 2015 memorandum |
| Fee | Same as any applicant: ₹2,500 for a 36-page, 10-year passport |
| Where you apply | Passport Seva, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) |
Which annexure does a government employee need: A, G or H?
Choose Annexure A if your office will issue an Identity Certificate, G if it will only give a no-objection letter, and H if neither comes in time. Passport Seva's FAQ says you must submit one of the three; you can't apply as an ordinary citizen.
| Form | What it is | Who signs | Police verification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annexure A | Identity Certificate | Authorised officer, on office letterhead | Not required |
| Annexure G | No Objection Certificate | Your controlling or administrative authority | After issue |
| Annexure H | Prior Intimation letter | You, with your employer's signature and seal acknowledging receipt | Before issue |
All three formats are on Passport Seva's official annexures page. Older documents use different letters: MEA's office memorandum of 26 May 2015 called them Annexure B, M and N. The current set comes from MEA's revised annexures of December 2016, so follow A, G and H.
When is Annexure A (Identity Certificate) the right form?
Annexure A is right when you want no police verification and your office can issue the certificate. It's given in duplicate on original office stationery.
The certifying officer confirms your post and service, says the department has no objection, and certifies that Section 6(2) of the Passports Act, 1967 doesn't apply to you. They also attest your photo. Your spouse and children up to 18 can use the same format, which certifies them as your dependent family members.
When do you use Annexure G (No Objection Certificate)?
Use Annexure G when your office gives a no-objection letter but not an Identity Certificate. Your passport is then issued first and verified by the police afterwards.
Your controlling or administrative authority signs it with name, stamp and contact details so the passport office can confirm it, and attests your photo.
What is the Annexure H prior intimation letter?
Annexure H is a letter you write on plain paper telling your employer that you're applying for an ordinary passport. MEA introduced it for employees who find it hard to get an Identity Certificate or NOC.
Passport Seva accepts it only if it carries your employer's signature and seal acknowledging receipt. If your employer objects, they can write to the Regional Passport Office, which takes the final decision.
How does the annexure change police verification?
Your annexure fixes when, or whether, the police verify you, as Passport Seva's police verification FAQ sets out.
| You submit | Police verification | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Annexure A | None | No police visit for this application |
| Annexure G | Post-issue | Passport first, police visit later |
| Annexure H | Pre-issue | Passport waits for the police report |
| No annexure (retired staff) | Pre-issue, or post-issue under Tatkaal | The ordinary citizen route |
With Annexure H, see how long passport police verification usually takes and what slows it down.
How long is a NOC or identity certificate valid?
A NOC under Annexure G is valid for six months from its date of issue. Annexures A and H state no validity, but MEA's May 2015 memorandum sets six months for both.
Ask for a fresh one if your appointment slips past six months.
Do retired or state government employees need an annexure?
State government employees do: Annexure A covers Central and State government, PSU and statutory-body staff alike. Retired officials don't file one, but they also can't skip police verification. Passport Seva says they get post-issue verification only if they apply under Tatkaal.
| You are | Annexure? |
|---|---|
| Serving Central or State government employee | Yes: A, G or H |
| PSU or statutory-body employee | Yes: A, G or H |
| Spouse or child up to 18 of such an employee | Optional: Annexure A skips police verification |
| Retired government official | No |
| Private company or private bank employee | No |
What mistakes should government employees avoid with Annexure A, G or H?
Check these before your appointment:
- Using the 2015 letters. Forms called Annexure B, M or N are the old versions; download A, G or H from Passport Seva.
- Carrying a NOC older than six months.
- Filing Annexure H without your employer's seal. Passport Seva accepts it only with the signature and seal acknowledging receipt.
- Leaving the photo unattested on Annexure A or G.
How do you apply once the annexure is signed?
You apply on the Passport Seva portal like anyone else and take the annexure to your appointment.
- Register on Passport Seva and fill in the fresh or re-issue form.
- Pay the fee and book a slot at a Passport Seva Kendra or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra.
- Carry your date-of-birth and address proofs plus the original annexure.
Check the documents required for a passport before you go, and see which annexure other applicants need if family members are applying too. If you'd rather not handle the form alone, Jaagruk Bharat offers help with a new passport application. Passport Seva still verifies your documents and issues the passport. More passport and ID guides are in our documents and licensing section.
