Last updated: 30 September 2026
Quick answer: The Passport Seva app from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is the official way to apply for a passport from your phone. It and the passportindia.gov.in website are the only official online channels. In the app you register, fill the form, pay and book a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or POPSK slot, then visit with your original documents.
The app runs on the same Passport Seva system as the website, so one login works on both, on Android or iOS.
At a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Official channels | passportindia.gov.in and the MEA's Passport Seva app |
| What the app does | Register, apply, pay online, book an appointment |
| What still needs a visit | Document check and photo at a PSK or Post Office PSK (POPSK) |
| Status tracking | In the same app, with file number and date of birth |
| Watch out for | Lookalike apps and sites, and touts promising urgent slots |
What is the best website or app to apply for a passport online?
The best website is passportindia.gov.in and the best app is the MEA's Passport Seva app, because they're the only official channels. Every genuine passport application online in India ends up on this one government system. Applying from abroad? Indian missions use the separate Global Passport Seva system instead.
The official Passport Seva app page lists what it covers: registration, applying for passport services, online payment, appointment scheduling and application status.
Be wary of lookalike sites and touts promising "urgent" slots. Our guide to common passport scams in India shows the usual tricks.
How do you register and log in on the Passport Seva app?
You register once with your chosen passport office, an email ID and a login ID, then sign in. A Passport Seva website account works here too.
- For the passport seva app download, use the store links on the Passport Seva app and Passport Police app page.
- Tap New User Registration and pick the passport office you'll apply under.
- Enter your full name (no initials or titles such as Dr. or Col.), email ID, login ID and password, then the captcha.
- Sign in. Keep the confirmation email, because it holds your login ID.
Since the MEA's 2018 upgrade of the mPassport Seva app, you don't need a computer or printer. Choose the passport office carefully, because Modify Profile can't change it later.
How do you apply for a fresh passport or re-issue in the app?
To apply for a new passport online in India, sign in to the Passport Seva app or website, fill the fresh passport form, pay online and book a PSK or POPSK appointment. You then visit with your original documents.
Choose Fresh Passport if you've never held one. Choose Re-issue to replace an existing passport: changed details, expiring validity, full pages, or a damaged or lost booklet.
- Sign in and open the fresh passport or re-issue form.
- Select the scheme: Normal or Tatkaal.
- Fill in your personal, family and address details exactly as they appear on your documents.
- Review every field. A typo that reaches the printed passport means a rectification request.
- Submit the form to get your Application Reference Number (ARN).
Re-issuing through a different Regional Passport Office needs a new login ID, though you can reuse your email ID.
Get it done for you Short on time? Get passport assistance from Jaagruk Bharat's team, who fill your form and book the slot for you: - fill the fresh or re-issue form from your documents; - check your document set against the form before you submit; - book the PSK or POPSK appointment and share the confirmation; - track the application until the passport is dispatched.
How do you pay and book your appointment in the app?
You pay and pick your slot in one step, because online payment is mandatory for booking a PSK or POPSK appointment.
- Open your saved or submitted application and choose the option to pay and schedule an appointment.
- Select a PSK or POPSK and an available appointment date.
- Pay by card, net banking or UPI. The app shows the exact fee before you pay.
- Save the appointment confirmation on your phone.
Your payment stays valid for one year from the first appointment date, and you can reschedule or cancel only twice in that year. Our passport appointment booking guide covers appointment availability and reschedule steps. After your visit, check your passport application status at each stage.
What should you carry to the Passport Seva Kendra?
Carry your original documents plus one set of self-attested photocopies. You don't need to bring a photograph.
The app's Document Advisor shows which proofs your case needs, and our passport documents checklist lists them by applicant type. Leave laptops, tablets and cameras at home; they aren't allowed inside. Refused a token for a missing document? Come back to the same Kendra with the full set.
App not working?
Most problems are account or payment issues with a simple fix.
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Forgot password or account locked | Tap "Having Trouble Logging in?" and reset by email OTP, mobile OTP or hint question |
| Reset email hasn't arrived | Check spam; after two hours, try again |
| Wrong passport office on your profile | It can't be edited, so register again and pick the right office |
| Money deducted, no confirmation | Check the saved application before paying again |
| App crashes or won't load | Update it, or finish on passportindia.gov.in with the same login |
Still stuck? Call the National Call Centre on 1800-258-1800, which answers in 23 Indian languages.
Prefer to hand over the paperwork? Jaagruk Bharat works like a passport consultant for the form and slot, while the passport office alone decides your application.
