Passport Information

Indian passports are normally issued for a period of 10 years. Passports are reissued on expiry of final validity and can be done from one year before expiry, on exhaustion of visa pages, damage or loss, changes in appearance or particulars etc. Four passport size photographs taken full face are to be submitted along with the filled in application form for issue of a new passport booklet.

All applicants for passport services are also required to produce/show their valid visas / resident cards for proof of their lawful residence in the DPR Korea.

The Passport is a very important document.  It should be kept up to date by renewing it before it expires.  Its loss should be reported immediately to the local Police authorities and also to the nearest Indian Mission.

DUPLICATE PASSPORTS:

The issue of duplicate passports in lieu of lost or damaged passports is handled under a special procedure. In case of lost passport, application form should be accompanied with copy of FIR lodged with police, copy of lost passport and proof of identity like driving license, ID card or letter from employer.

SEPARATE PASSPORTS TO MINOR CHILDREN:

All minor children will need a separate passport valid for 5 years from the date of issue or till 15 years of age whichever is less.

HANDWRITTEN PASSPORTS   

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has set a deadline of 24th November, 2015 for globally phasing out of all  non-Machine Readable Passports (MRPs). From the 25th November, 2015 onwards, foreign Governments may deny Visa or entry to any person travelling on a non-Machine Readable Passport.
 
The Government of India has been issuing Machine Readable Passports since 2001. The Passports, however, issued before 2001 and particularly those issued during mid 1990s with a validity of 20 years will fall in the category of non-MRPs. All handwritten passports with pasted photographs are also considered non-MRPs.
 
By the end of November 2014, it is estimated that there are approximately 2.86 lakh handwritten passports in circulation.  Approximately 6 crore Indian hold valid passports.
 
Indian citizens residing in India and abroad and holding such passports with validity beyond the 24th November, 2015 are advised to apply for re-issue of their passports well before the deadline in order to avoid any inconvenience in obtaining valid visa or international travel.
 
PASSPORTS VALID FOR LESS THAN SIX MONTHS
 
Many international travellers may not realise that having an unexpired passport is sometimes not enough to obtain Visas or to enter certain foreign countries. Indian citizens travelling on Passports which may expire in less than six months should renew their passports before any upcoming international travel. It is especially important to check the passports needs of any minor who may be accompanying their parents as passports for minors have a shorter validity period (5 years) than passports for adults (10 years). The universal practice in vogue now is; “Once your passport crosses the nine-year mark, it is time to get new passport”.

EXHAUSTION OF VISA PAGES
 
Some countries do not accept passports which may have fewer than two pages remaining. Please check your passport to ensure that you have  enough visa pages. There is no provision of additional booklets/pages and you will be required to apply reissuance of passport following  standard procedures. Frequent travellers may opt for Jumbo Passport  containing 64 pages.
 
All Passport Issuing Authorities have instituted a simple and fast-track procedure for renewal of passports. For more details  related to passport services, website – www.passportindia.gov.in   External website that opens in a new window - or the National Call Centre (1800-258-1800 - Toll Free) may be accessed. Indian citizens living abroad should visit the website of respective Indian Mission/Post.

OBTAINING FORMS –

The application forms for various passport services can be obtained from Consular Wing of the Embassy in Pyongyang.

MISCELLANEOUS PASSPORT & CONSULAR SERVICES:

All applicants for miscellaneous Passport and Consular Services are required to fill up a “Miscellaneous Services” form and submit their passports.

CHANGE OF FIRST NAME/FULL NAME:

Applicant has to submit:    

(a) Court Order or notarized affidavit
(b) newspaper clipping of notice in city of applicant’s domicile in the DPR Korea, and
(c) newspaper cutting of notice in State of applicant’s domicile in India.

CHANGE TO MARRIED NAME:

Applicant is required to enclose a copy of the marriage certificate, sworn affidavit giving maiden and married names duly notarized by a Notary Public and husband’s passport.  In case where first name also changes after marriage, additional requirements as indicated in “change of full name” are to be met.

REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS, AND DEATHS are also undertaken by the Embassy.                     

ALL LOCAL DOCUMENTS FOR ATTESTATION (including attestation of degrees, etc., of students) are required to be initially attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK.  Applicant’s valid passport is also to be submitted.

ATTESTATION OF SIGNATURES ON AFFIDAVITS / POWER OF ATTORNEY, issued by the judicial authorities in India, the documents are required to be attested by Attestation Cell, Ministry of External Affairs, Patiala House, New Delhi. The applicant is also required to submit his passport along with copy of the passport and one copy of the document to be legalized.

OBTAINING FORMS –

The application forms for various services can be obtained from Consular Wing of the Embassy in Pyongyang.

WHERE TO APPLY:

Application for passport/consular services can be submitted at Consular Section of the Embassy in Pyongyang at the following address:

Embassy of India
6 Munsudong, District Daedonggang,
Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
Tel:+850-2-3817215 & 3817274
Fax:+850-2-3817619.
Email:hoc[dot]pyongyang[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in

WORKING HOURS:
Applications are accepted at the Consular Section of the Embassy between 0930-1200 hours on all working days (Monday to Friday). In case of emergency, Consular officials are available on 24X7 basis.  

FEES & MODE OF PAYMENT: [All fees to be paid in cash in USD/Euro]

Note:- Fee once received will not be refunded, even if the application is withdrawn or the service refused.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

(i)   Please read all instructions on the application form carefully before filling it out.

(ii)   Application forms should be filled in full, legibly and accurately. Incomplete and illegibly filled forms are returned without service.

(iii)   An Indian citizen who acquires DPRK citizenship should surrender his/her Indian Passport to the Embassy for its cancellation.  Possession of both DPRK and Indian passports is illegal.
          
Please contact the Consular Section of the Embassy of India for more information and assistance.

Public Advisory
Government of India
Ministry of External Affairs
CPV Division
(Patiala House, Tilak Marg, New Delhi)
December 23, 2014
 
PUBLIC ADVISORY

Indian citizens living in India and abroad are advised to apply for urgent re-issuance of their passports in the following cases:-

HANDWRITTEN PASSPORTS  

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has set a deadline of 24th November, 2015 for globally phasing out of all  non-Machine Readable Passports (MRPs). From the 25th November, 2015 onwards, foreign Governments may deny Visa or entry to any person travelling on a non-Machine Readable Passport.
 
The Government of India has been issuing Machine Readable Passports since 2001. The Passports, however, issued before 2001 and particularly those issued during mid 1990s with a validity of 20 years will fall in the category of non-MRPs. All handwritten passports with pasted photographs are also considered non-MRPs.
 
By the end of November 2014, it is estimated that there are approximately 2.86 lakh handwritten passports in circulation.  Approximately 6 crore Indian hold valid passports.
 
Indian citizens residing in India and abroad and holding such passports with validity beyond the 24th November, 2015 are advised to apply for re-issue of their passports well before the deadline in order to avoid any inconvenience in obtaining valid visa or international travel.
 
PASSPORTS VALID FOR LESS THAN SIX MONTHS
 
Many international travellers may not realise that having an unexpired passport is sometimes not enough to obtain Visas or to enter certain foreign countries. Indian citizens travelling on Passports which may expire in less than six months should renew their passports before any upcoming international travel. It is especially important to check the passports needs of any minor who may be accompanying their parents as passports for minors have a shorter validity period (5 years) than passports for adults (10 years). The universal practice in vogue now is; “Once your passport crosses the nine-year mark, it is time to get new passport”.

EXHAUSTION OF VISA PAGES

Some countries do not accept passports which may have fewer than two pages remaining. Please check your passport to ensure that you have  enough visa pages. There is no provision of additional booklets/pages and you will be required to apply reissuance of passport following  standard procedures. Frequent travellers may opt for Jumbo Passport  containing 64 pages.
 
All Passport Issuing Authorities have instituted a simple and fast-track procedure for renewal of passports. For more details  related to passport services, website – www.passportindia.gov.in   External website that opens in a new window - or the National Call Centre (1800-258-1800 - Toll Free) may be accessed. Indian citizens living abroad should visit the website of respective Indian Mission/Post.

EMBASSY OF INDIA PYONGYANG, DPR KOREA