Fresh Passport Documents List and Process in Surat

For a fresh passport you need proof of your present address and proof of your date of birth, and you need education proof as well if you want a non-ECR passport between the ages of 15 and 50. Bring the originals and one set of self-attested photocopies to your appointment, and make sure the details match across every document.

“Fresh” means you have never held an Indian passport. If you already hold one, even an expired one, you apply for re-issue instead, which is covered in our passport renewal guide.

This guide lists the documents accepted by Passport Seva, explains the process step by step, and points out the small mismatches that cause delays for applicants in Surat.

Documents required for a fresh passport

Passport Seva asks for proof of present address, proof of date of birth and, in some cases, education proof for a non-ECR passport. The Document Advisor on the Passport Seva portal shows the exact set for your category before you apply.

Proof	When it applies	Examples
Present address	Every applicant	Aadhaar, rent agreement, electricity bill, bank passbook
Date of birth	Every applicant	Birth certificate, school leaving certificate, PAN, driving licence
Education proof (non-ECR)	Ages 15 to 50, first full-validity passport under the non-ECR category	10th or 12th marksheet, graduation degree

Proof of present address

Any one of these can be used as address proof, as listed on the Passport Seva Tatkal undertaking form:

• Aadhaar (PVC card, original Aadhaar letter or e-Aadhaar with the UIDAI digital signature mark; small cut-out cards printed by private shops are not accepted)
• Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC)
• Rent agreement
• Electricity bill, water bill, or telephone bill (landline or post-paid mobile)
• Proof of gas connection
• Income Tax assessment order
• Photo passbook of a running bank account with the latest transactions (scheduled public sector, scheduled private and regional rural banks only)
• Employer certificate on letterhead with seal (public limited companies only)
• Spouse’s passport copy, first and last pages including the family details page, if the present address matches

For an adult, the proof must be in the applicant’s own name. The exceptions are a spouse’s passport copy and, for a child, the parent’s passport. If you submit an online bill, you may be asked to show the source, such as the email or the official app.

Proof of date of birth

The rule depends on when you were born, as set by the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2025:

Date of birth	Accepted proof (any one)
Before 1 October 2023	Birth certificate from the Registrar of Births and Deaths or Municipal Corporation; transfer, school leaving or matriculation certificate showing your date of birth; PAN card; driving licence; Election Photo Identity Card; LIC or public company policy bond; service record extract or pay pension order (government servants and pensioners, attested)
On or after 1 October 2023	Birth certificate only

Aadhaar is not on this notified list, so do not rely on it as your date of birth proof.

Education proof for a non-ECR passport

If you are between 15 and 50 and apply for your first full-validity passport under the non-ECR (ECNR) category, you specify an original supporting document such as a 10th or 12th certificate or marksheet from a recognised board, or a graduation or post-graduation degree from a recognised university. The full list is on the Passport Seva portal under non-ECR documents.

Make the details match

Passport Seva asks that your complete name, date of birth and father’s name are the same in all the documents you submit. The address does not have to be identical in every document, but at least one document must match the address in your application form.

Documents shared through DigiLocker

E-versions of Aadhaar, PAN, Election Photo Identity Card and driving licence are accepted when you share them through DigiLocker at the time of submitting the online application.

Applying for a child

A child born on or after 1 October 2023 needs a birth certificate. For a minor, the parent’s passport (first and last pages) is accepted as address proof. Check the Document Advisor for the rest of the child’s checklist.

How to apply for a fresh passport: step by step

A fresh passport application runs in seven steps, from checking documents to tracking delivery, and most of it is done online before you visit the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK).

1. Check your documents. Open the Document Advisor on the Passport Seva portal and confirm the exact proofs for your age and category before you fill anything in.
2. Register and log in. Create an account on the official Passport Seva portal and use only that site, not look-alike pages that charge extra.
3. Fill in the fresh passport form. Choose “Fresh Passport”, then enter your name, date of birth, family details and present address exactly as they appear in your documents. Pick a 36-page or 60-page booklet.
4. Pay the fee and book your slot. Pay online, then choose the PSK or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) nearest to you and a date that suits you.
5. Print the application receipt. It carries your Application Reference Number (ARN) and appointment details. If you lose it, see how to download the passport appointment receipt.
6. Attend the appointment. Your originals and one set of self-attested photocopies are checked at the counters, and your photograph and fingerprints are captured.
7. Wait for verification and delivery. Police verification follows, then printing and dispatch by post. You can track the application with your ARN and date of birth, and our guide on how long a passport takes explains the stages.

Need it faster? The Tatkal passport guide covers the urgent route, which has its own document rules.

Applying from Surat: what to carry and what to watch

In Surat you choose your nearest PSK or POPSK while booking, and slots can fill up, so complete your document check before you open the booking page. Tick off this list the night before your appointment:

• Printed application receipt with your ARN
• Original address proof and one self-attested photocopy
• Original date of birth proof and one self-attested photocopy
• Original education certificate or marksheet, if you apply for a non-ECR passport
• Phone with the email or app where any online bill was issued, in case the source is asked for

Practical tips for Surat applicants

• Living in a rented room or flat? A rent agreement is on the accepted address list. A utility bill or bank passbook in your own name also works.
• Aadhaar shows an old or native-place address? Add a document that shows where you live now. At least one of your documents must match the address you enter in the form.
• Check name spellings before you apply. Gujarati and Hindi names are often spelled differently in English across Aadhaar, school records and PAN, and the order of first name, father’s name and surname can differ. Passport Seva expects the name to be the same in all documents.
• Married women can use a spouse’s passport copy as address proof if the present address matches. If your name changed, see our guide to changing your name in a passport.

Fresh passport fees

The Passport Seva fee page lists a fee of Rs. 1,500 for a 36-page fresh passport with 10 years validity (checked on 10 October 2026), and the fee is non-refundable.

Fresh passport	Application fee	Extra if you choose Tatkal
36 pages, 10 years	Rs. 1,500	Rs. 2,000
60 pages, 10 years	Rs. 2,000	Rs. 2,000
Minor under 18, 36 pages, 5 years or until age 18	Rs. 1,000	Rs. 2,000

Minors between 15 and 18 who want a 10-year passport pay the adult fee. Amounts come from the official Passport Seva fee structure, which also notes that the fee schedule may be restructured, so confirm your exact amount in the Fee Calculator on the portal before you pay.

Common mistakes that delay a fresh passport

Most delays come from document mismatches that could have been caught before the appointment.

• Using Aadhaar as date of birth proof. It is not on the notified list. Use a birth certificate, school leaving certificate, PAN, driving licence or another listed document.
• No birth certificate for a child born on or after 1 October 2023. It is the only accepted date of birth proof for them.
• Address proof in someone else’s name. For adults it must be in the applicant’s own name, except a spouse’s passport copy.
• A bank passbook that does not qualify. It needs your photo, the latest transactions, and must be from a scheduled public sector, scheduled private or regional rural bank.
• A small cut-out Aadhaar card. Cards printed by non-UIDAI shops are not accepted. Use the PVC card, the original letter or the e-Aadhaar.
• Different spellings of the same name. Match the name, date of birth and father’s name across every document.
• Forgetting the education certificate when you apply for a non-ECR passport.
• Booking the slot first and collecting documents later. Finish the checklist, then book.

Need help with your fresh passport application in Surat?

Kagzi Documents can check your documents against the Passport Seva list before you book, help you fill the form so the details match, and guide you through the appointment. Our Passport Agent in Surat service is assistance with paperwork. We are a private service centre, the application and decision stay with Passport Seva, and no agent can promise a processing time.

Send your questions on WhatsApp or visit our contact page and tell us whether you are applying as an adult or for a child.

Frequently asked questions about fresh passport documents

Which documents are required for a fresh passport?

You need proof of present address and proof of date of birth, plus education proof if you apply for a non-ECR passport between the ages of 15 and 50. Carry originals and one set of self-attested photocopies to the PSK.

Is Aadhaar enough to apply for a fresh passport?

Aadhaar is accepted as address proof, but it is not on the notified list of date of birth documents. Add a separate date of birth proof such as a birth certificate, school leaving certificate, PAN or driving licence.

Is a birth certificate compulsory for a passport?

It is compulsory only for applicants born on or after 1 October 2023, for whom it is the sole date of birth proof. Anyone born earlier can use any one document from the notified list.

Can I use a rent agreement as address proof?

Yes, a rent agreement is on the accepted address proof list. For an adult the document should be in the applicant’s name, and at least one of your documents must match the address you enter in the form.

Who needs education proof for a passport?

Applicants aged 15 to 50 who apply for their first full-validity passport under the non-ECR category specify an original certificate or marksheet of 10th or 12th class, or a graduation or post-graduation degree, from a recognised board or university.

Can I use DigiLocker instead of paper documents?

E-versions of Aadhaar, PAN, Election Photo Identity Card and driving licence are accepted when you share them through DigiLocker while submitting the online application.