About Us Public advisory on phasing out of handwritten passports

PUBLIC ADVISORY ON PHASING OUT OF HANDWRITTEN PASSPORTS

1. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has set a deadline of the 24th November, 2015 for globally phasing out of all non-Machine Readable (Hand written) Passports. In this connection, the latest Public Advisory issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi is enclosed.

2. It is further clarified that ICAO provisions will not apply to temporary travel documents or passports of limited validity, issued in case of emergency to distressed Indian nationals who apply for issuance of short validity passports or emergency certificates. In case of loss of passport reported by Indian travellers abroad, a short validity passport will continue to be issued to undertake onward journey if travelling to third countries. If booked to return to India, an emergency certificate will be issued.