A passport is a very important document when travelling internationally. They are used as the key identification document outside India. Both Ordinary Passport and Diplomatic Passport are the two most popular documents. But they are very different from each other in application, features, and eligibility criteria. An Ordinary Passport is issued to regular Indian citizens to travel abroad for recreational, travel, business, and various other purposes On the other hand diplomatic passport is issued to diplomats, ambassadors, senior officials, and government representatives for official work.
An ordinary passport, also known as a regular or tourist passport, is issued to indian citizens for personal travel regarding tourism, business, family visits, and various other reasons. This is the most common type of passport in India. The ordinary passport holder does not get any privileges, which is not the case for a diplomatic passport.
As the name suggests, a Diplomatic Passport is a special passport issued by the Government of India to diplomats, ambassadors, senior officials, and government representatives travelling abroad for official work. It represents diplomatic status, and the diplomatic password holder enjoys various privileges and perks like diplomatic immunity, visa-free access, and priority services at airports.
Ordinary passports and Diplomatic Passports are very different from each other. Because an ordinary passport is issued to every citizen of indian, while the diplomatic passport is provided to a certain group of people. It comes with various perks and benefits. Here are the key differences between the Ordinary Passport and a Diplomatic Passport.
| Parameter | Ordinary Passport (Type P) | Diplomatic Passport (Type D) |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility / Issuance | Issued to regular Indian citizens for personal, professional, medical, or business travel. | Issued to diplomats and high-ranking government officials for official duties abroad. |
| Purpose | Used for foreign travel related to leisure, education, business, or personal matters. | Used exclusively for official government-related international travel. |
| Color | Navy blue | Maroon |
| Pages | Contains 30 to 60 pages based on applicant's choice. | Contains 28 pages. |
| Validity | 10 years for adults, 5 years for minors. | Valid for 5 years or less, depending on the tenure of the official duty. |
| Privileges | No special privileges or immunities. | Grants diplomatic immunity and special privileges under international law. |
| Type Classification | Type P | Type D |
No, no one can use an indian diplomatic passport for personal travel. It must only be used for official work. If someone wants to travel abroad, then they must apply for an ordinary passport.
It is only available to a selected group of people, who are:
Both Ordinary and diplomatic passports serve different purposes in international travel. The biggest difference between Ordinary and diplomatic passports is the accessibility. Because an ordinary passport is available to every indian citizen, while a diplomatic passport is available for a certain group of people for a certain purpose. They come with their unique perks and qualities.