Passports are your gateway to world travel. They represent your identity and nationality in and outside India. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs issues various types of passports, such as ordinary passports, diplomatic passports, red passports, and more. Each type of passport is issued to a certain group of people. There are different eligibility criteria and different perks for each type of indian passport that make them unique. Here are the key types of indian passport:
The Ordinary Passport, or navy blue passport, is the most common type issued to regular Indian nationals. They can use it for general international travel, such as tourism, business, education, or family visits. The validity of an ordinary passport is 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors. These passports include the traveller's name, date of birth, and photographs. This is available in 36 or 60-page variant based on the needs of the applicant.
A white passport is issued to government officials who are travelling abroad for a government assignment. It is seen as the most powerful indian passport. It has a white cover and can not be used for personal travel. It must be backed by the related ministry and department. White passport holders get some extra privileges then the ordinary passport.
The Diplomatic Passport is also known as the maroon or red passport. It is issued to diplomats, high-ranking government officials travelling internationally. It can be used by the officials going on Diplomatic missions, international negotiations, or to represent India at global forums. Diplomats, members of the Indian Foreign Service, and select high-ranking officials approved by the Ministry of External Affairs are eligible for the diplomatic passport. Red passport holders enjoy expedited immigration processing and visa-free access to various countries.
Explore the details on Diplomatic Passport eligibility and benefits here.
An Emergency Certificate is a one-way travel document issued to Indian citizens. It can be used to travel to India if they have lost their passport. It is just a temporary document, not the full passport. This helps the indian citizens to travel to India in case they do not have valid travel documents. Indian embassies or consulates can issue this emergency document.
It is a rarely issued temporary travel document issued by the Government of India. This is issued to the stateless residents and people belonging to the disputed territories but currently living in India. It allows them to travel without a nationality for specific purposes.
The Ordinary Passport is available in two variants: 36 pages and 60 pages. Even though both passports are used for the same purpose but they also have some key differences. Here are the key differences between them:
| Feature | 36-Page Passport | 60-Page Passport |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Pages | 36 pages, including personal info and visa pages | 60 pages, with more space for visas and stamps |
| Purpose | Used for foreign travel related to leisure, education, business, or personal matters. | Used exclusively for official government-related international travel. |
| Intended Use | Suitable for occasional travelers | Ideal for frequent travelers or business professionals |
| Cost | Lower application fee | Higher application fee due to additional pages |
| Application Process | Same process, specify 36-page option | Same process, specify 60-page option |
| Validity | 10 years for adults, 5 years for minors | 10 years for adults, 5 years for minors |
| Availability | Widely available for all eligible citizens | Widely available for all eligible citizens |
Indian citizens must choose the right passport while travelling abroad. The right passport can make your future travel much more convenient. Most indian citizens travel with the ordinary passport, which is available in 30-page or 60-page variant. Government officials and diplomats must apply for Diplomatic Passports, and in emergencies, you can go for the Emergency Certificate. Also, check your travel frequency, purpose, and budget to choose any of the 36-page and 60-page Ordinary Passports to avoid overspending and applying for reissuance after running out of pages.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs issues passports. They are made to make your international travel convenient and easy. Choosing the 36-page or 60-page Ordinary Passport depends on your travel frequency, purpose, and budget. Also check for other passports too, such as diplomatic passports, red passports, red passport and Maroon passports if your profession and travel purpose qualify for them. They come with various additional perks.