Indians in UAE: 4 new passport changes that could affect you

The Government of India recently announced a slew of changes to the Indian passport and how it will be issued.

While these changes may not affect all Indians, they are definitely important to note and keep in mind. Some of these changes have been made to protect and safeguard the identity of passport holders.

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Here are five recent changes that have been made to the Indian passport:

1. New colour-coded system:

Indian authorities will now implement a colour-coded system for passports. Different coloured passports will be issued for different uses. They are:

Government official — White

Diplomat — Red

Ordinary — Blue

2. Birth Certificate mandatory

For those born on or after October 1, 2023, a birth certificate is the only valid proof of birth to be able to issue a passport. This birth certificate should be issued by the Municipal Corporation, Registrar of Births and Deaths, or an authority under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.

3. Residential address

Now, to protect the security and privacy of the passport holder the residential address of the holder will no longer be printed on the passport. The address will, in fact, be embedded in a barcode that immigration officials can scan when they wish to retrieve relevant information.

4. Parents' names not required

In Indian passports, parents' names will no longer be mandatory. This move was done to protect the identity of individuals and to safeguard them from possible issues related to family status.