The Regional Passport Office (RPO), Pune, has organised a Special Passport Drive on Saturday, July 11, to facilitate quicker passport appointments for applicants in Normal and Tatkaal categories. The initiative is part of the Ministry of External Affairs' ongoing efforts to improve passport service delivery and reduce appointment waiting periods for citizens with urgent travel requirements.

The special drive is being conducted at Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) Pune and Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) Solapur. While both Normal and Tatkaal applications are being accepted at the Pune centre, the Solapur centre is processing Normal category applications only. The drive covers both fresh passport applications and re-issue requests.

The passport centres will remain open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and applicants have been advised to report 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment time mentioned on the application receipt.

Faster appointments for applicants

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the special drive aims to make passport appointments available at an earlier date while ensuring timely processing for individuals with urgent travel plans.

Applicants are required to complete the online application process, pay the prescribed fee, and schedule an appointment through the Passport India Portal or the mPassport Seva App before visiting the Passport Seva Kendra.

Documents must be complete

The Regional Passport Office has advised applicants under the Normal category to carefully verify that all required documents are complete and comply with the provisions of the Passport Rules before visiting the centre.

Officials cautioned that applications with incomplete or incorrect documentation may not be accepted on the day of the appointment, leading to delays in passport processing.

Tatkaal applicants advised to check eligibility

Applicants seeking passports under the Tatkaal Scheme have been urged to carefully read the Tatkaal Advisory and Tatkaal Undertaking before booking appointments.

The Ministry noted that Tatkaal applications are subject to stricter eligibility conditions and require additional supporting documents. Many applicants fail to meet these requirements, resulting in rejection or non-acceptance of their applications.

Authorities have also advised applicants to verify whether they fall under any Tatkaal ineligible category before applying.

Passport Authority may seek additional verification

The Ministry reminded applicants that under Section 5 of the Passports Act, 1967, read with Rule 5 of the Passports Rules, 1980, the Passport Authority has the legal authority to seek additional documents or conduct further verification whenever necessary for processing an application.

How to book an appointment

Applicants can book appointments by completing the online passport application through the Passport India website or the mPassport Seva App, making the online payment, and selecting the preferred location while scheduling the appointment.

For this special drive:

• PSK Pune: Normal and Tatkaal (Fresh & Re-issue)

• PSK Solapur: Normal category (Fresh & Re-issue)

The Ministry has encouraged eligible applicants to make use of the special drive to obtain earlier appointment slots and ensure hassle-free passport services.

Navigating Tatkaal Passport Rules and Police Verification Standards in 2026

An essential blueprint for urgent passport applicants looking to understand updated document guidelines, processing timelines, and post-issuance checks.

Streamlining Urgent Travel Documents

Acquiring an urgent travel document under the Tatkaal Passport scheme has become significantly more accessible for domestic applicants, thanks to systemic upgrades designed to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks. The modern framework allows eligible citizens to secure their booklets on a high-priority basis without requiring a formal Verification Certificate from a gazetted officer, which was once a mandatory hurdle.

However, navigating the exact document metrics and understanding how the revised police verification protocol functions remains crucial to avoiding administrative rejections.

The Three-Document Eligibility Rule

For adult applicants over the age of 18, the Ministry of External Affairs mandates the submission of any three valid proofs from an officially approved list of acceptable documents. This list includes standard identifiers such as an Aadhaar card, PAN card, driving license, updated bank passbooks with attested photographs, or voter ID cards.

For minors under the age of 18 applying via the fast-track route, only two supporting documents from the approved category are necessary to process the application file.

Post-Issuance Police Verification Explained

A defining characteristic of the Tatkaal Passport mechanism is that physical verification by local law enforcement happens on a post-verification basis. This means that once your appointment status at the Passport Seva Kendra is marked as "Granted", the manufacturing queue prioritizes your booklet. The passport is typically dispatched within one to three working days.

"The passport is delivered first so urgent travel is not disrupted," a regional passport official explained. "The file is then automatically routed to the applicant's local police station for physical antecedent and address cross-checking."

Strict Exclusion Categories

It is vital to note that the fast-track Tatkaal facility is not universally available. Several specific application profiles are strictly barred from utilizing the urgent processing lane and must go through the standard normal route instead. These exclusions apply to:

• Applicants seeking major changes to their birth dates, places of birth, or official names.

• Individuals residing outside the immediate administrative jurisdiction of their respective Regional Passport Office.

• Citizens of Naga origin or those belonging to Jammu & Kashmir.

• Applicants with active criminal proceedings pending before a court of law or those with past adverse police reports.

Ensuring all submitted original documents match your current residential details is the most effective way to guarantee a smooth post-issuance verification report and maintain a hassle-free global travel status.