India Implements New Passport Rules: Birth Certificate Mandatory for Some Citizens

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India has introduced significant changes to passport application rules concerning proof of date of birth. Under the newly enacted Passports (Amendment) Rules 2025, individuals born on or after October 1, 2023, must provide a birth certificate as the sole valid proof of date of birth when applying for a new passport. These changes officially came into effect on February 28, 2025.

Mandatory Birth Certificate Requirement

According to the amendments, the birth certificate must be issued by one of the following authorities:

• Registrar of Births and Deaths
• Municipal Corporation
• Any other authority authorized under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969

Alternative Documents for Those Born Before October 1, 2023

For applicants born before October 1, 2023, a variety of alternative documents can be submitted as proof of date of birth, including:

• Birth certificate issued by an authorized authority.
• School leaving/transfer/matriculation certificate from a recognized educational institution or board.
• Permanent Account Number (PAN) card issued by the Income Tax Department.
• Extract of service records or Pay Pension Order (for government employees or retirees), duly attested.
• Driving license with the applicant’s date of birth.
• Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC) issued by the Election Commission of India.
• Life insurance policy bond from LIC or a public insurance company.

Previous Cut-Off Date Removed

Previously, a cut-off date of January 26, 1989, required mandatory birth certificate submission. However, this restriction was lifted in 2016, allowing applicants to submit any of the above documents. With the 2025 amendment, stricter birth certificate requirements now apply only to individuals born on or after October 1, 2023.

These revised regulations aim to streamline the passport application process while ensuring uniformity in the submission of date of birth documents.