India is set to improve overseas travel for its citizens. The countrywide roll-out of chip-based e-passports will begin in May 2025. This initiative, as per the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), is a major step forward. The program, designed in collaboration with the India Security Press (ISP), Nashik, aims to enhance travel security. It will help curb passport forgery. It also seeks to modernize the immigration process.
What is an e-Passport?
The e-passport embeds a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip within the standard booklet. It stores the holder’s personal information, including biometric data, in both printed and encrypted digital forms, making it hard to replicate or alter. These e-passports are expected to align with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, making them globally recognizable and tamper-resistant.
Pilot launch of e-Passports
The pilot launch was initiated on April 1, 2024, under the Passport Seva Programme Version 2.0. The e-passports are being issued at some Regional Passport Offices in cities like Chennai, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Amritsar, Goa, Raipur, Surat, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, Jammu, and Shimla. These pilot cities were selected to assess the operational readiness of passport offices, backend processing, and biometric verification systems ahead of the national rollout.
Status of e-Passports in Tamil Nadu
In Chennai, the issuance process started on March 3, 2025, and by March 22, 20,729 e-passports had already been issued in Tamil Nadu. The quick adoption rate in the state reflects strong public interest and efficient implementation by local authorities.
The government is putting in place sophisticated encryption and authentication techniques to prevent data tampering and cyber attacks or unauthorised access. These measures are intended to safeguard citizens’ identity and ensure secure international mobility.
Facilitating travel
e-Passports will streamline immigration procedures, allow automated identification verification, and standardise Indian travel documents to global standards.
With the impending country-wide rollout, India takes its place alongside nations such as Germany. The US. And the UK. These countries have embraced safe, biometric-enabled travel documents. Such documents enhance both safety and convenience for global travelers.
