Indian passport

Indian passports are issued to citizens of India for the purpose of international travel. They act as proof of Indian nationality. The Consular Passport & Visa (CPV) Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, functioning as the central passport organisation, is responsible for issuance of Indian passports to all eligible Indian citizens. Passports are issued from 37 locations across the country and 160 Indian missions abroad^[1].

• Regular Passport (Blue cover) - Issued for ordinary travel, such as vacations and business trips (36 or 60 pages)
• Diplomatic Passport (Maroon cover) - Issued to Indian diplomats, top ranking government officials and diplomatic couriers.
• Official Passport (White cover) - Issued to individuals representing the Indian government on official business

In addition, select passport offices in India as well as overseas missions are authorised to issue Regular Indo-Bangladesh passports and Indo-Sri Lankan passports, to Indian nationals resident in West Bengal, the North Eastern States, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. These two passports permit travel to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka only and are not valid for travel to other foreign countries.