Indian citizens with handwritten passports will have to get them replaced with machine-readable ones.After the 24th, you might be denied visa or entry.
freshersplaneindiaThe International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has set a deadline of November 24 for the global phase-out of all non-Machine Readable Passports (MRPs).
Thereafter, foreign governments may deny a visa or entry to a person travelling on a non-Machine Readable Passport, a circular from the ministry of external affairs said.Who does this effect? The government has been issuing MRPs since 2001. Those issued before 2001 and particularly those issued during the mid-1990s with a validity of 20 years fall into the non-MRPs. By October 2015, it is estimated that there are approximately 2.50 lakh handwritten passports still in circulation “Indian citizens holding such passports with validity beyond the November 24, 2015, are advised to apply for re-issuance of passports well before the deadline in order to avoid any inconvenience in obtaining valid visa for international travel,” the circular reads.
Many international travellers may not realise that having an unexpired passport is sometimes not enough to obtain Visas or to enter certain foreign countries. Indian citizen travelling on passports which may expire in less than six months should renew their passports before any upcoming international travel. It is especially important to check the passports needs of any minor who may be accompanying their parents as passports for minors have a shorter validity period (5 years) than passports for adults (10 years). The universal practice in vogue now is; ‘ Once your passport crosses the nine-year mark, it is time to get new passport’.
accompanying their parents as passports for minors have a shorter validity period (5 years) than passports for adults (10 years). The universal practice in vogue now is; ‘ Once your passport crosses the nine-year mark, it is time to get new passport’.Also, the MEA said some foreign countries do not accept passports having less than two pages. “There is no provision of additional booklets/pages and passport holders have to apply reissuance of passports by following the standard procedure.” The MEA advised frequent travellers to opt for ‘Jumbo Passport’ containing 46 pages. For details, the website www.passportindia.gov.in or the National Call Centre (1800-258-1800) may be accessed. Indian citizens living abroad must visit the website of respective Indian Mission/Post.
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