How to Renew an Indian Passport in the UK
Jarrod Suda
Guide
A writer and editor at Monito, Jarrod is passionate about helping people apply today’s powerful finance technologies to their lives. He brings his background in international affairs and his experiences living in Japan to provide readers with comprehensive information that also acknowledges the local context.
Byron Mühlberg
Reviewer
Monito's Managing Editor, Byron has spent several years writing extensively about financial- and migration-related topics.
Links on this page, including products and brands featured on ‘Sponsored’ content, may earn us an affiliate commission. This does not affect the opinions and recommendations of our editors.
Read moreIf you’re in the UK and hold an Indian passport, you may need to apply to renew your passport because it’s going to expire in six months, you’ve run out of pages, it has been misplaced, or you’ve had a name change.
The good news is that it is possible to renew your Indian passport while in the UK. In this guide, we will walk you through the documents you will need and the fees you will pay to complete this process.
Three Things You Should Know About Indian Passport Renewal
- Once your Indian passport is less than six months from expiring, you may apply for a renewal.
- You can apply for a renewal online but must submit your documents in person at an official appointment in the UK.
- The process generally takes around 4 to 5 weeks, although errors in the application can delay it.
What You'll Find in This Guide
- 01. How to renew Indian passport in the UK
- 02. What documents are required for an Indian passport in the UK?
- 03. What are the fees for an Indian passport renewal in the UK?
- 04. How long does it take for an Indian passport renewal in the UK?
- 05. How to issue an Indian passport for a newborn in the UK
- 06. Frequently asked questions
How to Renew Indian Passport in the UK
You will be able to communicate with the Indian government fully online to request a passport renewal. The Indian government works with a company called VFS Global to handle the physical visa and passport services to Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs). You can't complete the passport issuance process online though. You will have to go to a VFS office in person to submit the official application.
(If necessary, you may authorize an immediate family member, your spouse, or a close blood relative to go on your behalf.)
Four Steps to Renew Your Passport
These are the four steps that you need to take:
- Print out your complete Indian passport renewal UK application form by registering at passportindia.gov.in.
- Schedule an appointment at your closest VFS centre for renewing an Indian passport in the UK.
- Submit at your appointment the required ten documents, photos, and forms of ID.
- Track your application online with VFS before receiving your new passport.
How to Track Your Status
Tracking information will be sent to your email or by SMS, which you can use to inquire about the status of the passport application. You will also be sent an update by email when the VFS centre gains approval from the Indian government to complete your application.
What Documents Are Required for an Indian Passport Renewal in the UK?
When you apply for Indian passport renewal online, you will not have to submit any paperwork to the high commission of India. The physical paperwork comes when you arrive at your local VFS centre, which will verify your identity, forward your application to the high commission for you, and send you back your new passport. This process should be a smooth and swift one as long as you correctly fill out the documents appropriate for your unique request (e.g. you are applying on behalf of your child or are newly married with a name change).
List of Required Documents for Indian Passport Renewal
Here is the standard list of documents that you will need to submit at your VFS appointment:
- Signed and printed application form — that you filled above;
(The “Other Address” section must contain an Indian address, such as a family address.) - Printed appointment confirmation;
- VFS declaration form — download here;
- Annexure E — download here;
- Personal particulars form (for police verification) — download here;
- Four recent and identical 50mm x 50mm size photographs;
- The old Indian passport;
- Copy of the first and last page of the old passport;
- Originals and copies of valid UK Visa or Biometric Residence Permit;
- Proof of UK address.
Your specific case may vary from this standard procedure of renewing an adult passport before expiry. Below you will find the other most common Indian passport renewal procedures in the UK, and the additional documentation required to fulfil your request:
Other Common Indian Passport Renewal Requests
I am unable to go to the VFS centre and would like someone else to go on my behalf.
Submit the following document with all of the other required documents:
- Authorisation letter — authorizes only immediate family members (spouse or blood relatives) to apply for the applicant;
- Authorized person’s passport or official ID that proves relationship with the applicant.
I would like my passport to include my name change from marriage.
Submit the following with all of the other required documents:
- Original and photocopies of the marriage certificate;
- Copy of the spouse’s current Indian passport.
I do not have a valid UK visa.
Submit all of the required documents, and these following documents in place of a valid UK visa or Biometric residence permit:
- Original and copy of your UK entry visa;
- A formal letter stating how you are working to regularize your stay in the UK.
My last passport was not issued in London.
Submit the following document with all of the other required documents:
- Original and copy of your UK entry visa.
I want my new Indian passport to include my UK address.
If you are a permanent resident of the UK (have indefinite leave to remain status), then you may submit one of the following documents with all of the other required documents:
- Utility bill;
- Recent bank statement;
- Property papers in the UK.
What Are the Fees for an Indian Passport Renewal in the UK?
When you renew your Indian passport in the UK, there will be costs for the service. Fees will increase for non-standard passport renewals, such as replacing a lost one or renewing a passport over a year past expiry, so we recommend you save money by submitting your applications early. Here’s a summary of the fees charged for some of the most common Indian passport renewal services¹.
Indian Passport Renewal Fees
Passport Renewal Service (36 pages) | Fees |
---|---|
Standard passport | £ 56.00 |
Standard with Tatkal Service* | £ 163.00 |
Renewal one-year past expiry | £ 78.00 |
Minor's (under 15 years) passport | £ 38.00 |
Renewal of damaged, lost, or stolen passports | £ 109.00 |
Renewal without valid UK visa | £ 56.00 |
*Tatkal Services for Rapid Delivery
You may request with VFS for Tatkal services, which will pass your application directly to the High Commission of India, or one of the Consulate General offices.
This procedure is generally used for emergencies. Tracking your Indian passport renewal will not be necessary because this process can take just 3 to 5 working days².
How Long Does It Take for an Indian Passport Renewal in the UK?
Reissuing an Indian passport will take 4 to 5 weeks for VFS in the UK to process. It will then be delivered to you ideally within 10 working days to two weeks. If information is incorrect or details need to be verified, the process could take an additional three weeks³.
In any case, VFS will ship back your original documents, such as your old Indian passport, within around 3 to 10 working days.
Tracking Your Renewed Indian Passport Online
Track the following steps with the tracking number that VFS⁴ provides you:
- Forwarding: Once you finish your appointment with VFS, they will forward your application to the Embassy or Consulate of India in the UK. This will happen immediately.
- Review: Your application will go under review by the Embassy. This could take about a week.
- Approval: The Embassy has approved your request and has dispatched it back to VFS. Shipping times will vary depending on the courier you choose.
- Delivery: VFS has prepared your package and is awaiting pick up by the courier of your choice.
If you want your passport to be re-issued in an emergency situation, submit an application with Tatkal service. The processing time is 2 to 3 working days.
How to Issue an Indian Passport for a Newborn in the UK
If you are living in the UK with your newborn in the UK, then you may apply to issue a new Indian passport for a minor. Here is the list of the bare minimum documents that you will need to submit under the child’s name to the VFS appointment centre.
List of Required Documents
- Signed and printed application form — that you filled above;
(The “Other Address” section must contain an Indian address, such as a family address.) - Printed appointment confirmation;
- VFS declaration form — download here;
- Annexure E — download here;
- Personal particulars form for the minor (for police verification) — download here;
- Four recent and identical 50mm x 50mm size photographs;
- Originals and copies of a valid UK Visa or Biometric Residence Permit;
- Proof of UK address.
In addition to the standard documents listed above, you must submit the following:
- Annexure D — download here;
- Change of appearance declaration — download here;
- Two personal particulars forms of both parents (one per parent) — download here;
- Copy of first and last page of parents Indian passport;
- Parent's valid UK Visa or Biometric Residence Permit;
- Copy of parents' marriage certificate.
Additional Requests for Indian Passports for Children
I am submitting an application for my newborn, but the parents (Indian passport holders) are not married.
Submit the following with all of the other required documents:
- ‘Child Born Out of Wedlock’ affidavit — download here;
- Annexure D — download here;
- Two personal particulars forms of both parents (one per parent);
- Copy of first and last page of parents Indian passport;
- Parent's valid UK Visa or Biometric Residence Permit.
I am a single parent who is submitting an Indian passport application for my child.
Submit the following with all of the other required documents (except for Annexure D, which is not necessary here):
- Annexure C — download here;
- One personal particulars form of the single parent;
- Copy of first and last page of parent’s Indian passport;
- Parent's valid UK Visa or Biometric Residence Permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I send the application to renew my Indian passport in the UK?
You can send in a passport renewal application six months before your passport’s expiration date. You are unable to send a request to the Indian government to reissue your Indian passport any time before that.
In the cases where your application contains errors or your information needs to be verified, the process with VFS can take over seven weeks from start to finish. To avoid complications, we recommend that you renew your Indian passport at least two months before its expiration date.
Can I renew my Indian passport in the UK?
Yes, you can. You will have to fill out an Indian passport renewal UK application form by registering at passportindia.gov.in. Then, schedule an appointment at your closest VFS centre for renewing an Indian passport in the UK. During your appointment, you will have to submit the required documents appropriate for your situation.
How do I renew an Indian passport in the UK online?
You can only partially complete this process online. You can send in an Indian passport renewal application form to the Indian government online at passportindia.gov.in. However, you will have to schedule an appointment with a VFS centre in your area in the UK and physically attend that appointment in person.
How much does it cost to renew an Indian passport in the UK?
£56 is the cost of the fee charged by VFS to renew a standard 36-page passport. £38 is the cost of the passport for a child or newborn in the UK.
How much time does it take to renew an Indian passport in the UK?
The process should take four to five weeks from the date of your VFS appointment to the date that your new Indian passport is ready for pick up by a courier. However, complications can delay the process by three or more weeks.
What documents do I need for an Indian passport renewal in the UK?
A standard reissuance of an Indian passport in the UK will require ten documents. This includes:
- Printed passport application form;
- Printed VFS appointment form;
- A VFS declaration form;
- Annexure E form;
- Personal particulars form;
- Four passport photographs;
- Your old Indian passport;
- Copies of your old passport;
- Originals and copies of valid UK Visa or Biometric Residence Permit;
- Proof of UK address.
Other Guides for International Travel
References Used in this Guide
1. VFS Global. Passport Information. Accessed 18 November 2021.
2. High Commission of India. Indian Passport. 18 November 2021.
3. High Commission of India. Indian Passport. 18 November 2021.
4. VFS Global. Track Information. Accessed 18 November 2021.
The article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a source of law. The editors of the website make every effort to ensure that all published information is reliable and up-to-date, however, they do not constitute a binding interpretation of the applicable legal provisions.
Why Trust Monito?
You’re probably all too familiar with the often outrageous cost of sending money abroad. After facing this frustration themselves back in 2013, co-founders François, Laurent, and Pascal launched a real-time comparison engine to compare the best money transfer services across the globe. Today, Monito’s award-winning comparisons, reviews, and guides are trusted by around 8 million people each year and our recommendations are backed by millions of pricing data points and dozens of expert tests — all allowing you to make the savviest decisions with confidence.
Monito is trusted by 15+ million users across the globe.
Monito's experts spend hours researching and testing services so that you don't have to.
Our recommendations are always unbiased and independent.