Passport Seva appointment: prepare originals and self-attested copies
Use Passport Seva’s document advice for your exact application, then take the required originals and self-attested photocopies to your appointment. A phone scan helps you organise the paperwork, but does not replace originals requested at the counter.
Do not start with a universal list from a social post. A fresh passport, re-issue, application for a minor and change of particulars can need different evidence. Your first task is to turn the official advice for your case into a checklist you can actually pack.
Build the checklist for your application
- Open Passport Seva and identify the application category you selected.
- Use its document advice for that category and your circumstances.
- List each required document with a separate box for the original and the photocopy.
- Check names and other particulars against the submitted form before the appointment.
- Confirm the appointment location and keep its details accessible.
Three groups to prepare
| Group | What belongs there | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Originals | Documents required for your application category | Take them to the counter for verification |
| Paper copies | The required self-attested photocopies | Keep them in the same order as the official checklist |
| Personal reference files | Scans, application reference and appointment details | Use them to check and organise your visit |
The application form FAQ says applicants must produce originals at PSK or POPSK and attach self-attested photocopies of the required documents. The originals are returned after verification. Do not assume that a PDF on your phone fulfils that instruction.
Fresh application or re-issue?
Keep the category visible at the top of your checklist. A previous passport can be relevant to a re-issue, while changes, loss or damage may lead to different supporting documents. Let the current document advice determine the exact evidence rather than copying another applicant’s list.
The re-issue instructions explain appointment booking and say that an SMS with appointment details is accepted as proof of appointment instead of a printed application receipt. This does not remove the separate requirement to bring the necessary documents. Keep a note of the application reference so you can find the correct record without searching through unrelated messages.
For children, Tatkaal applications or unusual circumstances, read the dedicated official instructions. This preparation guide does not supply a replacement checklist for those cases.
Check the copies while you can still fix them
Open or inspect each copy at a readable size. Check that the page edges, issuing details and all requested fields are present. Keep front and back in a clear order where both are needed. If the original has a discrepancy, ask the passport service how to address it; do not edit its details in a scan.
A useful naming pattern for reference files is “Passport appointment, document name, holder”. Keep the copies for different family members separate. Dokus can store personal reference copies, but it does not submit the application or attest a document.
If you retrieve evidence through DigiLocker, check the issued-document and upload distinction and the passport service’s supported submission route. Do not replace a requested original with a screenshot simply because the same information appears there.
Before leaving home
- The checklist matches the actual application category.
- Every required original is packed.
- The required photocopies are present and self-attested as instructed.
- The appointment details and application reference are accessible.
- Names and particulars have been checked against the application.
- You have kept the issuer files and any submission confirmations.
Passport appointment questions
Can I take only scans on my iPhone?
No. Passport Seva’s instructions require the necessary originals and photocopies. Phone copies can help you organise the appointment but do not replace those requirements.
Is the same list valid for everyone?
No. Select the advice for your own application category and circumstances, including any special requirements for minors, re-issue or changed particulars.
Does an appointment SMS replace all the paperwork?
No. The re-issue instructions accept an appointment SMS as proof of the appointment. Supporting documents remain a separate requirement.