India’s passport service network has expanded nearly six-fold over the last decade, with over 1.5 crore passport-related services delivered in 2025 alone, a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official said on Wednesday.
As the country marked the 14th Passport Seva Divas, the MEA highlighted major gains in accessibility, digitalisation and service delivery under the Passport Seva Programme.
According to the official, India now has 545 Passport Kendras across the country, compared to just 77 centres around 10 years ago. The expansion includes Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) and Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs), which have significantly widened access to passport services across urban and rural regions.
“In 2025, 1.5 crore passports and related services were delivered, of which 1.39 crore were passports,” the official said, adding that the average processing time at service centres has been reduced significantly, with applicants spending less than 45 minutes at PSKs and POPSKs, excluding police verification.
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The MEA also said it continues to add new centres, with 10 POPSKs opened last year and another 10 planned this year to further strengthen outreach.
The official noted that India’s global mobility footprint has also improved, with 27 countries now offering visa-free entry to Indian passport holders, up from 16 in 2019. In addition, 47 countries provide visa-on-arrival facilities, while 66 countries offer e-visa options for Indian travellers.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in a message on X, said Passport Seva Divas reflects the government’s commitment to “efficient, transparent and citizen-centric” services. He credited the vision of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” for driving the transformation.
Jaishankar also highlighted digital upgrades under Passport Seva Programme V2.0 and the Global Passport Seva Programme for missions abroad, along with the rollout of chip-enabled e-passports aligned with international security standards.
The MEA said the focus remains on further improving speed, transparency and global mobility for Indian citizens.
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