NEW DELHI: There is a big change in the passport rule. The Union Home Ministry has made birth certificate mandatory for new passport applicants. According to the new passport amendment, those born on or after October 1, 2023, will have to produce a birth certificate to get a passport. Only their birth certificates will be accepted as an official document to prove the date of birth. The new change is aimed at streamlining documentation and ensuring uniformity in age verification. The new law came into effect from February 28.

According to the new law, only birth certificates issued by municipal corporations, the registrar of births and deaths, or any other authorized body under the registration of births and deaths act, 1969 will be considered as official documents to prove date of birth. This law will not apply to those born before October 1, 2023. Such people can submit school certificates, PAN card, and driving license as proof of date of birth, as before.

Other changes in passports
• Keeping in mind the privacy of individuals, the address of the applicant will no longer be printed on the outer page of the passport. Instead, a barcode will be provided.

• A color-coding system has also been introduced for passports. The new change is that government officials will have white passports, diplomats will have red, and ordinary citizens will have blue.

• Parents' information will be removed from the last page of the passport. This is in consideration of children whose parents are divorced.