Whether you are applying for your very first passport or getting your old passport renewed/replaced for the tenth time, you will need to set up an appointment at your assigned Passport Seva Kendra location with a hefty stack of papers and forms: your application, receipts, original identify and address proof documents/cards, any other supporting documents, and copies of all the above.
While these physical documents and their hard copies should be enough to carry out the passport proceedings smoothly, some officers in various passport service centres are demanding that applicants present their ID and address documents via the Indian government’s DigiLocker app, in addition to carrying the original identity and address proof.
While some might find DigiLocker to be a convenient way to verify their documents, those who are not comfortable with technology or smartphones may struggle if they are asked without warning to download a new app and set up their documents on the spot.
