A passport is primarily a travel document and should not be treated as proof of citizenship, a senior Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official said on Wednesday, as the government highlighted the rapid expansion of passport services across the country on the occasion of the 14th Passport Seva Divas.
The official said India delivered 1.5 crore passport and related services in 2025, including 1.39 crore passports, reflecting growing demand and improved service delivery. The average processing time for passports now stands at six working days, excluding police verification, while applicants spend less than 45 minutes at Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) and Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs).
