Indian Passport Renewal in Singapore

When you are currently staying in Singapore but find that your Indian passport is about to expire, you should renew it soon. Of course, you don’t want to fly back to India to renew your passport, which costs you a lot of money and time. Is there any way to renew my Indian passport in Singapore? Yes. India’s High Commission in Singapore and designated Passport Application Centres, such as BLS, offer a convenient way to renew your Indian passport without flying back to India. In this blog, we will cover how to renew an Indian passport in Singapore, with step-by-step renewal instructions, what documents you need, and how much it costs.

Required documents to renew Indian documents in Singapore

Before applying for an Indian passport renewal in Singapore, you must verify that you have gathered all the required documents below. 

• A completed and printed passport renewal application form.
• Your existing (expired) Indian passport.
• A recent passport-size photograph of 2 inches x 2 inches in color with a white background and should be taken within the last 6 months.
• Your copy of the Singapore National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) or other authorized identity cards, such as EP, SP, DP and WP.
• Proof of residence in Singapore, such as utility bills and bank statements.
• The passport renewal fee.
• The original company letter states the reason for early renewal if your passport is valid for more than one year.
• A letter from the Company/Sponsor states that you will renew the pass soon after the passport renewal if the validity of your EP/S Pass/Work Permit/FDW is less than one month.
• Clear copy of PR card and valid re-entry permit, if the applicant is PR.

Minors under 21 years of age

If you are a minor applicant who wishes to renew your passport, you must prepare the documents mentioned above and prove the additional documents: 

• Original and self-attested copies of parents’ passports.
• Clear copies of Singapore IC with valid pages.
• A letter states that they have not applied for foreign citizenship for their child if one of their parents holds a foreign passport.
• Address proof document in the name of the parent(s), if they need to change the permanent address.
• Undertaking form signed by both parents.
• The required documents will depend on your passport application type or change of information. You can check the details on the BLS. 

Indian passport renewal Singapore price 

When you apply for an Indian passport renewal, there are some fees you need to know.

If you use the BLS service, you must pay an additional SGD 10.80.

How to renew an Indian passport in Singapore

After you have prepared all the required documents, you can follow the detailed steps below to apply for Indian passport renewal online.

Fill out the online application

• Visit the Passport Seva website, register by clicking on the “Register” link, or log in from the “User Login” link.
• Click on “Apply for Fresh Passport/Passport Reissue” and fill in the required details in the form with the correct information;

• After you have previewed all the information correctly, you can submit it.
• Print the completed application form out.

Schedule an appointment at BLS or the Indian High Commission

When you apply for normal processing, you can book an appointment at the BLS counter in the High Commission of India. However, if you apply for Tatkaal Service (Emergency Processing), you must book an appointment directly at the Indian High Commission in Singapore. Launch the appointment website you need, enter some information as needed, and choose the available date and time. Once confirmed, you can print it out and bring it to the scheduled appointment.

Attend your scheduled appointment

You must pay the passport fee in cash at the BLS counter or High Commission on the scheduled day. Currently, payment by credit card or electronic means is not permitted. In addition, you must submit your printed application form with all necessary documents at the BLS counter or at the Indian High Commission. Keep in mind that you must provide all necessary documents. Otherwise, your application may be canceled due to missing documents.

Get your new passport

Generally speaking, the normal passport processing time is between 5 and 8 working days. If you choose Tatkaal (Emergency) Passport Service, it may take up to 3 to 5 working days to send your new passport. When your passport is about to be issued, you can pick it up from the Indian High Commission in Singapore. However, if you need to renew a damaged passport and change passport information, such as name and address, it may take some time because it requires police verification in India. Or you can track your passport application status on the Passport Seva website if you want to check where it is.

FAQ

💡 Can I renew Indian Passports online in Singapore?

Yes. You can renew an Indian passport online in Singapore at an authorized passport application center – BLS or India High Commission Singapore. You can visit the website, apply for a passport renewal online, and book an appointment. However, you must pay the application fee and submit your required documents in person to the Appointment Centre or High Commission of India, Singapore. 

💡 What address do you get on your New Passport – India or Singapore?

You will get your Indian address that is on your previous passport when you apply for an Indian passport renewal if you do not change the permanent address. If you have changed your permanent address in India, you must provide the relevant documents or IDs to prove the changes in your address. When you make some changes to the address, birth date and name, it needs to be checked by the Indian Police Department.

💡 How many months before you can renew an Indian passport in India?

According to Indian passport rules, you can renew your passport for up to 1 year before it expires. The expiry date of the passport should be at least 6 months from the date of arrival if you are traveling abroad. Therefore, it is recommended that you renew your passport 6-12 months before it expires when you have any international travel plans. If you stay in India, you can renew your passport before it expires within one year.

💡 Can I travel back to India if my passport expires in 6 months?

Unfortunately, India has a 6-month passport validity rule, which means that if your passport is valid for less than six months, you will not be allowed to enter India. It also applies to Indian citizens. When your passport expires in 6 months, the official on board will not allow you to return to India. Therefore, the safest way to return to India is to renew your passport as soon as possible. In addition, if your passport runs out of blank pages for the immigration officer to stamp, you also need to renew your Indian passport.

💡 Can I change the scheduled appointment date?

After you have confirmed an appointment at BLS or the High Commission of India, Singapore, you can reschedule your appointment if you are not available on the scheduled day. You can cancel your previous appointment at first, and then make a new one. For a new appointment, you should attend on time, so make sure you are available at that time.

💡 How long will it take to get my new passport?

The processing time varies when you apply for an Indian passport renewal, as some passport changes need to be checked by the Indian Police Office. Generally, it tends to be 5 and 8 working days if you apply for a normal passport renewal. It will take about 3 days when you choose the Tatkaal passport services. 

However, if you apply for lost/damaged passports, it is unpredicated the timeline to obtain your new passport, as this service requires police verification in India. Generally, you will get your new passport for  30-40 days. Of course, if you want to track the status of the application, you can do so through the Passport Seva Portal by entering your reference number and date of birth. Therefore, the processing time is determined by HCI Singapore and BLS International has no involvement in the application process time.

Conclusion

Overall, it is convenient for you to apply for Indian passport renewal in Singapore online. Prepare all required documents and application fees and bring them to the Indian High Commission or BLS. If you follow the steps above to apply for a passport renewal, you can successfully obtain a new passport.