Indian passport services to go online from next week

Muscat: Indian citizens in Oman who wish to renew or apply for new passports will only be able to do so online from next month onwards, the Embassy of India here announced.
From March 3, 2019, the Global Passport Seva Programme will come into effect, enabling people to apply for their passports through the portal https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in. The current process of passport renewal will last until March 10.
Initiated by the Ministry of External Affairs at all Indian Embassies and Consulates around the world, the programme is in accordance with the Government of India’s digitalisation policy, according to the Embassy.
The new system is set to make it easier and more convenient for applications to be submitted and make passport services more accessible. “Applicants should register online at https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in (Passport Seva at Indian Embassies and Consulates) and create a user ID,” said an embassy official. “Then, they need to login using the newly created user ID and fill in the user-friendly application form online on the same portal. After submitting the form online, take a printout of the application.”
“Then, affix a photo at the designated place and signatures are required in designated places before submission to the BLS International Services LLC, Oman, or its collection centres as per the list given in the Indian Embassy. All required documents should also be submitted along with the application form at the BLS centre,” the Embassy representative said.
This would ensure speedy and hassle-free functioning of passport services for Indian citizens in Oman, the embassy said.
“For further assistance, applicants may contact BLS International Services LLC, Oman,” it added.
According to data from the NCSI, there are 664,227 Indian expatriate workers in Oman, making them the highest overseas community in the country. Of them, 48,115 are women, and 616,112 are men.