A passport is the most important document that anyone needs to travel abroad. It serves as both a travel document and a significant proof of address and identity. At times, the passport issuing authorities reject a small number of applications. This is mainly a result of some common errors and special situations. Continue reading to learn about the most common reasons why your passport application could be rejected.
Reasons for Rejection of Passport Application
Some of the reasons for the rejection of an application for a passport can be so elementary that they really shouldn't be happening. If you want to avoid making such basic mistakes then here is what you need to watch out for.
1. Mistakes on the application form
Before you start filling out the application form, make
sure you read through the instructions very carefully. If you enter the wrong
information in the wrong place, it could lead to the application being deemed
invalid.
2. Incorrect information
The information you provided was not confirmed by the
government or the documents provided by you are found to be incorrect, your
passport application will get rejected.
3. Incorrect documents
When applying for a passport, you must also provide a number of documents. These documents are used to establish your identification, date of birth, and ECR status (Emigration Check Required). The Ministry of External Affairs has released a list of documents that must be submitted, and if you do not follow it, your application will most certainly be rejected.
4. Unclear documents
Copies of all supporting documentation must be submitted
with the passport application. The passport is likely to be rejected if the
copies that were submitted are obscure and difficult to read.
5. Fee not paid
When you apply for a passport, you are expected to pay a
certain fee for said passport. If you fail to pay the fee in the given time,
your application for a passport could be rejected.
6. Failure to complete police verification
While you can get the passport even before the police verification is over, the process of the application is not complete till this verification is done. Sometimes, applications get rejected as a result of inconclusive police verification.
7. Criminal history
If you have a criminal history or cases pending, then your
application could be rejected. This could be done to ensure you are available
in the country for the duration of the trial. In case you have been involved in
a criminal investigation but the charges against you were dropped, then you
might need to submit the certificate affirming the same. This will also include
cases where there are warrants issued in your name.
8. Security reasons
There could be times when the application received could be
from a person who is ranking rather high on the most wanted list by law
enforcement in the country. Such applications would stand a very high chance of
rejection.
9. Dues not paid
There is a good possibility that the passport application will be rejected if you are in debt, have availed substantial loans, or have borrowed on credit cards and failed to make consistent repayments.
Rejection of Passport Renewal
There are a variety of reasons that would necessitate the
application for reissue of a
passport. These reasons could be anything like running out of pages, reaching
the expiry date of the current passport or even the very unfortunate situation
of losing the current passport. In this case, you are going to have to apply
for a reissue of passport which can also be subject to the conditions mentioned
above.
What to do if the Application is Rejected
If your passport application is denied, the first thing you
should do is look into the cause of the denial. If your application was
rejected owing to a lack of police verification or inaccurate documents, you
have three days to fix the error and reapply. You can write to the RPO or file
a grievance if you disagree with the reason for rejection or if the reasons are
unclear. The passport office will investigate the situation and address it as
soon as feasible.
If you were to treat these mistakes as a checklist, then you can rest assured that your application stands a higher chance of getting accepted. Make sure you are not at odds with any of the points mentioned here and ensure that you are very careful with the application and the documents that are submitted.