The Government of India has introduced a significant change in passport issuance rules. Under the new regulations, individuals born on or after October 1, 2023, must provide a birth certificate as the sole proof of their date of birth. Those born before this date can continue using alternative documents under the previous system.

Key Changes in Passport Application Rules

The central government has amended the passport application process, making a government-issued birth certificate the only acceptable proof of date of birth for applicants born on or after October 1, 2023. Without this document, the date of birth will not be considered valid.

A formal notification regarding these amendments to the Passport Rules, 1980 was issued this week. Officials confirmed that these changes will take effect once they are published in the official government gazette.

New Birth Certificate Requirement

According to the revised rules:

• Only a birth certificate will be accepted as proof of date of birth for individuals born on or after October 1, 2023.
• This certificate must be issued by:
  • The Registrar of Births and Deaths
  • The Municipal Corporation
  • Any competent authority under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969

For applicants born before October 1, 2023, alternative documents such as a driving license or school leaving certificate will continue to be accepted as proof of date of birth under the previous system.

These new regulations aim to streamline the passport application process and ensure a standardized method for verifying applicants’ date of birth.