To renew an expired Indian passport in the USA, you file the application online through the Passport Seva portal, pay the fees and book the service through VFS Global, and then either mail your document package to the VFS Indian Consular Application Center that covers your state or bring it in by appointment. VFS Global forwards the file to the Embassy of India or the appropriate consulate; you do not apply to the consulate directly. Plan on roughly three to six weeks from submission to receiving your new passport under normal conditions, longer if police verification is triggered.
Who Can Renew and Where to Send It
Any Indian citizen living in the United States with valid immigration status can apply. You will need your existing Indian passport, even if it has already expired, and proof of your legal U.S. status. Accepted status documents include a valid U.S. visa stamp, Green Card, I-797A approval notice, Employment Authorization Document, or a valid work or study permit.1VFS Global. Checklist – Re-issue/Fresh of Passport If your visa or I-797A has recently expired, you can still apply by including the I-797C receipt notice showing you filed for an extension before that expiration date.
VFS Global operates 17 Indian Consular Application Centers across the country, in cities including New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Seattle.2VFS Global. Raleigh – Attend a Centre Each center covers a specific set of states. Confirm on the VFS Global site which center has jurisdiction over your state of residence before you send anything.3VFS Global. Passport Information An application sent to the wrong center will be delayed.
Documents You Need
For a standard adult renewal with no changes to your details, your physical package should contain:
- Your original expired Indian passport, plus photocopies of the first five and last two pages and any observation or visa pages.
- A color copy of your U.S. immigration status document (Green Card, valid visa page, I-797A, EAD, or work/study permit), notarized with a notary stamp and signature.
- Proof of your current U.S. address, such as a utility bill, lease, or driver’s license.
- Two identical 2-by-2-inch (51mm x 51mm) color passport photos on a white background, full frontal view, with both eyes visible.
Every photocopy you submit has to be self-attested, meaning you sign each copy yourself. Sign in a spot that does not cover any of the information on the document.4VFS Global. ADULT Checklist – Re-issue of Passport
Separate from the two printed photos, the Passport Seva online form asks you to upload a digital photo sized 630 by 810 pixels, in color.5VFS Global. Apply for Passport Services
When You Need Extra Forms
A straight renewal with no changes needs no annexure forms. Certain situations add paperwork:
- Name change after marriage: your marriage certificate (original plus a self-attested copy) and a self-attested copy of your spouse’s passport.
- Other name changes: an Annexure E affidavit for change of name, along with supporting documents such as a court order or newspaper advertisement.
- Significant change of appearance: a change-of-appearance affidavit signed by you and attested by two witnesses who hold valid Indian passports.
- Minors: a birth certificate and an Annexure D parental consent declaration, typically signed by both parents.
The annexure forms are on the VFS Global site and the Passport Seva annexures page.6Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. Annexures/Affidavits Only include the ones that apply to you.
Filling Out the Online Application
The application is split across two separate websites, and both parts have to be done.
Passport Seva Portal
Start at embassy.passportindia.gov.in. Register or log in; passwords expire every three months, so you may have to reset yours.7Passport Seva. Process to Apply for Fresh / Reissue Ordinary Passport From the dashboard, choose “Apply for Fresh Passport/Re-issue of Passport,” then select “Re-issue of Passport.” Complete your personal details, current address, and emergency contact, and upload the digital photo. When you submit, the system generates an Application Reference Number (ARN). Save it and print the completed form.
VFS Global Website
Then go to the VFS Global site, create an account or log in, and enter your ARN to link the Passport Seva application. Select your passport booklet size and complete the payment. Print the VFS payment receipt. Both the Passport Seva printout and the VFS receipt need to go into your physical package.3VFS Global. Passport Information
Filling out the online form alone does not start the process. The physical submission to VFS Global does.
Fees for 2026
All fees are paid online through the VFS Global site. For a standard adult renewal:
- 36-page passport: $75 passport fee + $19 VFS service charge + $2 Indian Community Welfare Fund fee = $96 total.
- 60-page passport: $100 passport fee + $19 VFS service charge + $2 ICWF fee = $121 total.
These are regular processing fees.3VFS Global. Passport Information Tatkal expedited service adds $150. Budget separately for courier shipping if you are mailing your application, since you pay for both the outbound package and the return label.
Submitting the Package
Assemble the printed Passport Seva form, the VFS payment receipt, the original passport, and every supporting document in the order shown on the VFS checklist. Missing a single item is the most common reason applications get placed on hold, so verify everything before sealing the envelope.
By Mail
Ship your package to the VFS center that covers your state using a trackable courier such as FedEx or UPS, and include a prepaid return shipping label from a similar courier so VFS can send the new passport back.5VFS Global. Apply for Passport Services Label the outside of the package clearly with the service type, such as “Re-issue of Passport,” in bold letters.8VFS Global. Miscellaneous Services
By Appointment
You can book an appointment through the VFS Global site and bring the package to the center on your scheduled date with your appointment confirmation email. This is not a walk-in service. A staff review at the counter can catch missing or wrong documents before your file is sent onward.5VFS Global. Apply for Passport Services
Your new passport, along with the cancelled old one, comes back either through VFS Global’s courier service or on the prepaid label you provided. Direct pickup at the Embassy or a consulate is only possible in certain emergencies and with prior arrangement.9VFS Global. Frequently Asked Questions
Processing Time and Tracking
Regular processing runs about three to four weeks once VFS receives the package, before shipping time is added.10Consulate General of India, Seattle. Passport Services If the Indian Passport Office decides police verification is needed, the total can stretch to a month or more.11Consulate General of India. Passport Services Police verification is common for renewals, with limited exceptions such as government servants submitting an Identity Certificate (Annexure A) or a No Objection Certificate (Annexure G).12Passport Seva. Police Verification
Track your file on the VFS Global tracking page using your reference number and date of birth.13VFS Global. Track Your Application For the first six or seven working days after submission, the tracker may return “invalid input” simply because your application has not yet been entered into the VFS system. An “on hold” status means something is missing or incorrect; check your email for the specific request and reply quickly. Every day of delay in responding to VFS adds directly to your total wait.
Tatkal Expedited Processing
Tatkal is the option for applicants who need the passport faster than standard timelines. It adds $150 to the regular fees, bringing the total to $246 for a 36-page passport and $271 for a 60-page passport.3VFS Global. Passport Information Tatkal passports are dispatched within one to three working days of submission and do not wait on police verification.14Passport Seva. Tatkaal Passports
To qualify, you must have a valid passport and valid U.S. immigration status. Tatkal is not available for:15Consulate General of India, New York. TATKAAL Passport Services
- Lost, stolen, or damaged passports.
- Short Validity Passport renewals.
- Major changes to name, sex, date of birth, place of birth, signature, or parent names.
- Change of appearance for adults (minors can apply under Tatkal for appearance changes).
If your renewal involves any of those, you have to use regular processing regardless of how urgent the trip is.
If Your Passport Is Lost or Stolen
A lost, stolen, or damaged passport is not a renewal and is handled under a separate process. Tatkal is not available for it, the fee is higher than a standard renewal, and the document set includes a finalized U.S. police report no older than six months, an Annexure F affidavit describing the loss, an Annexure E deed poll, and a mandatory change-of-appearance affidavit.16VFS Global. ADULT CHECKLIST – Mandatory Documents for Lost Passport Check the current lost-passport fee on the VFS Global site before applying.17Passport Seva. Fee Structure