agencies
New Delhi, Jan 12: Reports in the media indicate that Passports will soon stop serving as valid proof of address. Such a situation is set to arise as the foreign ministry has announced that it will no longer print the last page of the document. A new series of passports that are being designed will not bear details such as address, father’s name and the name of the mother or spouse.
The reports add that some passports will also turn orange. “Those who require emigration checks may be issued passports with an orange cover to speed up the process at the airports,” the reports quoting officials say.
The decisions, according to the reports, followed a report submitted by a joint panel of foreign ministry and Women and Child Development ministry. A foreign ministry spokesperson has been quoted as saying Friday that the panel’s report has been accepted. The last page of the passport, which also includes emigration status, will be blank in the new series.
Passports currently issued are designed by the Indian Security Press, Nasik, and come in three colours. Government officers have a white passport, diplomats are issued red passports and all other passports are blue. Existing passport holders will receive the new passports once their current ones expire.
