Friday, March 14, 2014

Non-Machine Readable Passports should be renewed


If you have not yet seen the news, all the non-Machine Readable Passports (non-MRP) has to be renewed by 25 November 2015.

According to the notice issued by Government of India, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has decided to get away with handwritten passports. It says, "All handwritten passports with pasted photos earlier issued by Government of India are considered non-MRP passports. All 20-year validity passports will also fall in this category."

If you have a non-MRP passport it is better to renew it sooner. It says, lot of countries may reject visa and entry into their countries, if you have non-MRP passport.

The news article below says this -- " From November 25, 2015, foreign governments may deny visa or entry to persons travelling with non-MRP passports. The Union government started issuing machine readable passports since 2001 and all new Indian passports are ICAO-compliant MRP passports."

Government of India notice -- http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/pdf/Public_Notice_Machine_Readable_Passports.pdf

News from TheHindu --
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/nonmachine-readable-passports-to-go-by-november-2015/article5533519.ece

8 comments:

  1. Hello Ambals- What happens to the visa's in the old passports? Do they have to be renewed too?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In general when a passport is renewed the visas in them remain valid. The same logic should apply here.

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    2. You have carry both the passports.

      Delete
  2. If i am living in Los Angeles, can i apply for MRP at San Francisco consulate?

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  3. Appreciate all your updates and information

    ReplyDelete
  4. Consulate General of India - San Francisco website below:
    http://www.cgisf.org/page/display/189/231

    refers this website for passport related services:
    www.passport.blsindia-usa.com

    But that link doesn't open. Does anyone know how to renew your passport, if you are in the west coast?

    I believe the agency that CGI-SF refers is the one that recently lost quite a number of passports and had so many complaints against it.

    Any advice?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. bls-india website works. You should look for SFO related sections.

      Delete
  5. My pp was renewed by Houston embassy in 2007, but why did they end up issuing a non mrp ?

    ReplyDelete