Frequently Asked Questions at BLS International | Call Number of BLS International For VISA services

Q1. When and how one can apply for renewal / re-issue of passport?

Ans. In view of the Government of Kuwait stipulation that a minimum one year plus validity of Passport is mandatory for affixing/renewal of residency (Iqama) in Kuwait, Passports may be renewed up to 18 months before its expiry without assigning any special reason. Passport renewal applications shall be accepted even before this period, for valid reasons to be given in writing, e.g. Exhaustion of pages due to frequent travels, Change/correction in personal particulars, Splitting name in to Given Name and Surname where the Surname column is blank in the current Passport, Change in marital status, Change in appearance/signature, Minor/major damage (explanation in Annexure-F required), or Loss of valid Passport (Lost Report from local Police authorities and explanation in Annexure-F required)

Q2. What are the requirements for getting a new Passport in lieu of lost/damaged Passport?

Ans. A Lost Report Circular from Maktab Al-Jawazaat Kuwait Passport Office, a written statement as per Annexure-F stating how the Passport was misplaced / lost / stolen, and whether this is the first instance of Loss of Passport, photocopy of the lost Passport, photocopy of the Civil ID of the applicant, along with Passport renewal fee as prescribed for the appropriate category, plus an additional Lost/Damaged Passport fee of KD 23.000 are required.

Q3. What is the procedure to apply for a Passport under Tatkaal Category?

Ans. Application for urgent issue of Passports under Tatkaal Category, without prior police verification (Pre-PV) should be accompanied by an undertaking in the prescribed format detailing the reason/s of urgency, copy of two photo Identification documents in India in the present address and additional fee of KD 46.000 (in addition to the normal fee as applicable for the specific category). Approval for Tatkaal category service will be granted by the Embassy for applicants meeting the eligibility criteria, based on previous Passport data, supporting documents and relevant guidelines in this regard. Please note that only a Short validity Passport (up to two years validity) may be granted in cases where clear police verification is not available in the previous Passport data of the applicant. Once an application is accepted under Tatkaal Category with additional fee, the Passport will be dispatched within 3 working days.

Q4. What is the procedure for Splitting name into ‘Given Name’ and ‘Surname’?

Ans. In recent times, many Countries are insisting on surname in Passport as a mandatory requirement for grant of Visa. Indian Passport holders whose full name is entered in one line in the Given Name field in their present Passport, and who wish to split the parts of such name into ‘Given Name’ and ‘Surname’, should apply for Renewal/ Re-issue of Passport in the normal course (reason – change in particulars).

Apart from other requirements/ documents for renewal of Passport, a request in the ‘Prescribed Format for Split in Name’ may be filled and submitted along with supporting documents, e.g: two photo ID documents with the full name/ initials. Please note that while splitting the name for this purpose, no addition/ deletion of spellings/ words etc., is permissible. If such additions/ deletions are involved, prescribed procedure for change of name (two Government ID documents in the changed name, Gazette notification/ name change advertisement in the prescribed format in two News papers) should be followed.

All other requirements/ documentation and fee remain the same as for Renewal/ Re-issue of Passport.

Q5. What are the requirements for addition of spouse name in the passport?

Ans. An Indian Passport holder who desires to correct Marital Status from ‘Single’ to ‘Married’ and for adding Spouse Name in Passport, should apply for Renewal/ Re-issue of Passport in the normal course (reason – change in particulars).

Apart from other requirements/ documents for renewal of Passport, a request in the ‘Prescribed Format for Addition of Spouse Name’ may be filled and submitted along with supporting documents, e.g: Marriage Certificate (Not mandatory but desirable), copy of Spouse’s Passport (it is desirable to add Spouse Name exactly as per Spouse’s Passport), or copy of Spouse’s Aadhar card. If an attested copy of Marriage Certificate is not submitted, then your Passport might be issued only after Police Verification.

All other requirements/ documentation and fee remain the same as for Renewal/ Re-issue of Passport.

Q6. What are the requirements for Deletion of spouse name in the Passport?

Ans. An Indian Passport holder who desires to Delete Spouse Name from his/her Passport should apply for Renewal/ Re-issue of Passport in the normal course (reason- change in particulars).

Apart from other requirements/ documents for renewal of Passport, a request in ‘Prescribed Format for Addition of Spouse Name’ may be filled and submitted, mentioning the reason/s for deletion (Legal Divorce, Death of the Spouse or other reasons) along with supporting documents, if any.

All other requirements/ documentation and fee remain the same as for Renewal/ Re-issue of Passport.

Q7. What is the procedure for Substitution/ Change of Spouse name in Passport?

An Indian Passport holder who desires to substitute/ change Spouse name owing to reasons of Legal Divorce and Re-Marriage, Death of Spouse and Re-Marriage,etc should apply for Renewal/ Re-issue of Passport in the normal course (reason – change in particulars).

Apart from other requirements/ documents for renewal of Passport, a request in the Prescribed Format for Substitution/ Change of Spouse name may be filled and submitted along with supporting documents, e.g: Divorce Certificate or Death Certificate of first Spouse, Re-Marriage Certificate, Second Spouse’s Passport/ Aadhar copy etc.

All other requirements/ documentation and fee remain the same as for Renewal/ Re-issue of Passport.

Q8. What are the requirements for getting a passport for new born baby?

Firstly, the parents should register the birth of the newly born baby at the Birth Registration Office, Ministry of Health, and Government of Kuwait and obtain an Arabic Birth Card (Green Card).

The birth of every child born in the Country of Kuwait to Indian parent(s) is required to be registered with the Embassy of India, Kuwait within one year from the Date of Birth.

Once Registration of Birth is done, Embassy will issue a Birth Certificate. Given name of the child will be entered in the Embassy Birth Register, Birth Certificate and Passport as per the name mentioned in the Arabic Birth Card.

Parts of name mentioned in the Arabic Birth Card could be split in to Given Name and Surname OR Family Name/Father’s Name, etc., could also be added as Surname, if the Parent/s so desire, by giving an undertaking in the prescribed format at the Embassy.

Kindly note that Birth Register is a permanent record and it is not possible to make corrections in the Birth Register and Records time and again. Therefore, any such addition/correction may be carefully considered before applying for the same, since further/later changes cannot be made in the Birth Register/Birth Certificate. Any applications for further correction of name in the Passport of the child at a later stage shall be accepted only after the said correction is done in the Arabic Birth Card.

It is essential that spouse name is endorsed in the Passport of at least one of the parents, before registration of birth of the child. In the case of recently married couple, if spouse name is not endorsed in the Passport of either of the parents, a duly attested Marriage Certificate (attestation from Home Department of the concerned State + MEA/Branch Office/RPO attestation) is required.

However, if one/both parent/s have renewed his/her Passport after Marriage, it is mandatory that change in Marital Status and Spouse Name addition has been done in such renewed Passport. Please note that Suppression of material information (marital status) in Passport renewal application, is an offence under Section 10 (3) (b) read together with section 12 (1) (b) of the Passports Act.

The parents should apply for Registration of Birth of the child and for issuance of Birth Certificate, for which application has to be submitted at one of the BLS Outsourcing Centers of the Embassy.

Documentary Requirements:

Birth Registration and Birth Certificate from Embassy:

Original Birth Card of the child should be attested by M/o Foreign Affairs, Kuwait.
Translation of Birth Card from the Authorized Translation Center.
If either of the parents hold nationality other than India, then a No-Objection Certificate is required from that respective Embassy.
Copy of Registration of birth of child on Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) website (https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in).
Original passports of both parents, duly attested Marriage Certificate, as required.
Request letter regarding Surname for New born baby in Birth Certificate and Passport.
To issue Passport to a minor child, Declaration/Consent of both the parents in the form of Annexure-‘D’ is required.
Photocopy of the Passports, Civil ID/Residence Page of both parents, Photocopy of the Birth Card and Translation of Birth Card.
If parent has renewed Passport after marriage, with suppression of marital status/ Spouse name, he/she has to apply for renewal of Passport with Spouse Name addition.
For exceptional cases like parents of children born out of wedlock, single parent cases, etc., please contact Embassy of India(Consular Section) Kuwait for details of requirements.

Q9. What are the requirements for Registration of birth of a child after one year of Birth?

In case the registration of the birth could not be done within one year for any bonafide reasons, parents of the minor child please contact Embassy of India (Consular Section) with a written request detailing the reasons for not registering the birth on time. Embassy will take a decision based on the merits of the case and as per relevant Rules.

Q10. What are the requirements for getting Emigration Check Not Required (ECNR) status on Passports?

Ans.Following persons are entitled to get the ECNR status on their passports:

All children up to the age of 18 years. (For Re-issue of Passport after they attain the age of 18 years OR 10 years validity Passport after attaining the age of 15 years documents to prove their ECNR eligibility have to be submitted.)
All persons having educational qualification of Matriculation (10th pass/ Secondary School Certificate), or above qualification.
Nurses possessing qualifications recognized under the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947.
Persons possessing two years diploma from any institute recognized by the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) or State Council of Vocational Training (SCVT), or persons holding three years diploma/ equivalent degree from institutions, such as Polytechnics recognized by the Central/ State Governments of India.
All Professional Degree holders and their spouses (duly attested Professional Degree Certificate to be submitted).
All persons above age of 50 years.
All persons who have emigrated abroad for employment purposes through legal channels, after obtaining clearance from the Office of Protector General of Emigrants (PoE clearance), will become eligible for ECR deletion after they complete three years stay abroad subsequent to the date of PoE clearance (the period of three years stay may or may not be continuous). A printout of clearance from Emigrate Website and Stay Verification Form duly filled should be submitted along with the Passport Application.

Q11. What shall I do if the lamination of my passport comes out or gets damaged?

Ans. If the lamination of your passport has come out, please do not try to fix it on your own as it may further damage your passport. In such cases, you are requested to contact the Embassy of India, Kuwait for further services along with original Civil ID or any other identification document and Passport. On verifying the condition of the Passport, Embassy re-laminates passport free of cost. If the Passport is damaged beyond repair then you need to fill up Application Form No. 1E for issue of fresh Passport.

Q12 : What are the requirements for getting Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)?

POLICE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE (PCC)

A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is normally issued by the Police Station authorities in the concerned State/UT in India under whose jurisdiction an applicant has resided while in India.

PCC is usually required to be submitted to foreign government authorities for various purposes, e.g: Residency status, Employment, Long term visa, Immigration, Dependent Visa, etc. A PCC from India may be applied for and obtained in the following ways:

(I) Indian Passport holders residing in Kuwait (apply at BLS Outsourcing Centre of the Embassy):

They can apply for a PCC which is to be submitted to Kuwait Government authorities or to other foreign government authorities, based on their valid Passport, by making an online application at any one of the BLS Outsourcing Centres of the Embassy, specifying the Country and purpose for which the PCC is required. After processing of the application in the Embassy (document verification/ passport data verification, etc) Police Verification will be initiated at the applicant’s given address in India. Once clear verification report is received from the local police authority in India, a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) will be printed and dispatched to the applicant. This PCC may then be got attested from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of the Government of State of Kuwait.

(II) Obtaining a PCC directly from India:

(A) Indian Passport holders currently residing in India and desirous of travelling to Kuwait may apply for a PCC at the Regional Passport Office (RPO) near their place of stay in India. A PCC will be issued to them after due Police Verification through the concerned Police authorities in the respective State/UT in India. If required, this PCC can be got attested from the Embassy of India Kuwait (an application for this purpose may be submitted at one of the BLS Outsourcing Centres along with the original PCC issued from the RPO and the requisite fee).

(B) Residents in India (both Indian nationals and foreigners) have the option of obtaining a PCC directly from the Police Station under whose jurisdiction they are currently residing in India.

Such a PCC issued by the concerned police authorities from the State should be duly attested by the Home Department of the same State (please note that a PCC issued from one state and attested from another State will not be considered as genuine attestation).

Thereafter, it should be attested by the Regional Passport Office (RPO) or from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), New Delhi or any of the MEA Branch Offices in the concerned State.

This may then be got attested by the Kuwaiti Embassy/ Consulate in India for submitting to MoFA, Kuwait.

Foreign nationals: For obtaining a PCC pertaining to their earlier period of stay in India, foreign nationals (including Kuwaiti nationals) who have resided in India in the past, may either:

(a) Directly apply for a PCC from the Police authorities of the State/UT where they have resided, through their relatives, friends, or acquaintances in India.

Such a PCC issued by the concerned police authorities from the State should be duly attested by the Home Department of the same State (please note that a PCC issued from one state and attested from another State will not be considered as genuine attestation).

Thereafter, it should be attested by the Regional Passport Office (RPO) or from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), New Delhi or any of the MEA Branch Offices in the concerned State.

This may then be got attested by the Kuwaiti Embassy/ Consulate in India for submitting to MoFA, Kuwait.

OR

(b) Submit a written application for a PCC at the Embassy of India, Kuwait along with Self-attested copy of their valid Passport.

Self-attested copy of their valid Civil ID.

Details of their stay in India including full address of place of stay, Period of stay, Name and details of any contact person(s) or Institutions in India.

Embassy shall issue a PCC after necessary enquiries/procedure.

+965 22211228

Frequently Asked Questions