Indian Passport Renewal in the UK — Step-by-Step Guide 2026

Q: How long does Indian passport renewal take from the UK?

Standard renewal takes 4-6 weeks from your VFS appointment. Tatkal (urgent) processing can take 1-2 weeks but costs significantly more. Processing times vary and delays beyond these timeframes are common during peak periods.

Q: How do I book a VFS appointment for Indian passport?

Indian passport appointments in the UK are booked online through VFS Global, the official partner that runs the Indian consular application centres in the UK. Submission is by appointment only, so check the current list of centres and their opening hours before you book. The official VFS Global India page is https://services.vfsglobal.com/gbr/en/ind/

Q: Can I renew my Indian passport if it's already expired?

Yes. You can renew an expired Indian passport from the UK. The process is the same as a standard renewal. However, you cannot travel on an expired passport, so plan ahead and renew before expiry if possible.

Q: What is the fee for Indian passport renewal in the UK?

The government consular fee for a standard adult passport is £93 for a 36-page 10-year booklet and £130 for a 60-page one. A child's 36-page five-year passport is £67. Tatkal is charged as a whole fee rather than a surcharge: £185 for a 36-page 10-year passport. These are the fees in the consular schedule in force from 1 July 2026, which is exclusive of the ICWF levy, and the VFS service charge is separate again. These fees are paid directly by you.

Q: Can I change my name on Indian passport during renewal?

Yes. Name changes can be done during renewal. You will need supporting documents such as a marriage certificate (for change after marriage), deed poll, or gazette notification. The process may take slightly longer than a standard renewal.

Renewing your Indian passport from the UK is handled by VFS Global, the official partner that runs the Indian consular application centres in the UK. The process involves filling the application on the Passport Seva portal, booking an appointment on the official VFS Global India page, and submitting your documents in person.

This guide covers standard renewal, expired passport renewal, child's first passport, name changes, and the tatkal (urgent) process.

Quick summary: Fill application on passportindia.gov.in → book VFS appointment → attend with originals → receive renewed passport in 4-6 weeks (standard) or 1-2 weeks (tatkal).

Types of passport renewal

The process varies slightly depending on your situation:

Standard renewal — Your current passport is expiring or has expired. Most common case.
Renewal with name change — After marriage, divorce, or deed poll. Need supporting documents.
Child's first passport — After birth registration (Form I). Both parents must sign the application.
Damaged passport replacement — If your passport is torn, water-damaged, or pages are missing.
Lost/stolen passport — Requires a police report and additional documentation.
Tatkal (urgent) — Faster processing for an additional fee. Useful if you have urgent travel.

Documents needed

📋 Standard renewal checklist

Current Indian passport (original) — even if expired.
Completed application form — printed from passportindia.gov.in after online submission.
Passport-size photos — 35 × 45 mm, colour, plain white background, face filling 80–85% of the frame; the same photo is uploaded at exactly 630 × 810 pixels, under 250 KB, JPEG. Not the OCI spec — OCI photos are square (51 × 51 mm) on a light, not-white background, so a photo made for one will be rejected by the other. (Passport Seva's ICAO photo guideline and VFS Global's UK checklist and upload guide, read 2 September 2026.)
UK address proof — utility bill, bank statement, or council tax bill (within 3 months).
UK visa/BRP — copy of your current UK visa or Biometric Residence Permit.
Self-addressed prepaid Special Delivery envelope — for passport return.

📋 Additional documents for specific cases

Name change: Marriage certificate, deed poll, or gazette notification + affidavit.
Child's first passport: Birth registration certificate from India, UK birth certificate, both parents' passports, marriage certificate. Both parents must sign the form.
Lost/stolen: Police report, affidavit, and any available photocopies of the lost passport.

Step-by-step process

1

Register on Passport Seva (passportindia.gov.in)

Create an account if you don't have one. Select "Re-issue of Passport" and fill all details exactly as per your current passport (unless changing name).

2

Upload photo and submit the form

Upload your photo — 35 × 45 mm on a plain white background, uploaded at exactly 630 × 810 pixels, under 250 KB, JPEG. Review all details carefully — once submitted, you cannot change them. Pay the government fee online. Print the application form — it will have a barcode.

3

Book a VFS Global appointment

Book your appointment on the official VFS Global India page and choose your nearest VFS Global Indian Consular Application Centre. Attendance is by appointment only — check the current list of centres and their opening hours on that page before you travel.

4

Attend your VFS appointment with all originals

Bring your printed application (with barcode), current passport, all supporting documents (originals + one set of photocopies), photos, and the prepaid return envelope. You must attend in person — for children under 18, at least one parent must accompany.

5

Wait for processing

Standard processing takes 4-6 weeks. Tatkal takes 1-2 weeks. You can track status online using your application reference number. The new passport is posted to your UK address in the prepaid envelope you provided.

Planning your appointment

Submission at a VFS Global Indian Consular Application Centre is by appointment only. A little planning helps:

Don't wait until your passport expires — you can renew up to a year before expiry. Start the process early.
Summer is the busiest travel season — many families renew before trips to India, so allow plenty of time if you are travelling in the school holidays.

💡 We help you book the appointment. As part of our passport renewal service we prepare your Passport Seva application and help you book your appointment at a VFS Global Indian Consular Application Centre. Confirm current opening hours on the official VFS Global India page.

Fees (2026)

Standard renewal (36 pages, 10-year): £93 government consular fee
Standard renewal (60 pages, 10-year): £130 government consular fee
Child (36 pages, 5-year or until 18): £67 government consular fee
Tatkal (urgent, 36 pages, 10-year): £185 — charged as a whole fee instead of the £93, not as a surcharge on top of it
ICWF levy: payable on top — the consular schedule is stated to be exclusive of it and does not give the amount, so we do not publish one
VFS service fee: payable on top. We have not verified the current amount against VFS Global’s own published charges, so we are not printing a figure for it — confirm it when you book.
Courier/SMS charges: any optional extras are charged separately — confirm what applies when you book.

Consular fees above are those published by the Consulate General of India in the schedule in force from 1 July 2026. A ten per cent discount applies to fresh applications only (not re-issues) for children up to 8 and applicants over 60 — £61 and £84 respectively on the 36-page five-year booklet.

These are government and VFS fees paid directly by you. Sorted's service fee of £99 covers the online application, photo preparation, document checking, and VFS appointment booking assistance.

Tatkal (urgent) passport

If you need your passport urgently — for example, for emergency travel to India — you can apply under the tatkal scheme. The process is the same as standard renewal but with an additional fee and faster processing (typically 1-2 weeks).

You'll need all the same documents plus proof of urgency in some cases. Tatkal applications are prioritised but not guaranteed — the Indian High Commission processes them as quickly as possible.

⚠️ Important: Do not book flights before receiving your renewed passport. Processing times are estimates and delays happen. If you have a genuine emergency and cannot wait, consider applying for an Emergency Certificate from the Indian High Commission while your passport is being processed.

Common questions

Can I renew my Indian passport if it's expired?

Yes. The process is the same. However, you obviously cannot travel on an expired passport, so don't leave it until the last minute.

Do I need to go to London for renewal?

No. VFS Global runs Indian Consular Application Centres in a number of UK cities, not only London. Check the current list on the official VFS Global India page and choose whichever is most convenient.

Can I change my address during renewal?

Yes. You can update your UK address during the renewal process. Provide current address proof (utility bill, bank statement).

How do I renew my child's Indian passport?

Children's passports are renewed similarly to adults, but both parents must sign the application form. For a first passport (after Form I birth registration), you'll also need the birth registration certificate from India. At least one parent must accompany the child to the VFS appointment.

What if I want to add or remove pages?

During renewal, you can choose between a 36-page or 60-page passport. If you travel frequently, the 60-page option is worth the small extra fee.

Let us handle your passport renewal

£99

We fill the Passport Seva application, prepare your photo to the portal's exact 630 × 810 pixel spec, check all documents, and help you book a VFS appointment. Standard, tatkal, name change, and child's first passport — all covered.

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