The image above is an AI generated illustration made for this guide. It does not show a real person or property.
Quick answer: Indian citizens in the USA renew an Indian passport by completing the overseas application on the Passport Seva portal, registering with VFS Global, and submitting the signed application and documents at a VFS centre or by courier. The mission for your state processes it. A standard adult 36 page passport has a listed fee subtotal of $146, and the Embassy page lists about 3 to 4 weeks for normal processing and about 3 working days for Tatkal. If you have taken US citizenship, you cannot renew. Read the guide to surrendering an Indian passport in the USA instead.
This is general information, not legal advice. Fees, forms and centre arrangements change, so check the Embassy page and the VFS checklist for your category before you apply and before you pay. This guide is independent and is not affiliated with any Indian mission or VFS Global.
A note on wording: most people search for passport renewal, and the Indian forms call the application category re-issue. They are the same thing for this guide.
Who this guide is for
- Indian citizens living in the USA on a visa, Green Card, EAD or I-797A, whose passport is expiring, expired, full, damaged or needs a change of details.
- Parents renewing a passport for a minor who is still an Indian citizen.
Already acquired US citizenship? Your route is passport surrender and, where eligible, OCI or an Indian visa. Indian law does not allow dual citizenship, and a former Indian passport holder surrenders the passport rather than renews it. See the guide to surrendering an Indian passport in the USA, then the guide to applying for an OCI card from the USA.
When can you renew?
Expiry based re-issue can normally be sought within the year before the passport expires. Apply early, because the processing times below do not include VFS handling or delivery.
Who processes the application
VFS Global (VFS Services (USA) Inc.) runs the application centres for Indian passport services in the USA, as the Indian missions describe on their pages (see the Consulate General of India, Chicago and the Embassy page). VFS collects the application, checks that it is complete and sends it to the mission, which decides on it. The new passport and the cancelled one come back through VFS.
Which mission covers your state
Jurisdiction decides which mission you choose on the online form. A wrong choice means a new form, so check this first. The list below follows the consular jurisdiction notice (September 2025 version, revised from 15 July 2025). Some older official pages still show different coverage, so follow the notice and confirm on your own mission’s page.
| Mission | States and territories covered |
|---|---|
| Embassy, Washington DC | Bermuda, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia |
| Atlanta | Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, US Virgin Islands |
| Boston | Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont |
| Chicago | Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin |
| Houston | Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas |
| Los Angeles | Ten Southern California counties, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico |
| New York | Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Delaware |
| San Francisco | Northern California (48 counties), Guam, Hawaii, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming |
| Seattle | Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon, Washington |
Fees
The figures below are fee subtotals from the VFS fee table: the government fee, the $2 Indian Community Welfare Fund charge and the $19 VFS service fee. They are not an unconditional final checkout cost. Card convenience charges and any delivery arrangements are extra. The Tatkal rows show the government amount with the Tatkal supplement already included, so do not add it again.
| Service | Government fee | Listed subtotal with $2 welfare fee and $19 VFS fee |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, 36 pages, 10 years | $125 | $146 |
| Adult, 60 pages (jumbo) | $175 | $196 |
| Adult, lost or damaged, 36 pages | $250 | $271 |
| Adult, lost or damaged, 60 pages | $300 | $321 |
| Adult Tatkal, 36 pages (supplement included) | $250 | $271 |
| Adult Tatkal, 60 pages (supplement included) | $300 | $321 |
| Minor under 15, 5 years | $90 | $111 |
| Minor 15 to 18, 10 year booklet | $125 | $146 |
| Minor under 15, lost or damaged | $215 | $236 |
| Minor 15 to 18, lost or damaged, 10 year ordinary booklet | $250 | $271 |
| Minor 15 to 18, lost or damaged, 10 year jumbo booklet | $300 | $321 |
- Paying online by Visa or Mastercard carries a convenience charge of 3.75% on the VFS page. Cheques and money orders are made out to VFS Services (USA) Inc. Personal cheques are not accepted.
- The VFS page and the Embassy page can show different totals or different entries for some categories, such as lost or damaged and Tatkal. Use the VFS table for your category, and ask your mission about an unusual case instead of combining the two tables.
- Older guides and some old consulate PDFs show a fee of about $75 plus a lower service charge. Those figures are from before the revision.
Processing time
| Type | Time listed |
|---|---|
| Normal | About 3 to 4 weeks according to the Embassy page, and about 3 weeks after the application reaches the mission according to VFS |
| Tatkal | About 3 working days per the Embassy page, or 3 to 4 business days per VFS if the police verification report is clear. A complex case can take 30 days or more |
Tatkal estimates exclude VFS handling time as well as delivery. Incomplete applications and late documents have different consequences, so read the notice you receive:
- VFS returns an incomplete application after about 20 calendar days.
- A request for additional documents has its own deadline. VFS says 7 calendar days, and the Embassy page mentions a longer period, so follow the date on your own notice.
- If the extra documents do not arrive in time, processing can stop and VFS says the fee is not refunded.
If police verification is pending
A passport can be affected by a police verification report in India. A clear report speeds the Tatkal timing above, and an unclear one can extend processing. Verification can also continue after issue in some cases. Do not expect a completion date, and read the Embassy’s police verification guidance on its passport page for your situation.
Step by step
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Confirm your mission from the table above and your application category: adult or minor, ordinary, jumbo, Tatkal, or lost or damaged. |
| 2 | Open the current VFS checklist for that category on the VFS passport page and keep it beside you. |
| 3 | Complete the overseas application on Passport Seva and upload the required photograph and signature. Use an existing account if you have one, or register a new one with a new email address. Choose the mission that covers your state, and note the file number (ARN). |
| 4 | Print the application and sign it. |
| 5 | Register with VFS online and arrange payment and submission. For an appointment, book at a VFS centre (open Monday to Saturday). For courier, pay online first and then send the package (accepted Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 15:30). One application per package. |
| 6 | Submit the document package after checking it against the checklist. |
| 7 | Track receipt and processing through the passport status page. VFS dispatches the new and the cancelled passport to the return address, which must match your proof of address. |
Documents
Use the current checklist for your category. Links and the main differences are below, and the checklists carry the original, copy and notarisation instructions.
| Adult re-issue | Minor re-issue |
|---|---|
| The current adult checklist on the VFS page | The current minor checklist on the VFS page |
| Required documents: the original passport and copies, US address evidence, proof of lawful status, and the mandatory photograph and signature upload. VFS online registration must come before physical submission | The child’s documents and the parents’ requirements. Annexure D needs parental signatures and notarisation |
| The affidavit for change of appearance and signature is listed as mandatory for adult applicants. Follow the checklist’s notarisation instructions for your category | Annexure C is conditional. Custody, separation or a deceased parent can need additional evidence, so Annexure C alone does not settle every consent problem |
| Conditional cases: lost or damaged (Annexure F), name change affidavits and proof of the change | Signature or thumb impression instructions that depend on the child’s age |
- Annexure E is listed on the adult checklist. Do not assume the same annexures apply to adults and minors.
- The checklist points overseas applicants to Passport Seva, and separates an existing account login from circumstances that need a fresh registration.
Photographs and uploads
The photograph must meet ICAO standards on a white background. The current minor checklist specifies a 35 by 45 mm physical photograph that matches the uploaded image and was taken within six months, and the application also needs the image and signature uploads. This is now an operational requirement for applications, not a one-off local announcement. Check the checklist for your category before you take the photo.
Tatkal renewal
- Eligibility on the VFS page: you live in the USA with a valid passport and valid status (a visa, EAD, Green Card or I-797A).
- Excluded: lost, stolen or damaged adult passports, short validity renewals, and changes to name, sex, date of birth, place of birth or parents’ names. For adults, a change of appearance or signature is also excluded. Minors may apply for the appearance or signature exceptions.
- The government amount in the fee table already includes the Tatkal supplement.
Minors
Minor passports generally remain valid for five years or until age 18, whichever comes first. Applicants aged 15 to 18 may choose a ten year passport, subject to the applicable requirements and fee. Both parents normally have to consent, through Annexure D with notarised signatures. Annexure C and extra evidence apply where one parent cannot consent. A minor who is a US citizen cannot hold or renew an Indian passport.
Common mistakes
- Choosing the wrong mission on the online form and having to start again.
- Using an old fee amount from a blog or an old PDF.
- Skipping the photo and signature upload, or VFS registration, before submitting.
- A photograph that does not match the specification.
- Missing notarisation on the annexures or affidavits that need it.
- Returning the extra documents after the deadline in the VFS notice.
Next steps if your situation is different: if you have acquired US citizenship, see the guide to surrendering an Indian passport in the USA. If you want long term travel to India afterwards, see the guide to applying for an OCI card from the USA. If you are moving back, see the guide to returning to Navi Mumbai.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to renew an Indian passport in the USA?
A standard adult 36 page passport has a listed fee subtotal of $146: a $125 government fee, a $2 welfare fee and a $19 VFS service fee. Card convenience charges and delivery arrangements are extra. Jumbo, lost and Tatkal applications cost more. Check the current VFS table for your category.
How long does an Indian passport renewal take in the USA?
The Embassy page lists about 3 to 4 weeks for a normal application and about 3 working days for Tatkal. VFS gives about 3 weeks and 3 to 4 business days, with longer times where police verification is unclear. Tatkal estimates exclude VFS handling and delivery.
When can I renew my Indian passport?
Expiry based re-issue can normally be sought within the year before the passport expires. Applying early gives you a margin for processing and delivery.
What happens if police verification is pending?
A clear police verification report speeds a Tatkal application, and an unclear one can extend processing. Verification can continue after issue in some cases. No completion date can be promised, so read the Embassy’s guidance for your case.
Can I renew my Indian passport if I became a US citizen?
No. Your route is passport surrender and, where eligible, OCI or an Indian visa. See the surrender guide.
Which consulate do I apply through?
The one that covers your state of residence. Choose it on the online form, because a wrong choice needs a new form.
Can I apply by post?
VFS accepts applications by courier on weekdays as well as by appointment at its centres. Pay online first, then send the package, and follow the packaging and return address rules on the VFS page.
Who can get a Tatkal passport?
People living in the USA with a valid passport and valid status, for renewals without changes of personal details. Lost passports and name or date of birth changes are not eligible. Minors may apply for appearance or signature changes.
Sources
| Point | Source |
|---|---|
| Fees, processing, steps and checklists | Embassy of India, Washington DC and VFS Global |
| Jurisdiction | Consular jurisdiction notice and Consulate General of India, Chicago |
| Application form and tracking | Passport Seva and passport status page |
Reviewed on 2 November 2026. Fees and procedures are updated by the missions and VFS from time to time, so check their pages before you apply.
NaviMumbai.com is an independent information site and is not affiliated with any government body.
