Types of Passport

A passport is a document which by its nature and purpose is a political document for the benefit of its holder. it recognizes him as a citizen of the country granting it and is in the nature of a request to the other country for his free passage there. There can, therefore, be no doubt that a passport is a document of importance for travel abroad and is of considerable value to the holder. [Nrisingha Murali Charkaborty vs. State of West Bengal AIR 1977 SC 1174 at pp. 1175, 1176].

A passport is an identity of a person during his stay in foreign country, the nationality of person is not recognised in other country. So without a passport a person cannot be permitted to move into another country. Passport can be used basides identity or recognition, for different purposes. [Satwant Singh Sawhney vs. Assistant Passport Officer, AIR 1967 SC 1836].

Types of Passport

The following classes of passports may be issued under the Passport Act, 1967:

• Ordinary Passport:

  It is issued to citizens of India.

• Official Passport:

  These are issued to the following classes of persons :

  1. Government officials and non-officials when their passages are paid by the Government and members of their families, when such members of the families, also proceed out of India at the expenses of Government.

  2. Officials of Reserve Bank of India, the State Bank of India, Nationalized Banks, corporations, undertakings and other institutions owned or controlled by the State and officials of autonomous bodies set up by he State, proceeding out of India on the official work of their respective organizations; and the members of their families when such members also proceed out of India at the expense of such organizations.

  3. Permanent Government Oficials on deputation to foreign Govern-mens, the United Nations Organisations and its specialized agencies and other inter-Government organizations/agencies recognized by the Government of India, and the members of their families, provided such deputation is arranged through the Government of India.

  4. Government Officials sponsored by the Ministries in the Government of India and their departments, for attending international conferences, seminars and meetings or for undergoing training either independently or under any of the scholarship schems for the time being in force, provided he deputation out of India is treated as duty and the Government official is allowed to draw his duty pay and allowances in india and the members of the family of such official deputed out of India for a period not less than twelve months when travelling with or joining such oficial at his post abroad.

  5. Fully dependent mother/father/mother-in-law/brother/sister of an officer belonging to Indian Foreign Service (Branch B) and fully dependent mother-in-law/brother/sister of an officer belonging to Indian Foreign Service (Branch A), when proceeding out of India, with the permission of the Government, to reside with the officer at the place of his posting abroad.

  6. Any other person who, in the opinion of the Government of India should have an official passport because of the nature of his foreign missions.

     Note:

     The following person shall not be entitled to the issue of official passports, namely:

     1. Persons sponsored by a Government department for attending international conferences, seminars and meetings or for studies or training outside India either independently or under any of the scholarship schemes for the time being in force when such persons go on study leave or leave of any other kind.

     2. Persons proceeding outside India at their own expenses on commercial or other purposes although a department of the Government certifies that such purpose would be in Government interest.

• Diplomatic Passports:

  These are issued to the following classes of persons :

  1. Officers of the Indian foreign Service (Branch A) when proceeding out of Indian on official business.

  2. Such oficers of the Indian Foreign Service (Branch B) and the other officers of the Ministry of External Affairs or other Ministries or Department of the Government of India who are proceeding abroad on official business or are posted to Indian Mission or Posts abroad, as may be determined by the Foreign Service Board in the Ministry of External Affairs.

  3. Wife or official hostess or husband, as the case may be, dependent son, dependent unmarried, separated, divorced or windowed daughter, dependent parents fo an officer referred to in (a) and (b) above when travelling with or joining such officer at his post abroad, on condition of dependent status being recognised by the Ministry.

  Note:

  Any member of the family referred to in (c) above of an officer who is actually holding deplomatic assignment abroad may also be issued a diplomatic passport for staying in a country other than te country of accreditation of the officer for study or other purposes approved by the Central Government. A diplomatic passport issued in such a case shall, however, be surrendered when the diplomatic assignment of the officer is terminated or when the officer is posted back to headquarters.

  1. A person having or having been granted a diplomatic status either because of the nature of his foreign mission or because of the position he holds, as may be determined by the Central Government.

  2. Wife or husband, as the case may be, of a person referred to in (a) above when accompanying the said person.