Quick answer. To check your passport (पासपोर्ट) status, open the Passport Seva portal at passportindia.gov.in, go to Track Application Status, and enter your File Number and Date of Birth. The portal then shows the latest stage of your application, including police verification.
If you are short on time: jump straight to How to check passport status.
Quick summary: Passports are issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) through Passport Seva. Track your application at passportindia.gov.in under Track Application Status. What you need: your File Number and Date of Birth. Helpline: 1800-258-1800 (toll-free). Safety: check status only on the official portal or the mPassport Seva app, and never pay an agent to “track” it.
The status screen shows where your file has reached in the process. It moves from submission, through review and police verification, to printing and dispatch.
Police verification is a background check by your local police. It usually confirms your address and that there is no adverse record against you.
Remember that an appointment is the slot you booked at a Passport Seva Kendra. Your application is the file created after that visit. Status tracking refers to the application, using the File Number on your acknowledgement receipt.
If you are not sure of your exact stage, read the status text on the portal carefully. When in doubt, confirm the meaning on the official portal or call the helpline.
Visit passportindia.gov.in in your browser. Use the official site only, not a search-ad link or a lookalike domain.
On the home page, find and click the Track Application Status option under passport services. This opens the status tracker screen.
Type the File Number printed on your acknowledgement or application receipt. Then enter the applicant's Date of Birth exactly as given in the application.
Click the track button to view the latest stage of your application. The screen typically shows progress such as review, police verification, printing and dispatch.
You can also track status on the mPassport Seva app (Google Play or App Store) using the same File Number and Date of Birth. Or call the National Call Centre at 1800-258-1800 to speak to an executive or the automated service.
| Detail | Where to find it / notes |
|---|---|
| File Number | Printed on your application acknowledgement or receipt |
| Date of Birth | As entered in your passport application |
| Issuing authority | Ministry of External Affairs (Passport Seva) |
| Official portal | passportindia.gov.in |
| Mobile app | mPassport Seva (Google Play / App Store) |
| Helpline | 1800-258-1800 (toll-free) |
The stages below are commonly seen on the tracker. The exact wording can vary, so confirm the meaning on the official portal.
| Status stage | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Application submitted | Your file is created and accepted for processing |
| Under review | Officials are checking your details and documents |
| Police verification | Local police are verifying your address and record |
| Police report received | The verification report has reached the passport office |
| Passport printed | Your passport has been printed after clearance |
| Dispatched / delivered | Your passport has been sent by Speed Post to your address |
First, re-check the live status on the portal or app to see the exact stage. A common hold-up is pending police verification.
If the file is stuck at one stage for a long time, call 1800-258-1800 and note down the reference of your complaint. You can also raise a grievance through the portal's grievance section.
If you still get no clear answer, you have the right to ask the passport office for an official update. The Right to Information Act, 2005 lets you do this in writing.
When normal follow-ups fail, an RTI application can force a written, dated reply about your file. Under §6(1) you may ask for the status and reason for delay, and §7(1) sets the response deadline.
For step-by-step help tailored to passport delays, see RTI for passport application delay and filing an RTI for passport delay. If the hold-up is the background check, see delayed police verification.
You can draft your application quickly using the RTI Drafter. For the full method, read The RTI Playbook.
You need two things: your File Number and your Date of Birth. The File Number is printed on the acknowledgement or receipt you got after applying. Enter both on the Track Application Status screen at passportindia.gov.in, or in the mPassport Seva app. No login is normally required just to view status, though the app may ask you to sign in first.
The File Number is printed on the application acknowledgement or receipt issued when you submitted your application. Keep this receipt safe, as you will need the number for every status check. If you have lost it, call the helpline at 1800-258-1800 and ask how to retrieve your reference details.
Police verification is a background check by your local police, usually confirming your address and record. The tracker shows whether this step is pending, in progress, or the report has been received. Until the report reaches the passport office, your passport is generally not printed. Confirm the exact wording shown on the official portal.
The status will move to a dispatched or delivered stage once your passport is printed and handed to Speed Post. A consignment or tracking number is usually generated for postal delivery. Use that number on the India Post tracking service to follow the parcel to your address.
Yes. The National Call Centre number is 1800-258-1800 (toll-free). You can speak to a service executive during working hours, and use the automated service at other times. Keep your File Number and Date of Birth ready before you call, as the executive will ask for them to locate your application.
Last reviewed: 2 June 2026 — RTI Wiki editorial team. Always confirm your final status on the official portal.