Pune Passport Office Warns Public: No Need to Replace Valid Passports with e-Passports
Pune, 23rd July 2025: Amid the rollout of e-passports in Pune, the Regional Passport Office (RPO) has issued a strong warning against misinformation being spread by unauthorized agents and touts. These individuals are reportedly misleading citizens into believing that existing regular passports are no longer valid and must be replaced immediately with new e-passports.
Arjun Deore, Regional Passport Officer, clarified on Tuesday that such claims are entirely false and motivated by personal gain. “We’ve received reports that some agents are telling people their valid passports have become obsolete because e-passports are being issued. This is simply not true,” Deore said. “These are tactics being used to generate unnecessary demand and mislead citizens for profit.”
Since May 2025, the Pune RPO has shifted to issuing e-passports as part of the Ministry of External Affairs’ Passport Seva Programme 2.0. However, Deore emphasized that previously issued passports remain fully valid and usable.
“Only individuals with expired, damaged, or full passports need to apply for a new one,” he stated. “There is no need to replace a valid passport just to get an e-passport. People should not fall prey to such rumours.”
The Ministry has confirmed that all regular passports issued under the earlier Passport Seva Programme 1.0 are still legally valid for international travel, provided they are within the designated validity period and comply with the Passports Act, 1967.
The new e-passport format, while dubbed ‘electronic,’ is still a physical document — not a digital file or app. The key upgrade lies in the embedded RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip, which securely stores personal and biometric information. This chip improves data security, enables faster identity verification at immigration counters, and reduces the risk of forgery.
“An e-passport looks like any regular passport but includes a small RFID chip,” Deore explained. “It is not something you can download or access on a phone. The chip adds a layer of digital security, but the document is still a booklet.”
The chip is marked by a unique symbol on the front cover, while the embedded technology is located inside the document.
Pune is among the leading regional passport offices in India to adopt e-passports, following successful pilot programs in Nagpur and Bhubaneswar. The initiative is part of a broader digital transformation of India’s passport services.
Deore urged citizens to rely only on official sources for passport-related information and warned against falling for agents promoting urgent e-passport applications. “Please visit our official website or contact our helpline for verified information. Do not waste your time or money based on false claims,” he advised.
