JEDDAH — Indian expatriates in the Kingdom are now required to submit online applications for all passport services. The Indian government has simplified the otherwise cumbersome process by shifting the entire paperwork for passports online. Now like their compatriots back home, the Indian expatriates can now easily log on to the portal https://portal5.passportindia.gov.in/Online/index.html and take advantage of the digital route to meet their requirements. The Indian Consulate in Jeddah has already begun to receive forms through online, which will become mandatory from March 1, according to Md. Noor Rahman Sheikh, the consul general. He told Saudi Gazette that the new system would reduce significant time in issuing and renewing passports of Indian residents in the Kingdom. He said the service had been integrated with the central pool through the Passport Seva Program, which interlinked Indian passport missions across the globe. Sheikh has advised Indian expatriates that they are now required to submit all application forms through online only by visiting the portal. The consul general said the new system would help in easy and convenient application submission process, will usher in standardization, digital overhauling, end-to-end status tracking, enhance security and make passport services more accessible and user friendly. Explaining the procedure, the consul general has said the applicants are required to do onetime registration by visiting the portal https://portal5.passportindia.gov.in/Online/index.html (Passport Seva at Indian Embassies and Consulates) and create a User ID. They can then log in by using the newly created User ID and fill in the application form online. He advised the applicants to take a printout of the application after submitting the form online. After singing the form and affixing photos and along with required documents, the form must be submitted at the VFS outsourcing agency. Further information can be obtained at website at http://indianembassy.org.sa/consular/passport and https://cgijeddah.mkcl.org and also VFS website at http://www.vfsglobal.com/India/Saudiarabia/
