Passport Verification To Be Stricter At Current Address, Says Minister

Temporary addresses during building redevelopment will be considered valid for police checks

Mumbai, July 16: Police verification for passport applications will now include stringent checks at the applicant’s current address, especially in cases where individuals have had to relocate due to building redevelopment, said Minister of State for Home (Urban), Yogesh Kadam in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.

Kadam clarified that applicants have the option to submit either their permanent or current address, and the police will be instructed to verify the current address thoroughly as per Central Government guidelines. The matter was raised in the Assembly by MLA Manisha Chaudhary, who highlighted concerns regarding address validation during temporary relocation. MLAs Amit Satam and Sunil Prabhu also participated in the discussion.

“The identity of the applicant must be confirmed through in-person verification, and it must be ensured that the individual does not have any criminal background, summons, or pending warrants,” said Minister Kadam, adding that these checks are critical for national security.

He acknowledged the difficulties faced by citizens during redevelopment projects and confirmed that temporary addresses provided in rent agreements arranged by developers will be officially accepted for passport verification.

The government also plans to enhance the verification system using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and tools such as the Passport Digital App to improve transparency and efficiency. Public awareness campaigns will be launched to inform citizens that their current address will be actively verified during the passport application process.