How to renew my Indian Passport from Switzerland?

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
Hi All,

I live in Basel. I'm working here. My passport expires next year July (2020). I don't have any plans to go to India before that.

1. I would like to know whether I can extend my Passport now itself?

2. Is Indian passport renewal possible from Switzerland? (Without visiting India for this purpose)

Any help is appreciated. Thank you

2
The easiest is probably to communicate with / go to the embassy/consulate.

Most countries allow their nationals to renew their passports from abroad.

3
Yes is the answer to both of your questions above.

You can find all the details in below link.

https://www.indembassybern.gov.in/pa...hine-readable/

4
You need to visit the Indian Embassy in Bern.

Make sure you have the right photo format (they are quite specific).

Passport renewal takes unto 04 weeks as the booklet is generated from india and sent across. You clearly can't leave Switzerland for that duration.

Best to write to the embassy to check the earliest when you can apply for renewal.

5
go to a photo studio to get a good photo

6

Not a good idea unless you know that that photographer can do the exact dimensions necessary for the passport. And yes, that is different per country.

7
A good passport studio has information over all country requirements

https://photobasilisk.ch/pass.php

8
No need to visit the embassy. I have done it multiple times for the whole family without even visiting once.

9
I live in Zurich and have to renew my passport. I am quite paranoid about doing the whole thing via post. I went thru the documents and understand that I have to fill the form online, paste a phone and send 2-3 more along with the application and my original passports as well. All in call I see I have to send the following documents

1. Filled application form with one photo pasted

2. 73 CHF Fees and 2 CHF surcharge both in UBS

3. Original Passport

4. Resident Permit copy (1 number)

5. Address Proof in India (am not changing my address in India, is this mandatory to be sent??)

6. Return envelope (Registered post?? how many Swiss Francs in stamps??.. not quite clear here)

No changes to be made in Address or anything else, just renewal to be done.

Can you please assist since you have said that you have done many times, hence the request

Regards

Sathya

10
Yes, self addressed registered post envelope

https://www.post.ch/en/sending-letters/registered-mail

If it's your first time renewal in CH and you are not comfortable over sending by post, you can go there personally.

11
Thanks Ankur,

Seems the embassy is not allowing face to face consular services because of COVID. I am not sure if this has changed now.

Regards

12
I did it recently and all went fine. For the peace of mind you may consider sending the application by registered post. Requirements are clearly mentioned here for the renewal: https://www.indembassybern.gov.in/pa...hine-readable/ . See "On Final Expiry of Existing Passport".

Prepaid registered post stamp: https://www.postshop.ch/shop/en/stam...epaid/p/755604

Indian address proof: AFAIR if its not changing then do not need to send proof but I would suggest call embassy and ask.

13
In any case if there is any deficiency with the application embassy will call you to correct it.

14
Many thanks. That helps.

15
Quick question: I sent all documents to embassy and today I received an email stating that Police verification has been initiated. Also, when I check the status in the Bern embassy portal, it states that the passport print has been initiated. So all good so far.

Question is reg Police verification in India— I did not change my address to be printed in the passport. Even in this case, will police verification be initiated in India ? My mother is living in the address, presume the police will visit the house, verify and then they will issue the passport.

Any experience folks? Many thanks for the support and guidance so far.

Regards

Sathya

16
Hi, I have to submit the original marriage certificate to add the spouse name to the passport (while renewing). If I submit the application by post, do I receive it back at the time of my new passport delivery?

17
Hi,

I have the below questions.

I need to submit the original marriage certificate to add spouse's name. How will it be returned?

I am planning to keep my original passport, and the embassy would return my new passport by post. How would a cancelled stamp apply to an old passport?