My passport has been under 'Police Verification Initiated' for 3 months. Can RTI help?

Yes, but you may need two RTIs. File one with the Regional Passport Office (Ministry of External Affairs) asking when the police verification was requested and whether the PVR has been received. File a second RTI with the Superintendent of Police (SP) of your district under the State Home Department asking for the status of the verification request. Both together give you the full picture.

What is the difference between PSK (Passport Seva Kendra) and RPO (Regional Passport Office)?

The PSK is the front office where you submit your application and complete biometrics. The RPO is the backend office where your application is reviewed, police verification is coordinated, and the passport is dispatched. Once your application clears the PSK, file your RTI with the RPO. The passportindia.gov.in portal shows your RPO when you track your application.

Can I file RTI for a rejected or returned passport application?

Yes. Ask for a certified copy of the rejection or return order, the specific grounds cited, and the relevant rule or circular applied. This helps you understand exactly what needs to be corrected before reapplying, and also helps you assess whether the rejection was erroneous and could be challenged.

Can I use RTI to speed up police verification?

Indirectly, yes. Filing an RTI with the SP's office asking for the status of the verification request and the reason for delay tends to create urgency. You should also file an RTI with the RPO to confirm whether the delay is at the police end or within the RPO, so you know which office to follow up with.

Is there a faster option than RTI for checking passport status?

Yes — check the live status on passportindia.gov.in using your file number and date of birth, or call the 1800-258-1800 helpline. Use RTI when these channels don't give a satisfactory response after several weeks of follow-up, or when you need a formal on-the-record answer about why your application is stuck.

Home/Guides/How to File RTI for Passport Delay or Application Status

Central Government

How to File RTI for Passport Delay or Application Status

Step-by-step guide to file an RTI application with the Regional Passport Office for passport delays, police verification hold-ups, and rejected applications. Includes a ready-to-use sample RTI draft.

Updated 24 May 2026

Quick Facts

MinistryMinistry of External Affairs

Address RTI ToPassport Officer of your Regional Passport Office (RPO)

Application Fee₹10 under RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. Free for BPL cardholders.

Response Time30 days from receipt (Section 7(1), RTI Act 2005). 48 hours if the matter involves life or liberty.

File Online Athttps://rtionline.gov.in

All information on this page is based on the Right to Information Act, 2005 (Act No. 22 of 2005) and the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. First Appeal: Section 19(1). Second Appeal to CIC/SIC: Section 19(3).

The passport application process involves multiple agencies — the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) processes your biometrics and documents, the Regional Passport Office (RPO) reviews and approves your application, and the local police conducts field verification. When delays happen, they can occur at any of these stages, and the online status messages are often unhelpful.

An RTI application with the Regional Passport Office compels the authorities to document the exact stage of your application, identify where the delay is, and respond on the record within 30 days. It is particularly effective when the standard status portal and helpline calls haven't produced results.

What Can You Achieve with an RTI to the Passport Office?

Get the exact stage of your application within the RPO's processing pipeline
Confirm whether police verification is complete and what the outcome was
Find out whether an adverse remark has been noted against your application — and why
Get certified copies of any deficiency notice or rejection order
Identify whether the delay is at the police end or the RPO end — so you know who to follow up with
Obtain the date your passport was dispatched and the tracking number if the portal shows dispatched but you haven't received it

Where to File: The Right Authority

File your RTI with the Regional Passport Office (RPO) under the Ministry of External Affairs. The RPO is responsible for the backend processing of your application; the PSK is only the front-office intake point.

Which RPO? Your RPO is determined by your state and home district. The passportindia.gov.in portal shows your RPO when you track your application. On the RTI Online portal, select: Ministry of External Affairs → Passport Division → Your RPO.

If your delay is specifically related to police verification, you will also need a separate RTI filed with the Superintendent of Police (SP) of your district under the relevant State Home Department.

How to File: Step by Step

Step 1: Gather Your Details

Your Application File Number / ARN (from the receipt given at the PSK)
The PSK name and appointment date
The current status shown on passportindia.gov.in
Your date of birth (required for portal queries)

Step 2: Draft Your Application

Be specific — ask about the current stage, police verification outcome, any adverse remarks, and any orders or notices issued. The sample draft below covers all key points.

Step 3: File on RTI Online Portal

Visit rtionline.gov.in
Click Submit Request
Select: Ministry of External Affairs → Passport Division → Your RPO
Paste your application text and pay the ₹10 fee online

Step 4: Track and Follow Up

You'll receive a registration number immediately. The RPO has 30 days to respond. If you also need to chase police verification, file a second RTI with the SP's office. Note that the police verification RTI must be filed under the relevant state government's RTI rules — either through the state RTI portal or by post to the SP's office.

Step 5: First and Second Appeal

If the RPO doesn't respond within 30 days or the response is unsatisfactory, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at the Ministry of External Affairs within 30 days of the date of the decision or the expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable.

If the FAA's response is also absent or unsatisfactory, you may file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) under Section 19(3) within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the date it should have been made.

What Specific Information Can You Ask For?

Current stage of processing as on today's date, with the date my file was forwarded from PSK to RPO
Status of police verification — date requested, date report received, and the outcome
Whether any adverse remark, objection, or flag has been noted against my application
Name and designation of the officer currently holding my file
Certified copies of any correspondence, note sheet entry, or order issued in respect of my application
If dispatched — the date of dispatch, courier or speed post tracking number, and the dispatch address

Sample RTI Application Draft

To,
The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO),
Regional Passport Office,
[City, State – Pin Code]

Subject: Application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Status of Passport Application

Sir/Madam,

I, [Your Full Name], residing at [Your Full Address], submit this application under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, to seek the following information:

Application details:
  Passport Application File Number / ARN: [File No. from application receipt]
  Date of Appointment at PSK: [DD/MM/YYYY]
  Name of Passport Seva Kendra (PSK): [PSK Name and City]
  Current status on passportindia.gov.in: [e.g., "Police Verification Initiated"]

Information sought:

1. The current stage of processing of my passport application bearing File Number [XXX] as on the date of this RTI.

2. The date on which my file was forwarded to the Regional Passport Office (RPO) from the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK), and the current location of my file within the RPO.

3. Whether police verification has been completed for my application. If yes, the date the police verification report (PVR) was received at the RPO and its outcome. If no, the reason for any pending verification.

4. Whether any adverse remark or objection has been noted against my application, and if so, the specific grounds.

5. Certified copies of any communication, note sheet entry, or order issued in connection with my application — including any deficiency notice or rejection order, if applicable.

6. If the passport has been dispatched — the date of dispatch, the courier/speed post tracking number, and the address it was dispatched to.

I am enclosing the application fee of Rs. 10 [via online payment; Reference No.: [Payment Ref]].

I request the above information within 30 days as required under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Complete Address]
Phone: [Your 10-digit Mobile Number]
Email: [[email protected]]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

Replace all text in [square brackets] with your actual details before filing. Do not include the brackets in your submission.

Frequently Asked Questions

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