Government Amends Passport Rules: Birth Certificate Now Mandatory for Applicants Born After October 1, 2023

New Delhi, Feb 28 – The central government has introduced a key amendment to the Passport Rules, 1980, making birth certificates the sole acceptable proof of date of birth for individuals born on or after October 1, 2023.

An official notification regarding this amendment was issued earlier this week. The revised rules will take effect once they are formally published in the Official Gazette, according to government sources.

Key Changes in Passport Application Rules​

Under the updated norms, only birth certificates issued by:

• The Registrar of Births and Deaths,
• The Municipal Corporation, or
• Any other authorized entity under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969

will be accepted as valid proof of date of birth for applicants born on or after the cutoff date.

For those born before October 1, 2023, alternative documents, such as a driving license or school leaving certificate, will still be considered valid proof of birth.

The amendment aims to streamline the verification process and ensure uniformity in the documentation required for passport applications. The government is expected to formally announce the enforcement date once the amendment is published in the Official Gazette.