Passports

New information

In accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidelines the Government of India introduced Machine Readable Passports with effect from 26th August 2007.  All Indian nationals in India and abroad are to be issued Machine Readable Passports.  In the case of Indian nationals applying from Colombia, Ecuador and Costa Rica, these passports will be printed and issued from India.  The applications for such passports are required to be submitted to the Embassy of India, Bogotá well before the date of expiry of the existing passports for processing by this Embassy and issue of passports by the concerned office of the Government of India in New Delhi.  Such passports will be issued in India and received by the Embassy for delivery to the applicant concerned.  The whole process for issuing of a passport may take about a month from the date of application.

In emergency cases, however, the Embassy of India, Bogotá would be able to issue a hand- written short validity passport for immediate travel and the individual would then be required to apply for a Machine Readable Passport immediately on completion of the emergency journey to the Embassy of India, Bogotá.  The fees for the emergency passport (as for issue of a new passport) would be charged in such cases in addition to the normal passport fees for the Machine Readable Passport.  Such short validity passport will not be extendable and only a Machine Readable Passport can be issued from India in replacement.  All Indian nationals are advised to apply for a Machine Readable Passport as required well in time.

The application forms as available on the website of the Embassy can be used for making passport applications.  Dimensions of photographs required for Machine Readable Passports will be 3.5 cm. x 3.5 cms. with a light background.

General guidelines for Indian Passport Holders

1. Your Passport is a valuable document. It should always be either in your own custody or in the custody of a person duly authorized by you. If lost or destroyed, the fact and circumstances should be immediately reported to the nearest Indian Mission and the local police.

Important notice

With the introduction of machine- readable passports from 26th August 2007, all passport applications received in this embassy will be sent to India for machine-readable printing.

Once printed, they will be couriered back to this Embassy. Consequently all passport cases will require three weeks to process after the completion of the application form and deposit of money.

Additionally, machine- printable passports need clear photo images with light background. All photos should now be of square shape with a dimension of 3.5 x 3.5 cms. Photos not meeting this specification will not be accepted for scanning the image.
Applicant should put his signature in Black ink at the box specified on top of the front page of the application form.

PLEASE KEEP A PHOTO COPY OF YOUR PASSPORT IN A SAFE PLACE . WITHOUT THIS, THE ISSUE OF A DUPLICATE PASSPORT MAY BE DELAYED.

2. It is an offence under the Passports Act 1967 to give false information in the application. Passport facilities can be denied on grounds of suppression of factual information, submission of false particulars, willful damage of passport and for making unauthorized changes in passports.

3. Your passport can be impounded or revoked by the Government of India under the provisions of the Passports Act 1967 in which event you will have to surrender the passport to the nearest Indian Passport Authority.

4. If you have acquired foreign citizenship, please surrender the Indian passport to the nearest Indian Mission. The Indian passport is returned to the applicant after cancellation. The cancelled Indian passport should be kept in safe custody as it may be required at the time of applying for Person of Indian Origin card (PIO card) /Indian visa for the first time etc.

Application forms should be filled in fully, legibly(in capital letters) accurately with black/blue ink only and submitted with the passport. Misrepresentation/suppression of the facts may result in denial of passport/consular service. Incomplete/incorrect applications, applications with inadequate fee and the fee not paid in the prescribed manner will be returned without service.

Instructions for passport photograph

Mail Service

Embassy accepts by Mail applications for Visa/Passport and other miscellaneous consular services. Such applications are normally processed immediately on receipt provided they are complete in all respects. Discrepancies if any will be notified to the applicants and any missing papers, documents should be sent to the Embassy in original. Fax copies/photo copies are not accepted. Requisite fees in US dollars or Colombian Pesos are required to be paid by Bank transfer or deposit (no personal cheques or credit card) into the bank account of Embassy of India, Bogotá. Documents may be sent by prepaid courier to the Embassy both for receipt and despatch back to the applicants after grant/denial of service. Fees must not be sent in cash by mail. Embassy will not be responsible for cash sent by mail. Embassy account details for bank transfer/deposit are:

USD A/c No.1516, Helm Bank, Carrera 7, No.27-18, Bogota, Colombia
Correspondent Bank – Citi Bank, New York
Swift Code CITIUS33
ABA – 021000089
Beneficiary Bank – Helm Bank
Account No.109 53817
Swift Ardress : BCTOCOBB
COL PESO A/C with the above bank is : Account No.007-39680-7

Emergency Services can be provided by the Embassy in genuine cases even on holidays. Charges for the same, will be conveyed by the Consular Officer at email  Esta dirección electrónica esta protegida contra spambots. Es necesario activar Javascript para visualizarla or
Tel No. (57 1) 6373259.

Timings of Consular Services :
Receipt of Applications

09:00 hours -12:00 hours (working days)
Delivery

15:00 hours -17:00 hours (working days)