Visakhapatnam: The Aadhaar number is no longer mandatory submission for people applying for tatkal passports at the Visakhapatnam regional office. The decision was taken after the ministry of external affairs amended the procedure of obtaining tatkal passports.

The process of application was amended following a Supreme Court verdict.

“Aadhaar is no longer mandatory to obtain passports under the tatkal scheme. Applicants can submit any three of the 14 prescribed documents,” a senior official informed.

Earlier, it was mandatory for people to submit their Aadhaar number and two other documents to provide evidence of their residential address as per section 218 of the Passport Act.

People who did not have the Aadhar were required to apply and provide their application number to apply for tatkal passports.

Officials of the regional passport office said that subject to all other checks, the tatkal passport is issued within three days.

While a regular application for a passport costs the applicant Rs 1,500, an applicant has to pay an additional Rs 2,000 taking the total amount to Rs 3,500.

The decision was taken after the ministry of external affairs amended the procedure of obtaining tatkal passports following a Supreme Court verdict

