The External Affairs Ministry has announced that the online Passport Seva portal will be unavailable for maintenance from 8:00 PM IST on August 29, 2024, until 6:00 AM IST on September 2, 2024. During this period, no new appointments can be made. However, previously scheduled appointments can be rescheduled.

The ministry's statement clarified that the technical maintenance will affect all users, including citizens and various authorities such as MEA, RPO, BOI, ISP, DoP, and police departments. Appointments set for August 30, 2024, will be rescheduled and applicants will be notified accordingly.

The Passport Seva portal is essential for scheduling appointments at passport centers across India for both new applications and renewals. On the day of their appointment, applicants must visit the center in person with required documents and undergo a police verification process. Passports are then delivered to the applicant’s registered address. Opting for the regular mode typically results in delivery within 30-45 working days, while the tatkaal mode ensures faster processing.

Contingency measures are reportedly in place to minimize public inconvenience during the downtime.