My passport is stuck on police verification — what do I do?
A passport stuck at police verification is usually unblocked by following up directly with the assigned police station's passport cell, then escalating to the Regional Passport Office and raising a grievance on CPGRAMS if the report is not submitted on time.
Passport applicants whose file is stuck at the police verification (PV) stage after their Passport Seva appointment.
A situation like yours
Anita finished her Passport Seva appointment, but weeks later the status still read "Police Verification Pending". When she called the local police station, she learned her file was lying in the Special Branch with no officer assigned.
She visited the station's passport cell with her address proof, got the verifying officer's contact, and when nothing moved she raised a grievance on CPGRAMS quoting her file number. The PV report was uploaded a few days later.
Representative example based on common cases — not a specific individual.
How to resolve it
- 1
Track the exact PV status
Passport Seva (self-service)OnlineAllow ~3 daysCheck your application on Passport Seva (passportindia.gov.in) or the mPassport Seva app using your file number. Note whether yours is pre-verification (report needed before printing) or post-verification (passport issued, police check follows). Note the assigned police station shown in the status.
- 2
Follow up at the assigned police station / passport cell
Local Police Station / SP Office (Passport Cell)In person / by postAllow ~10 daysVisit the local police station or the district SP office passport cell named in your status. Carry your address and identity proof and the file number. Politely ask which officer is assigned and request that the report be sent to the Special Branch. Keep the officer's name and a note of the visit.
- 3
Escalate to the Regional Passport Office
Regional Passport Office (RPO), MEAOnlineAllow ~15 daysIf the report is still not uploaded, raise the matter with your Regional Passport Office (RPO). Use the Passport Seva grievance / contact options, or the RPO's public email, quoting your file number and the date of your appointment. Ask the RPO to chase the police authority.
- 4
File a grievance on CPGRAMS (pgportal)
CPGRAMS (Public Grievances Portal)OnlineAllow ~20 daysLodge a free grievance on CPGRAMS (pgportal.gov.in) against the Ministry of External Affairs / the State Police, describing the stuck PV and quoting your file number. You get a registration number to track and the concerned office must respond.
- 5
Use RTI to the police on the PV report
Public Information Officer, District Police (SP Office)File an RTIAllow ~30 daysAI RTI DraftThe State Police is a public authority under the RTI Act. File an RTI with the District SP / PIO asking the current status of your police verification report, the date it was received, and the name of the assigned officer. This usually breaks the logjam. Use the RTI draft tool to frame it.
Your legal rights
The Passports Act, 1967
Passports are issued under the Passports Act, and police verification is part of the prescribed process; the government's stated norms aim to complete verification within a defined window.
Source: India Code (Government of India) ↗Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS)
Citizens can lodge and track grievances about passport and police-verification delays free of cost on the central public-grievances portal (CPGRAMS).
Source: Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Government of India ↗Tools that help
Common questions
Still stuck, or solved it differently?
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