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Applicants arriving in the van can complete the document verification and biometric processes just like they do at a regular passport office. Once this is done, their passport will be sent home
This model has already been tried in other parts of the country, especially knowing that fixed passport offices often struggle to meet demand. (Image: Canva)
Bengaluru is set to get a major convenience upgrade in passport services with the introduction of Mobile Passport Vans, aimed at reducing crowding at Passport Seva Kendras and taking essential documentation services closer to residents. The initiative is expected to particularly benefit people living on the outskirts of the city, senior citizens and those who find it difficult to take out time from work for passport-related travels.
The mobile passport van will function as a fully equipped passport service unit on wheels, providing the same basic services available at the permanent centre. Officials say the pilot version of the van will start in North Bengaluru, with the first run planned at the Mini Vidhana Soudha in Yelahanka on December 8.
What is Mobile Passport Van?
The Mobile Passport Van is essentially a compact, mobile Passport Seva Kendra. It is equipped with the scanners and software necessary to process passport applications, as well as systems for capturing photographs, fingerprints and digital signatures.
Applicants arriving in the van can complete the document verification and biometric processes just like they do at a regular passport office. Once the application is processed, the passport will be delivered to the registered address of the applicant, eliminating the need for multiple trips.
This model has already been tried in other parts of the country, especially knowing that fixed passport offices often struggle to meet demand.
Why does Bengaluru need this service?
Passport Seva Kendras in Bengaluru generally handle a large number of people every day, resulting in crowded waiting areas and long appointment cycles. For residents living far from these centres, accessing a PSK may mean traveling long distances and losing half the working day.
The purpose of mobile vans is to act as a pressure-relief system, providing service to specific areas on specified days and reducing the load on permanent centres. Officials hope this targeted approach will speed up overall processing times.
For people living in peripheral areas like Yelahanka, Devanahalli and other suburban areas, the van can bring passport services much closer to home.
How will the pilot phase work
During the initial pilot phase, the van is expected to operate from morning to afternoon and handle approximately 40 to 50 applications per day. Appointments will continue to be booked online through the Passport portal, where applicants can select the mobile van option if available for their area.
On the scheduled day, applicants must reach the designated location with original documents for verification. The entire process including biometric capture will be completed inside the van.
If the pilot proves successful, officials plan to deploy the vans at multiple locations within Bengaluru on a rotational basis.
Who benefits most?
The mobile van is expected to be especially useful for senior citizens, disabled applicants, parents applying for children’s passports and working professionals who struggle to take long leave for PSK travel.
It also helps applicants who live in areas that are not well connected by public transportation, turning a time-consuming task into a short, local appointment.
The mobile passport van is part of a broader effort to modernize passport services in the city. Officials are encouraging applicants to use digital document verification methods, including cloud-based document storage, to reduce paperwork and speed up verification.
The rollout also coincides with a broader shift to new, more secure passport formats with advanced security features.
What does this mean for citizens
For many residents of Bengaluru, applying for or renewing a passport has long been associated with travel, queues and long waits. Mobile vans promise to change that experience by bringing services to people rather than making them chase them.
If successfully scaled up, this initiative could change the way government documentation services are provided in urban areas. Instead of centralized offices struggling with footfall, mobile units can offer flexible, localized solutions.
At present, all eyes are on the pilot of Bengaluru. If the convenience and efficiency it provides, mobile passport vans may soon become a familiar sight across the city, making passport services faster, easier and closer to home.
December 04, 2025, 11:56 IST
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