Top 6 cities in India with the fastest normal passport delivery

A passport is more than a booklet. For thousands of Indians, getting a passport is like a dream come true. It is a gateway to opportunity, education and dream travel. To make this possible, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has standardised the passport application process across the country via the Passport Seva Programme. However, despite this, actual time taken to receive a normal or non-Tatkaal passport still differs from place to place. As per the MEA, the timeline for issuing a normal passport is within 30 working days (excluding the time taken for police verification). Still many passport offices surpass this time. But then there are cities which have set a record for issuing fastest passports, Goa hitting the new top on the list.

According to a TNN report, data from the ministry of external affairs shows average passport issuance time under the normal category in 2025 ranged from as low as four-five working days in Goa. On this note, let’s have a look at the Indian cities that have emerged as the fastest for normal passport delivery.

The Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Goa has hit a record by issuing normal passports in just four (4) working days! With this, Goa has set a new benchmark and earned a reputation for being the quickest in the country. Officially reported processing trends indicate that normal passports in Goa are often issued within about 4 to 5 working days. This makes Goa a top performer. This means that once verification is done, the waiting period is minimal.

Kerala has gained recognition for the speed and efficiency of its passport services, with the Regional Passport Offices in Kochi and Kozhikode often ranked among the quickest in the country for issuing and dispatching regular passports. According to officially reported performance data, passports are typically processed within about five working days once police verification is completed. This efficiency is largely attributed to streamlined documentation processes, extensive use of digital systems, and relatively swift police verification procedures across the state.

Then there is Mumbai. Despite being a busy city handling hundreds of applications every year, the Mumbai RPO has managed to keep its normal passport processing streamlined. As per reports, normal passports in Mumbai are issued within 7 to 14 working days (after police verification). It is actually impressive considering the volume.

The Chennai RPO is also reputed for serving a large population across Tamil Nadu. The city tops for delivering the fastest passports in the country. Normal passport applications in Chennai usually take around 9 to 15 working days after police verification. Chennai’s strength lies in consistency rather than speed, and there are less delays, whereas police verification also takes place timely.

Then there is Bengaluru, the capital city of Karnataka. There have been recent improvements under Passport Seva 2.0 and better coordination with Karnataka Police. As of now, normal passports in Bengaluru are issued within 8 to 16 working days after police verification. Bengaluru has gained from an increased use of digital tools. The app-based police verification system has been really helpful.