Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 9: The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has set a deadline of 24th November 2015 for globally phasing out all non-Machine Readable Passports (MRPs).
According to Rajinder Gupta, Passport Officer, Jammu said that foreign Government may deny visa or entry to any person travelling with a non-MRP passport from November 25, 2015 onwards.
All handwritten passports with pasted photos earlier issued by Government of India are considered non-MRP passports while 20- year validity passports will also fall in this category, he added.
Indian citizens residing in India and abroad and holding handwritten passports as well as 20-years passports with validity beyond November 24,, 2015, Should therefore, apply for re-issue of passport and obtain MRP passports well before the deadline, the officer further said.
For more details related to passport services, people may contact passport website (www.passportindia.gov.in or the national call centre with toll free number 1800-258-1800.