Indian Passport Renewal from USA, UK and Canada (2026): VFS & BLS Steps, Fees and Timeline by Country
By C. Thiruvenkatam | Daily Hind News | 10 June 2026
If you’re looking up Indian passport renewal from the USA, UK or Canada, start with two corrections that save the most grief.
First, the word. There is no “renewal” of an Indian passport — officially you apply for a re-issue, and a brand-new booklet is printed. Second, the route. You begin on the Government of India’s portal at embassy.passportindia.gov.in, then finish through your country’s outsourced centre: VFS Global in the USA and the UK, and BLS International in Canada. Sending your documents to the wrong provider’s website is the most common first mistake — and an easy one, because everyone calls this “the VFS process.” In Canada, it’s BLS, not VFS.
One more thing trips people right at the counter: the photo. A wrong-sized or wrong-background photo is the single biggest reason an application is rejected or sent back. We’ll get the spec right below.
This guide is for Indian citizens abroad whose passport is expiring, has expired, is full, or is damaged. If you’ve taken another country’s citizenship, none of this applies — you cannot renew an Indian passport, you must surrender it. More on that, and the link to OCI, near the end.
How Indian passport renewal works in all three countries
The core process is the same whether you’re in Boston, Birmingham or Brampton. It runs in two stages — a Government of India online application, then submission through your country’s service provider.
- Apply online at embassy.passportindia.gov.in (the Passport Seva portal for Indian embassies and consulates, now running on the upgraded GPSP 2.0 system). Register, choose “Reissue of Passport”, pick your reason (usually “validity expired within 3 years / due to expire”), and select your mission by jurisdiction.
- Upload a digital photo and signature. Since late 2025 this is mandatory before your appointment, and the portal validates the photo for ICAO compliance. It must be a 35×45 mm-equivalent image — exactly 630×810 pixels, JPEG, between 10 KB and 250 KB. The system rejects anything even a pixel off.
- Save your Application Reference Number (ARN). You’ll need it to link the application to VFS or BLS. Lose it and you start over.
- Create an account with your provider (VFS in the US/UK, BLS in Canada), enter your ARN, choose your service and submission method, and pay.
- Submit — either in person at a centre (appointment only; walk-ins are not accepted) or, for many reissues, by mail. Your current passport goes in for processing; it is cancelled and returned to you along with the new one.
Match every detail to your existing passport exactly — the spelling and order of your name, your parents’ and spouse’s names. A mismatch you didn’t flag as a “change” is a classic cause of delay.
Who does what: VFS vs BLS by country
| USA | UK | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service provider | VFS Global | VFS Global | BLS International |
| Provider centres | Washington DC, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta | London (Hounslow & Goswell Road), Birmingham, Manchester, Leicester, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Bradford, Belfast | Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, plus satellite locations |
| Missions behind them | Embassy + Consulates General | High Commission (London) + Consulates | High Commission (Ottawa) + Consulates (Toronto, Vancouver) |
| Submission | In person or mail-in | In person (appointment) or mail-in | In person or mail-in (Purolator return) |
| Start the application at | embassy.passportindia.gov.in | embassy.passportindia.gov.in | embassy.passportindia.gov.in |
The application form and fees are set by the Government of India and are identical in structure across the three; only the provider, the local currency and some country-specific documents differ.
Documents you’ll need
Common to all three:
- Your current Indian passport (original, plus self-attested copies of the first and last pages and any observation/ECR pages).
- The printed online application with its barcode.
- Photographs to your provider’s exact printed-photo spec (see the photo section).
- Proof of your status and address in the country where you’re applying.
Country-specific points that catch people out:
- USA: proof of lawful US status (visa/green card) and an address within the jurisdiction of the consulate you selected.
- UK: you may now be asked for a UKVI share code as proof of your immigration status, because biometric residence permits have moved to digital eVisas — generate it at gov.uk. [Editor: confirm the current UK share-code requirement on the VFS India UK checklist before publishing.]
- Canada: proof of Canadian status — PR card, or a valid study/work permit. If you can’t submit it, BLS/the mission generally asks for a self-declaration of non-acquisition of Canadian citizenship plus a search letter from Canadian authorities. Applicants on a temporary/visitor status are usually issued a short-validity (2-year) passport, not the full 10 years.
If your passport expired more than three years ago, expect an extra affidavit and possibly added verification. And if your old passport was issued in India (not by a mission abroad), police verification in India can be triggered, adding weeks.
Fees by country
Fees have three to four parts: the Government of India passport fee, the provider’s service charge (VFS or BLS), a small ICWF (Indian Community Welfare Fund) contribution, and any optional courier/SMS charge. Figures below are indicative — confirm the current amount for your exact case on your provider’s fee page before you pay.
| Country (provider) | 36-page adult, 10-year (typical total) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| USA (VFS Global) | ≈ US$96 — US$75 passport fee + US$19 VFS service + US$2 ICWF | Chicago jurisdiction VFS fee is US$15.90. 60-page jumbo ≈ US$121. Tatkal +US$150. |
| UK (VFS Global) | [Confirm current GBP total at the VFS India UK fee page / hcilondon.gov.in] | Structure: GoI passport fee + £2 consular surcharge + VFS service fee + ICWF. Tatkal available. |
| Canada (BLS International) | ≈ CAD 77 — CAD 67 fee + CAD 3 consular surcharge + ≈ CAD 7.40 BLS service (incl. tax) | Some categories are charged at a CAD 100 base; confirm yours. Purolator courier extra. |
Two honest caveats. The US figures are current at the time of writing but the Government of India can revise them, so check the official VFS India fee schedule. The Canada figures are from the High Commission of India, Ottawa, and the exact line depends on your case — the mission’s own page lists more than one base fee. UK I’ve left as a placeholder rather than print a number I can’t verify against the live official page.
A 60-page “jumbo” booklet costs a little more than the 36-page everywhere, and is worth it if you travel often.
Timeline by country (and where Tatkal exists)
| Country | Normal processing | Tatkal (expedited) |
|---|---|---|
| USA | ≈ 3–6 weeks | ≈ 1–2 weeks (+US$150) |
| UK | ≈ 4–5 weeks | ≈ 1–2 weeks |
| Canada | ≈ 6–10 weeks | Offered only at some centres — e.g. Vancouver does not offer Tatkaal/jumbo |
These are typical ranges, not promises. Police verification, a personal-appearance requirement (mandatory if your appearance has changed), or a peak-season backlog can all add time. Tatkal is not uniformly available abroad — check your specific mission before relying on it.
Plan to apply 6–9 months before your passport expires. Two reasons: many countries and airlines require at least six months’ validity to let you travel, and — importantly — you won’t have your passport during processing, because the old one is submitted. Don’t book travel inside the processing window.
The photo rule that causes most rejections
Get this right and you avoid the most common rejection of all.
For the online upload, the portal demands a 35×45 mm-equivalent image: 630×810 pixels, JPEG, 10–250 KB, white background, face roughly 70–80% of the frame, neutral expression, no glasses glare.
For the printed photos you hand in, the specification has been moving to the ICAO 35×45 mm standard, which Indian missions worldwide began enforcing from 1 September 2025. That matters in practice: US drugstores (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart) default to the 2×2 inch American size, which is now the wrong shape for an Indian passport. Ask specifically for “35×45 mm ICAO passport photos.” Some BLS Canada checklists may still reference the older 2×2 inch / 51×51 mm print — so follow the exact printed-photo spec on your own provider’s current checklist rather than assuming.
One aside that saves a wasted trip: the OCI card still uses the 51×51 mm square photo, because that portal wasn’t updated alongside the passport change. If you’re doing both a passport and an OCI service, you need two different photos.
What nobody tells you
Wrong provider, wrong site. USA and UK are VFS; Canada is BLS. Starting on the wrong one wastes time and, worse, can mean paying on a site that isn’t yours.
Wrong jurisdiction. Each consulate covers specific states (USA), postcodes (UK) or provinces (Canada). Submit to the centre that covers your address — the wrong one means delay or rejection.
A “damaged” passport is a different, costlier process. A torn or water-stained page, a cracked binding, or stickers and lamination can get your booklet reclassified as damaged, which needs extra documents and a higher fee. Never laminate an Indian passport, and handle it carefully until you submit it.
The optional charges add up. SMS alerts, courier return, “premium” lounges — these are optional. Your mandatory cost is the Government of India fee + the provider’s service charge + ICWF. Decline what you don’t want.
An old India-issued passport can trigger police verification in India. If your current passport was issued in India rather than by a mission abroad, verification may be initiated back home, adding weeks. Apply early.
Returning citizens: surrender, don’t renew
If you have acquired another citizenship, you are no longer an Indian citizen — India allows no dual citizenship — and you cannot renew your Indian passport. Under Section 12(1A) of the Passports Act, a foreign national holding an Indian passport is a cognizable offence.
The correct steps: surrender your Indian passport and obtain a Surrender Certificate, then apply for OCI if you want a lifelong link to India. We covered exactly what OCI does and doesn’t allow — and how it differs from NRI status — in OCI vs PIO vs NRI. For the banking side of moving status, see NRE vs NRO vs FCNR accounts, and our guide to Aadhaar for NRIs and OCI cardholders.
Staying safe from agents and add-on charges
Everything official runs through three places: the Government of India portal (embassy.passportindia.gov.in), your provider’s official site (VFS India for the USA/UK, BLS India for Canada), and your Indian mission’s website. Fees are published there.
VFS and BLS are service providers with no decision-making power — they cannot grant, refuse or “fast-track” a passport beyond the official Tatkal route. So any “agent” promising a guaranteed result or special clearance for a fee is a red flag. Never pay official fees into a personal account, and never share your passport scans or login details with an unofficial “passport help” number found through a search ad or social media.
For a genuine consular grievance, use the Ministry of External Affairs MADAD portal (madad.gov.in) or your mission’s helpline. If you’ve lost money to online fraud, call 1930 or report at cybercrime.gov.in.
FAQ
Is it “renewal” or “reissue”? Officially it’s a reissue — a new booklet is printed. “Renewal” is just the everyday word for it.
Can I apply if my passport has already expired? Yes. If it expired more than three years ago, expect an extra affidavit and possibly added verification.
Do I get my old passport back? Yes — it’s cancelled and returned with your new one. But you don’t have it during processing, so don’t travel in that window.
VFS or BLS — which is mine? VFS Global for the USA and UK. BLS International for Canada.
What photo size do I need? A 35×45 mm-equivalent digital upload (630×810 px) for the online form, and 35×45 mm prints at most missions now. Some BLS Canada checklists still show 2×2 inch — follow your provider’s current checklist.
I’ve become a US, UK or Canadian citizen — can I renew? No. Surrender your Indian passport, get a Surrender Certificate, then apply for OCI.
Can I do the whole thing by mail? Many reissues can be mailed in. Some services (and OCI, separately) now need in-person biometrics — check your provider’s current rules.
How early should I apply? Six to nine months before expiry. You won’t hold your passport while it’s being processed.
Is Tatkal available abroad? At some missions (the USA offers it for an extra US$150), not all — several Canadian centres, including Vancouver, don’t offer Tatkaal.
Sources and disclaimer
Details here are drawn from the Government of India’s Passport Seva portal for embassies and consulates (embassy.passportindia.gov.in); VFS Global’s India passport services for the USA and UK; BLS International Canada; and the Indian missions, including the High Commission of India, Ottawa (fee schedule) and the High Commissions/Consulates in the UK and USA.
This is general guidance, not official or legal advice. Fees, processing times, photo specifications, document lists and provider centres change, and some figures here are marked indicative for that reason. Confirm the current requirements and fees for your own jurisdiction — on the official portals above and your specific mission’s website — before you apply or pay.
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About the author
C. Thiruvenkatam is the founder and editor of Daily Hind News, where he writes and edits plain-English guidance on government schemes, official documents, banking and NRI services for readers in India and abroad. His focus is turning dense official processes into steps people can actually follow. Editorial contact: dailylifearticles@gmail.com.
