PUNE: The ministry of external affairs has announced that citizens can now add their spouse's name to passports without submitting a marriage certificate, thanks to the introduction of Annexure J option.
The new guidelines, said a senior passport official, would significantly simplify the passport amendment process. "The joint photo declaration (Annexure J), signed by both husband and wife, now serves as a valid alternative to the traditional marriage certificate requirement that many found difficult to fulfil," Pune's regional passport officer Arjun Deore told TOI.
"Given that MEA is streamlining the documentary process, this change addresses a significant regional disparity. In Maharashtra, marriages are typically registered by default. But in northern states, many don't register marriages and thus, don't possess marriage certificates," said another senior passport official.
"So MEA has given the option of Joint Photo Declaration as an alternative. There are times when people are missing the documents," the official said.
The "Annexure J" form serves as a joint declaration in lieu of a marriage certificate for passport applicants. The document requires the passport applicants to declare their name, residence and affirm they are married to their spouse (with space to fill in the spouse's name), stating they have been living together as a married couple. The applicant must request that their passport be issued or reissued with their spouse's name included. The form includes a solemn affirmation that all provided information is correct.
"A designated space is provided for a self-attested joint photograph of the husband and wife. The form must include the place and date of signing, along with signatures of spouses. Additional details required include the names, Aadhaar card numbers, voter ID numbers and passport numbers (if available) of both parties, with all fields properly completed for the declaration to be valid," Dr Deore said.
Divorce order or decree would still be required to delete the name of spouse from the passport.
"To change name of spouse, divorce order /decree or death certificate of first spouse, re-marriage certificate or joint photo declaration (Annexure J) by both parties and updated identity documents with QR-code enabled Aadhaar verification would be required," a source said.
The new guidelines, said a senior passport official, would significantly simplify the passport amendment process. "The joint photo declaration (Annexure J), signed by both husband and wife, now serves as a valid alternative to the traditional marriage certificate requirement that many found difficult to fulfil," Pune's regional passport officer Arjun Deore told TOI.
"Given that MEA is streamlining the documentary process, this change addresses a significant regional disparity. In Maharashtra, marriages are typically registered by default. But in northern states, many don't register marriages and thus, don't possess marriage certificates," said another senior passport official.
"So MEA has given the option of Joint Photo Declaration as an alternative. There are times when people are missing the documents," the official said.
The "Annexure J" form serves as a joint declaration in lieu of a marriage certificate for passport applicants. The document requires the passport applicants to declare their name, residence and affirm they are married to their spouse (with space to fill in the spouse's name), stating they have been living together as a married couple. The applicant must request that their passport be issued or reissued with their spouse's name included. The form includes a solemn affirmation that all provided information is correct.
"A designated space is provided for a self-attested joint photograph of the husband and wife. The form must include the place and date of signing, along with signatures of spouses. Additional details required include the names, Aadhaar card numbers, voter ID numbers and passport numbers (if available) of both parties, with all fields properly completed for the declaration to be valid," Dr Deore said.
Divorce order or decree would still be required to delete the name of spouse from the passport.
"To change name of spouse, divorce order /decree or death certificate of first spouse, re-marriage certificate or joint photo declaration (Annexure J) by both parties and updated identity documents with QR-code enabled Aadhaar verification would be required," a source said.
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