The Regional Passport Office Chennai serves a number of districts in the state of Tamil Nadu together with Chennai, the capital of the state. It was set up in 1955. At the time of its inception, the Regional Passport Office Chennai was operating from George Town in Chennai (erstwhile Madras). Subsequently, the offices of RTO Chennai were transferred to the government office area of Shastri Bhavan situated in Nungambakkam, Chennai. The area houses various central government offices.
History of Regional Passport Office Chennai
In the beginning, the Regional Passport Office served the requirements of Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu over and above the bordering states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala. Because of increased necessities, different passport offices for the three abovementioned states were set up in 1976.
The Regional Passport Office, Chennai was once more ramified in 1983, and another office was set up at Trichy with its own jurisdiction.
RPO Chennai has the overall responsibility for issuing passports to the Indian Citizens who live in its jurisdictional territory.
Important information about the Regional Passport Office Chennai
Office Timings of RPO Chennai
| 10.00 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. | Status Enquiry Help Counter. |
| 10.00 a.m. - 01.00 p.m. | For application form submission (both general and Tatkal streams) |
| 10.00 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. | For issues related to various other services |
| 02.30 p.m. to 04.30 p.m. | Issue of passport submitted for various services |
| 04.30 p.m. to 05.30 p.m. | Issue of passports (which have been assured by the officials) |
Jurisdiction of RPO Chennai
The jurisdiction of RPO Chennai covers the following districts:
- Cuddalore
- Chennai city
- Kancheepuram
- Dharmapuri
- Krishnagiri
- Karaikkal
- Thiruvallur
- Pondicherry
- Villupuram
- Thiruvannamalai
- Vellore
List of Holidays
The Regional Passport Office Chennai remains closed on the following occasions:
| Date | Name of Occasion |
| 15/01/2011 | Pongal |
| 26/01/2011 | Republic Day |
| 16/02/2011 | Prophet Mohammed's Birthday |
| 16/04/2001 | Mahavir Jayanthi |
| 22/04/2011 | Good Friday |
| 17/05/2011 | Buddha Purnima |
| 15/08/2011 | Independence Day |
| 22/08/2011 | Janmasthami |
| 31/08/2011 | Eid |
| 01/09/2011 | Vinayaka Chaturthi |
| 02/10/2011 | Gandhi Jayanthi |
| 06/10/2011 | Vijaya Dashami |
| 26/10/2011 | Diwali |
| 07/11/2011 | Bakrid |
| 10/11/2011 | Guru Nanak's Birthday |
| 06/12/2011 | Muharram |
| 25/12/2011 | Christmas |
How to apply to the Regional Passport Office, Chennai
Applicants can apply for passports to RPO Chennai in four different ways and they are listed below:
- Applicants can directly submit the application forms at the counters and via their empowered couriers
- Via Travel Agents approved by RPO Chennai
- Via approved Speed Post centers in Pondicherry and Chennai
- Via District Passport Cells established in the three centers based in the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Chennai City at Anna Nagar, Adyar, and Flower Bazar and District Collectorates.
District passport cells where new applications and application for renewals can be submitted
Given below are the names of the district passport cells where new applications and renewal applications can be submitted:
| District/Area | Location |
| Chennai City-Adyar | Adyar Police Station |
| Chennai City-Flower Bazaar | Flower Bazar Police Station |
| Kancheepuram | Collector’s office |
| Chennai City-Anna Nagar | Anna Nagar Police Station |
| Thiruvannamalai | Collector’s office |
| Vellore | Collector’s office |
| Cuddalore | Collector’s office |
| Krishnagiri | Collector’s office |
| Dharmapuri | Collector’s office |
| Villupuram | Collector’s office |
| Thiruvallur | Collector’s office |
New passport applications and applications for renewal can be submitted via the accredited tourist agencies as well. Passports for which applications were submitted via tourist agencies will be sent by speed post straightaway to the applicants.
Speed Post Centers where new passport applications can be submitted:
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Pondicherry Passport Application Collection Center
The inhabitants of Karaikkal and Pondicherry can submit the new passport/ renewal applications and applications for various other services at the Pondicherry Passport Application Collection Center. The contact details are given below:
- Passport Application Collection Center
Animal Husbandry Campus
Marlaimalai Adiagal Salai
Pondicherry
Tel: 0413- 2203428
Contact Details of Regional Passport Office Chennai
- Regional Passport Office
Shastri Bhavan
26 Haddows Road
Nungambakkam
Chennai 600 006
Fax: 044-28252767
Tel: 044-28203591, 93, 94
Telegrams: Passem
Email: [email protected]
Must Read: How to Apply for Passport Online
Last Updated on 11/2/2011
