Two passports for visa processing: how it works for Indian applicants
By Ishaani Reddy (Ishaani Reddy writes about the consumer-protection side of travel — DGCA passenger rights, OTA refund policies, hidden fees, dynamic-currency-conversion traps and the seven kinds of booking mistakes that quietly drain Indian travel budgets.) · Published · 10 min read
The situation is more common than you'd think: you're waiting on a UK visa, and suddenly a Schengen trip comes up. Or you're renewing your Indian passport but need to travel next month. Here's how the 'second passport' situation actually plays out.
TL;DR — the two main scenarios and what actually works
There are two distinct situations people mean when they say 'two passports for visa processing': (1) an Indian citizen who legitimately holds two valid Indian passports (this is allowed in specific circumstances), and (2) a person who has one Indian passport and one foreign passport (OCI holder or dual citizen in a country that permits it — note India generally does not permit dual citizenship). The strategies differ completely. Most people in India asking this question are dealing with scenario (1) — a second passport issued for specific travel need while the first is stuck with an embassy. Read on for what's actually allowed.
Can an Indian citizen hold two valid Indian passports?
Yes — but only in specific circumstances, and with the Passport Authority's explicit permission. India does not allow most citizens to hold two valid passports simultaneously as a general rule. However, the Ministry of External Affairs has a provision for a 'second passport' in genuine cases where:
- Your primary passport has been submitted to a foreign embassy for a long-duration visa and you need to travel urgently on another passport
- Your primary passport contains a visa for a country that would bar you from entering a neighbouring country (the Israel–some Arab countries scenario, for instance)
- The original has been lost and you urgently need a replacement
To get a second Indian passport, you apply at the Passport Seva Kendra with a specific request letter explaining the reason, along with your primary passport (or a police report if it's lost), proof of urgency (flight booking, business documents, etc.). The second passport is typically issued with a shorter validity — sometimes just 1 or 2 years — and it expires or is surrendered when the primary passport is returned. This process is documented in the MEA's Passport Manual and the Passport Seva website; confirm the current procedure at passportindia.gov.in.
The common scenario: passport stuck at one embassy, another trip comes up
This is the situation I hear about most often. You've submitted your passport to VFS for, say, a UK visa, and it's sitting there for 4–6 weeks. Then a work trip to Germany comes up, or a family emergency, and you need to travel.
Your options:
- Track the UK application and request the passport back. VFS allows you to request the return of your passport before a decision, though the application is then abandoned and the fee is lost. This is the cleanest option if the other trip is more important and you can reapply for the UK visa later.
- Apply for a second Indian passport at the Passport Seva Kendra, citing the genuine emergency. You'll need to show the VFS receipt proving your passport is with the UK embassy, and evidence of the urgent travel need. Processing can sometimes be expedited for genuine emergency cases.
- Apply for the Germany/Schengen visa with a copy of your passport and an explanation — some Schengen member states allow you to apply while your passport is with another embassy, provided you submit a receipt showing where the passport is. The Schengen visa would then be stamped on the passport when it returns. Not all consulates accept this; confirm with the specific Schengen member state's VFS centre.
There's no single universal solution here — it depends on the specific embassies involved, the urgency, and your overall travel timeline. The key is to act early, as soon as the conflict becomes apparent, rather than waiting until you're two weeks from departure.
Applying for two visas simultaneously from India
Applying for two visas at the same time — say, Schengen and UK — is entirely legal and quite common. You submit the passport to one embassy, wait for it back, then submit to the other. The challenge is sequencing them around your travel dates.
Some practical strategies Indian travellers use:
- Apply for the harder/longer-processing visa first. If you're applying for both UK and Schengen, the UK is typically slower (no set SLA, though priority processing exists). Submit UK first, get it back, then submit Schengen — or vice versa if you know you need the Schengen trip first.
- Time your applications around your travel dates. If Europe is in August and UK is in October, apply for the Schengen in May–June and the UK in July–August.
- Ask VFS whether the specific consulate accepts 'passport with other embassy' applications. A few Schengen countries will accept applications where the passport is currently with another embassy, on the basis of a photocopy plus the receipt. Germany's VFS centres have been known to do this; others are stricter. Confirm by calling VFS directly before relying on this.
Keep detailed records of every submission: the VFS appointment number, receipt, the tracking ID, and the expected return date. When things go wrong — and sometimes they do — these records are what you need to resolve it.
India does not recognise dual citizenship — but what about OCI holders?
This trips up a lot of people. India does not permit dual citizenship — if you naturalise in another country, you're legally required to surrender your Indian passport. Many people don't do this immediately and technically hold both for a period, but that's not something I'd recommend relying on, as Indian law on this is clear.
OCI holders (Overseas Citizens of India) are a different category: they have given up Indian citizenship and hold only a foreign passport. They travel to India on their foreign passport + OCI card. They cannot hold an Indian passport. The 'second passport' situations described in this article apply to people who hold (or are applying for) two Indian passports, not to OCI holders navigating two nationalities. For OCI-specific questions, see our article on OCI card vs visa.
Passport renewal during active visas — a related situation
If you have valid Schengen, UK, US or other visas in your current passport and you're renewing your Indian passport, you don't necessarily lose those visas. Most countries allow you to travel on your new passport with the old passport (containing the visa) in hand — the old passport serves as evidence of the valid visa. This is standard practice and most immigration counters are familiar with it.
However, some countries are exceptions or have specific rules. The US, for instance, generally allows travel with the old visa in the old passport plus the new passport — but there are conditions (the visa must still be valid, your name and details must match, etc.). Check the specific country's rules on this. The point is: don't cancel or cut up your old passport just because you got a new one — keep it intact until all visas in it have expired or been re-stamped in your new passport. See our article on how early to apply for a visa for tips on planning passport renewals around visa applications.
Practical tips and what to actually do
To summarise the practical steps:
- If your passport is with an embassy and you need to travel urgently on another trip, your first call is to VFS — ask whether you can have the passport returned (forfeiting the application) or whether they can expedite the decision given your circumstances. Some embassies do accommodate this.
- If you genuinely need a second Indian passport, go to the Passport Seva Kendra with a letter of explanation and supporting documents. This is a legitimate process and PSK staff handle these requests regularly.
- Never submit a photocopy of your passport as if it were the original. If a consulate accepts photocopies in specific circumstances, that will be stated explicitly in their instructions — don't assume.
- Keep copies of every document you submit to any embassy. If your passport goes missing in the process (rare but not unheard of), your copies and the VFS tracking number are critical.
- Confirm all of this on the VFS Global India website and the relevant embassy site before acting — procedures change, and what was true two years ago may not be the current process. You can also use the FlightGPT visa tool to check requirements for your destination.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hold two valid Indian passports at the same time?
In limited circumstances, yes. The Indian Passport Authority can issue a second passport if your primary passport is submitted to a foreign embassy and you have a genuine urgent travel need, or if your passport contains a visa that would create problems in a neighbouring country (the Israel-Arab country scenario). Apply at the Passport Seva Kendra with a request letter and supporting documents. The second passport is typically issued with a shorter validity.
My passport is with the UK embassy. Can I apply for a Schengen visa at the same time?
Some Schengen member states accept applications when the passport is with another embassy, provided you submit a photocopy of the passport and the VFS receipt showing where the original is. Not all do — this varies by country and sometimes by which VFS centre. Call the specific Schengen country's VFS helpline to confirm before assuming this is an option.
Do I need to transfer my visas when I renew my Indian passport?
Most countries allow you to use the old passport (with the valid visa) alongside your new passport for travel — you carry both. You don't necessarily need to 're-stamp' the visa in the new passport. However, each country has its own rules on this. The US, Schengen, and UK all allow travel with old visa + new passport in most cases, but verify the specific country's current rule before relying on it.
Can OCI holders hold both a foreign passport and an Indian passport?
No. OCI holders have relinquished Indian citizenship and travel on their foreign passport with the OCI card. They cannot hold an Indian passport. If you still hold an Indian passport after taking foreign citizenship, you are technically in breach of Indian law — you are supposed to surrender the Indian passport on naturalisation. See our OCI card guide for more details.
What happens if my passport goes missing while it's with an embassy?
This is uncommon but not impossible. The VFS tracking number and any submission receipts are critical — keep copies. If the passport is genuinely lost by the embassy or VFS, you would need to file a police report and apply for a fresh Indian passport through emergency/Tatkaal channels at the Passport Seva Kendra, citing the loss. VFS Global's service guarantee should cover this situation — check the indemnity terms in your VFS appointment confirmation.