In a major relief for married couples across India, the government has removed the need for a marriage certificate to add a spouse’s name in a passport. This change comes as part of a new update issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), making the process simpler and faster.
Earlier, couples had to provide a legal marriage certificate to include their partner’s name in the passport. However, this was a big challenge in many parts of India, where obtaining a marriage certificate is still not a common practice. Now, the MEA has officially introduced Annexure J as an alternative document for this purpose.
Why This Change Matters for Indian Citizens
For many Indian couples—especially in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh—getting a marriage certificate is not always easy or quick. In rural and semi-urban areas, the awareness and practice of legally registering marriages is still limited.
Due to this, people often faced delays and complications when they needed to update their passports for travel, work, or immigration purposes. The new rule is expected to benefit thousands of couples who were stuck in paperwork due to the earlier requirement.
What Is Annexure J, and How Does It Work?
The Ministry of External Affairs has now allowed the use of Annexure J, a self-declaration form, in place of the marriage certificate. Here’s what it includes:
- A joint photograph of the husband and wife
- Signatures of both individuals
- Basic details about their marriage (like date and place)
This form acts as a declaration and will be treated as valid proof of marriage to update passport details.
How to Use Annexure J for Passport Update?
If you are applying to add your spouse’s name in the passport, you can now follow these steps:
- Download Annexure J from the official Passport Seva website.
- Fill in the required details, including names, date of marriage, and other personal info.
- Attach a joint photo with your spouse and sign the form together.
- Submit the form online or at the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) while applying for the passport or during reissue.
This simplified process will save time and avoid the hassle of obtaining legal documents, especially for couples who haven’t formally registered their marriage.
Passport Rules Are Evolving to Match Real-Life Situations
This change reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to make documentation more flexible and user-friendly. While the passport remains a critical identity document for international travel, the rules are now being aligned better with the everyday challenges faced by citizens.
The move is especially helpful for those in urgent need of a passport update but stuck due to paperwork issues related to marriage certificates. The updated rule also reduces dependency on legal formalities and supports people in getting their passports processed quickly and smoothly.
