The Government of India has enabled passports on DigiLocker, marking a significant step in expanding the country’s digital public infrastructure (DPI) and simplifying digital KYC processes. The development is expected to benefit non-resident Indians (NRIs) and larger sole proprietor MSMEs, who often face additional documentation hurdles during verification.
With passports now available as a verifiable digital document on DigiLocker, users can securely share authenticated passport details with banks, fintech companies, and other regulated entities. This is expected to reduce reliance on physical copies and speed up onboarding and compliance processes.
Officials said the integration strengthens DigiLocker’s role as a trusted repository for government-issued documents, while also improving access for users based outside India. For NRIs, digital access to passport credentials is expected to ease identity verification for financial services, investments, and other formal processes.
The move is also relevant for sole proprietor MSMEs that operate at scale and require frequent KYC checks for credit, payments, and regulatory compliance. Digital passport verification can help streamline onboarding and reduce turnaround time.
An official familiar with the rollout said, “Making passports available on DigiLocker improves trust, efficiency, and portability of identity verification, especially for cross-border and business use cases.”
Following the update, banks and fintech firms are expected to integrate passport-based verification into their digital workflows, leveraging DigiLocker APIs. The initiative aligns with India’s broader push to build interoperable, consent-based digital systems that support faster and more secure service delivery.
