Blog: Visiting India on e-Visa & Surrendering Indian Passport – My Complete Experience

I recently (June 2025) travelled to India with my family, and I thought sharing my experience might help others—especially those holding Canadian passports and planning to surrender their Indian passports while in India.

My travel was within approx 1 month of acquiring the Canadian passport and 2 months of attaining Canadian citizenship.

Arrival at Delhi Airport Immigration

I hold a Canadian passport, as do my children. My wife, however, was travelling on her Indian passport.

We landed at Delhi International Airport, and upon arrival, we were directed to the e-Visa counter, even though only some of us had e-visas. We were informed that everyone’s immigration would be processed together at that counter.

The immigration officer was polite and professional, and the only question asked was about our destination city in India. Since it was late at night, there was no queue, and the process went very smoothly.

Passport Surrender Process in India

We decided to surrender our Indian passports during the trip. Here’s how we did it:

1. Online Application

We filled out the passport surrender form for each applicant on the Passport Seva Portal.

Paid a fee of ₹500 per application online.

2. No Appointment Required

The portal may show “No appointment available”, but as it turns out, we did not need an appointment for passport surrender.

We simply took printouts of the application forms and supporting documents and visited the Regional Passport Office.

3. Documents Carried

1. Original & photocopy of Indian and Canadian passports.
2. Aadhar Card (original + photocopy).
3. Citizenship Certificate – I only had a digital certificate, so I carried a printout.
   1. 🔔 If you have the original, do carry it along with a photocopy.
4. Passport-size photograph, pasted on each application form.

4. Visit to Regional Passport Office (RPO)

We went to the Regional Passport Office in Lucknow (not a Passport Seva Kendra).

All applicants, including children, were required to be present in person.

We reached the office around 11:00 AM.

5. On-Ground Experience

We were directed through multiple departments.

The staff was courteous and helpful, though the clerical process was inefficient—slow data entry, server delays, and biometric setup issues added several hours to the process.

6. Final Outcome

By 5:00–6:00 PM, we received our passport surrender certificates and the cancelled Indian passports.

Return Journey & Layover in Munich

When I returned from Delhi to Toronto, immigration was smooth and uneventful—no questions were asked.

I had a 9.5-hour layover in Munich, and I decided to step out of the airport and visit my cousin. Thanks to the convenience of a Canadian passport, exiting and re-entering was super easy. Immigration at Munich was quick, and I returned to the airport on time for my connecting flight.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a Canadian passport holder of Indian origin, visiting India on an e-Visa and planning to surrender your Indian passport while in India, the process is straightforward if you’re prepared (at least at the time of writing).

✅ Apply online in advance
✅ No appointment is needed
✅ Carry all required documents (originals and copies)
✅ Be patient with delays, but expect cooperation

I hope this helps others planning a similar visit.

Any questions? Ask in the comments.