How to Fill the Affidavit for Change of Appearance and Signature for Indian Passport Renewal

Renewing an Indian passport can feel overwhelming, especially when additional forms are involved. One such form that often causes confusion is the Affidavit for Change of Appearance and Signature.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through when this affidavit is required, whether notarization is necessary, what counts as a change in appearance or signature, and how to correctly fill out the form to avoid delays in your passport renewal process.

What Is the Affidavit for Change of Appearance and Signature?

This affidavit is required when your facial appearance or signature has changed significantly compared to the details in your previous Indian passport.

The form is listed as mandatory for passport reissuance under Indian passport services. Even if you believe no change has occurred, this form is still typically submitted as part of the document set.

Is Notarization Mandatory?

This is where many applicants get confused.

Key points to understand:

• The form itself is mandatory

• Notarization is recommended, even if you are not requesting any changes

• Notarization is strictly required only when your appearance has changed significantly

  
  

If you can still be clearly identified from the photo in your current passport, notarization is generally not required. However, the final decision always lies with the VFS officer reviewing your application. Sometimes, changes that seem minor to you may still be considered significant by the officer. If notarization is requested after submission, your application can be delayed by 2–3 weeks.

My Recommendation: Notarizing the affidavit upfront can help you avoid unnecessary delays.

What Is Considered a Change in Appearance?

Changes in appearance are broadly categorized as minor or major.

Minor Changes (No notarization usually required)

These are considered natural or temporary changes:

• Growing or shaving a beard

• Hair coloring

• Mild baldness

• Normal aging

Major Changes (Notarization required)

These significantly alter how you look:

• Facial surgery or major trauma

• Adding or removing prominent facial tattoos or piercings

• Significant weight loss or gain

• Transition from full hair to complete baldness

• Starting to wear a turban or hijab when you previously did not

Even simple changes, like adding bangs or cutting waist-length hair very short, can sometimes be viewed as significant. Again, the officer’s discretion is final.

Passport Renewal After 10 Years vs 5 Years

• After 10 years: Notarization is strongly recommended

• After 5 years: Compare your old passport photo with your new one and judge honestly whether the change is significant

When in doubt, notarize.

Change of Signature: When Does It Apply?

You must complete the change of signature section if your current signature is noticeably different from the one in your previous passport.

Common reasons for signature changes include:

• Habit or age-related changes

• Moving from initials to a full-name signature

• Signature changes after marriage or divorce

Minor signature variations (usually no notarization needed)

• Removing dots or a line under the same signature style

• Slight natural variations

Major signature changes (declare the change)

• A completely different signature style

• A new signature that no longer resembles the old one

If the signature looks entirely different, it’s best to declare the change to avoid objections later.

How to Fill Out the Affidavit (Step-by-Step)

1. Download and open correctly

• Download the form to your computer

• Do not fill it in a web browser

• Open it using a PDF reader like Adobe Acrobat

2. Fill in personal details

• Applicant’s full name (exactly as in passport)

• Father’s name (exact spelling matters)

• Current U.S. address (must match your proof of address)

• Passport number (double-check carefully)

• Issue date and place of issue

  • Use DD-MM-YYYY format as required by VFS

3. Select applicable changes

• Change in appearance

• Change in signature

• Both

4. Sign and date

• Enter the date of signing

• Write the city and state where you are signing

Printing, Photo, and Signature Instructions

• Print the form using “Fit to page” so nothing is cut off

• Affix a 2x2 passport-size photo using a paper clip

• Ensure the physical photo matches exactly the digital photo uploaded online

• Sign inside the signature box using black or blue ink only

• If requesting a signature change, sign using your new signature

• If notarization is required, sign in front of the notary

Final Thoughts

This affidavit may look simple, but small mistakes or assumptions can cause significant delays. When unsure, notarizing the form upfront is often the safest choice.