What is Annexure J? Indian Consulate in Dubai implements new Indian Passport rule for those without a marriage certificate

A month after India amended passport rules making it easier for applicants to add their spouse’s name on the passport without a marriage certificate, the Indian Consulate in Dubai has begun to implement the new rule, much to the relief of hundreds of applicants. 

The new norm, Annexure J, will now enable couples, who don't have a marriage certificate, to use a self-declared affidavit signed by both husband and wife to add each other's names to the passport. They only need to include key personal details and identification documents. 

For thousands of Indians, who applied for a visa to Gulf countries, this norm was a major hurdle as many states like Uttar Pradesh or Bihar have not yet enforced the marriage registration rules. 

"The Consulate has been accepting Annexure J instead of a marriage certificate since the notification," the Press Wing of the Indian Consulate in Dubai confirmed to Gulf News.  

The new passport rule will also be beneficial to Indian expats in the UAE who want to renew or reissue their passports as Annexure J will help them get rid of the demand for an official marriage certificate. Besides, women who have changed their surnames after marriage can also use Annexure J, but not for full name changes. 

India's new passport rule has also made birth certificates the only acceptable proof of date of birth for individuals born on or after October 1, 2023.

Middle East