Ambiful Haq

Guides · checked 4 October 2026

RTI online for a stuck passport, PF claim, tax refund or pension

File an RTI request on RTI Online (fee ₹10) to ask a central government office the status of your application. It must reply within 30 days; if not, you can appeal for free.

When a central government office sits on your passport application, PF claim, income-tax refund or pension, a Right to Information request asks it, in writing and with a legal deadline, what is happening and who is responsible.

What to ask

You do not have to give reasons for asking (section 6(2)).

  • The present status of your application (give the reference number and the date you applied).
  • The dates it moved and the officers it went to.
  • Copies of the file notings on it.
  • The time limit for deciding it under the department’s rules or citizen’s charter, and the reason for any delay.
  • The date by which it will be decided.

How to file and what it costs

  1. Go to RTI Online (rtionline.gov.in) and choose the ministry or department (for example the Passport Seva / Ministry of External Affairs, EPFO, or CBDT).
  2. Paste your questions (the form takes up to 3,000 characters).
  3. Pay the ₹10 fee online (no fee for applicants below the poverty line, with the certificate).
  4. Note the registration number.

If there is no reply, or a bad one

The office must reply within 30 days (35 if filed through an Assistant PIO). No reply in time counts as a refusal, and the information must then be given free (sections 7(2) and 7(6)).

You can file a first appeal within 30 days, free. If that is not decided, or the decision does not help, a second appeal goes to the Central Information Commission within 90 days; it can be filed once the first appeal is decided or 45 days have passed without a decision.

Questions

What is the fee for an RTI to the central government?
₹10, paid on RTI Online (rule 3 of the RTI Rules, 2012). Appeals are free.
How long does a government office have to reply to an RTI?
30 days from receiving it (section 7(1)); 5 more if it went through an Assistant PIO.
Can I use RTI Online for a state government office?
RTI Online covers central government ministries and offices. Many states have their own RTI portals or accept requests by post.

How Ambiful Haq helps

Haq writes the request in English or Hindi, keeps the reply clock, and writes the first appeal and the second appeal to the Central Information Commission if the office does not answer.

Free to start, in English, Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Bengali and Marathi. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Sources

This guide explains the law in general terms. It is not legal advice about your own situation; for that, talk to a lawyer. Laws, fees and portals change: check the official sources above before you act.