Passport rules amended: new fees, child validity changed

The Ministry of External Affairs has amended passport rules, altering the validity of 36-page ordinary passports issued to children below 15 years. Under the new rule, such passports will be valid for five years from the date of issue or until the child turns 18, whichever is earlier. The earlier provision had set the expiry at five years or when the child turned 15. The change applies to passports issued after the notification, which was published in the official gazette in September 2026.

Separately, passport application fees were revised from July 1, 2026. The fee for a fresh 36-page passport for an adult is now Rs 2,500, up from Rs 1,500. The Tatkaal fee for a 36-page passport is Rs 5,000. For children below 18, a fresh 36-page passport costs Rs 1,750, and Rs 4,250 under Tatkaal. A 10% discount on fresh applications is available for children up to age eight and senior citizens above 60.

Gulf News reports the changes extend the age limit for children's passports to 18, while ensuring validity does not exceed five years. The Hindu notes the rules were notified under the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, amending the Passports Rules, 1980.