The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has introduced changes to India’s passport rules in 2026, including a new validity provision for younger children and a revised fee structure.
The latest amendment to the Passports Rules, 1980, was notified on September 15, 2026, and came into force upon publication in the Official Gazette. The new child-validity provision applies to ordinary 36-page passports issued to children below 15 years of age.
The revised passport fees, meanwhile, have been applicable from July 1, 2026, following the earlier Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026.
New Passport Validity Rule for Children
Under the latest amendment, an ordinary 36-page passport issued to a child below 15 years will remain valid for five years from the date of issue or until the child turns 18, whichever comes earlier.
This changes the way the validity period is linked to the child’s age. The provision is specifically for children below 15 years applying for an ordinary 36-page passport.
Revised Passport Fees From July 1
The passport fee structure was revised from July 1, 2026. For adults and minors aged 15 to 18 who apply under the adult category, a normal 36-page passport now costs ₹2,500, compared with ₹1,500 earlier. A 60-page passport costs ₹3,500 instead of ₹2,000.
For Tatkaal applications, the total fee is ₹5,000 for a 36-page passport and ₹6,000 for a 60-page passport.
The fee for an ordinary replacement passport in case of loss or damage is ₹5,000 for 36 pages and ₹6,000 for 60 pages. Under Tatkaal, the corresponding fees are ₹7,500 and ₹8,500.
Fees for Minor Applicants
For children below 18 years applying for a 36-page ordinary fresh or reissue passport, the fee is now ₹1,750, compared with ₹1,000 earlier.
The revised rules set the total Tatkaal fee for a minor’s 36-page passport at ₹4,250.
The updated fee schedule also provides a 10% discount on fresh passport applications for minors up to eight years of age and senior citizens above 60 years. The concession does not apply to reissue applications.
What Passport Applicants Should Know
The 2026 changes have been introduced through amendments to the Passports Rules, 1980. The fee revision took effect on July 1, while the separate amendment dealing with the validity of passports for children below 15 years was notified on September 15.
Applicants should therefore check the applicable fee and passport category before submitting a fresh application or reissue request. The official Passport Seva website also confirms that passport application fees were revised with effect from July 1, 2026.