The MEA has notified the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, setting a 5-year maximum validity for ordinary passports issued to children under 15.
Published: September 17, 2026, 11:10 PM IST
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India Passport
New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has notified the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, revising the validity structure for ordinary Indian passports issued to minorsPublished in the Gazette of India on September 17, 2026, the updated framework amends the Passports Rules, 1980, to establish standardized validity terms for minor applicants while streamlining passport processingUnder the amended Rule 12(1A), a 36-page ordinary passport issued to a child under 15 will remain in force for a period of five years from the date of issue, or until the child attains the age of 18, whichever comes first.
What does the new notification say on Child Passport?
The notification, dated September 15, also revised Rule 8 governing passport application fees, stating that the fee payable for each category of application will be as specified in Schedule IV of the rulesThe amended rules come into force from the date of their publication in the Official GazetteThe Ministry of External Affairs had raised charges for passport-related services with effect from July 1.
The increased fee structure is applicable for fresh passport applications, renewals, Tatkaal services, replacement of lost or damaged passports, police clearance certificates (PCC), and other passport-linked servicesA 10 per cent discount on fresh passport applications continues for children below eight years of age and senior citizens above 60 years.
However, the discount will not apply to passport reissue applicationsIn the case of adults, the charges on a normal application for a fresh 36-page passport or renewal have been raised from the existing fee of Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500For a 60-page passport (adult, normal), the fee has been increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500For a 36-page adult passport under the Tatkaal scheme, the fee has been raised from Rs 3,500 to Rs 5,000, while for a 60-page passport in the category, the fee has gone up from Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000.
For a 60-page adult passport replacement in the Tatkaal category, the fee has been raised from Rs 5,500 to Rs 8,500Passport services for children below 18 years have also become costlierIn the case of a 36-page fresh or reissue passport for minors (normal), the fee has been raised from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,750In the case of a 36-page fresh or reissue passport for minors in the Tatkaal category, the fee has been increased from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,250.
(With inputs from agencies)
