New Passport Rules Implemented: Passports for Children Under 15 Valid for Up to 5 Years

Regular Indian passports issued to children under the age of 15 will now remain valid for five years or until the child turns 18, whichever is earlier. This change has been introduced under new rules notified by the Ministry of External Affairs via the Passport (Amendment) Rules, 2026, published in the Gazette of India.

Validity for Minors: Under amended Rule 12(1A), a 36-page ordinary passport issued to a child under 15 will be valid for five years from the date of issue or until the child attains 18 years of age, whichever comes first.

Fee Structure Revisions: The revised rules also update application fees. A 10% concession on new passport applications continues for children under 8 years and senior citizens above 60 years (though not applicable on re-issue applications).

Adult Passport Fee Hikes: The general fee for a new 36-page adult passport or renewal has been increased from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500, while a 60-page passport fee rose from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500.

Tatkal Service Charges: Under the Tatkal scheme, fees for a 36-page adult passport increased from Rs 3,500 to Rs 5,000, and for a 60-page passport from Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000.

Fees for Minors: For minors, the fee for a 36-page new or re-issued (normal) passport has been raised from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,750, and under the Tatkal category from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,250.

Governing Act: Passports in India are issued and regulated in accordance with the Passports Act of 1967.

Central Authority: Passport services across the nation are administered by the Central Passport Organisation under the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Q: What is the new validity period for ordinary passports issued to children under 15?

A: 5 years or until the child turns 18, whichever is earlier

Q: The Passport (Amendment) Rules, 2026 amend which foundational set of rules?

A: Passport Rules, 1980

Q: What is the revised general fee for a new 36-page adult passport?

A: Rs 2,500