The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has implemented significant changes to passport regulations, formalizing updates to validity periods for minors and adjusting application fees across various categories. These amendments, detailed in the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, were signed by Joint Secretary and Chief Passport Officer BS Mubarak and took effect on September 15 following their publication in the Official Gazette.
Under the revised guidelines, the validity of a 36-page ordinary passport for children under 15 years of age is now restricted to five years from the date of issuance or until the applicant reaches 18 years of age, whichever occurs first. This adjustment to Rule 12 aims to provide greater regulatory clarity for young applicants.
Furthermore, the ministry has formalized a comprehensive fee hike that has been in effect since July 1. These adjustments apply to fresh passport issuances, renewals, Tatkaal processing, replacements for lost or damaged documents, and Police Clearance Certificates. For adults, the cost of a 36-page normal passport has risen to Rs 2,500 from Rs 1,500, while a 60-page booklet now costs Rs 3,500, up from Rs 2,000.
Tatkaal service charges have also seen substantial increases. A 36-page Tatkaal passport for adults now costs Rs 5,000, compared to the previous Rs 3,500, and a 60-page version is priced at Rs 6,000, up from Rs 4,000. Replacing a 60-page passport under the Tatkaal category now requires a fee of Rs 8,500, an increase from Rs 5,500.
For minors, the fee for a 36-page fresh or reissued passport under the normal category is now Rs 1,750, up from Rs 1,000, while the Tatkaal service for the same category is set at Rs 3,000. Despite these increases, the ministry confirmed that a 10% discount remains available for fresh passport applications submitted by children under eight years old and senior citizens over 60. This concession, however, does not apply to passport reissue requests.