The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has amended the passport rules governing minors, changing the validity period of ordinary passports issued to children below 15 years of age.
The Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, signed by Joint Secretary and Chief Passport Officer B.S. Mubarak, came into force immediately after being published in the Official Gazette on September 15, 2026.
New passport validity rule for children
Under the amended Rule 12 of the Passports Rules, 1980, a 36-page ordinary passport issued to a child below 15 years of age will be valid for five years from the date of issue or until the child turns 18, whichever is earlier.
This means the passport's actual validity will depend on the child's age when it is issued.
For instance, if a passport is issued when a child is 14, the five-year period would ordinarily extend to age 19. However, under the amended rule, the passport will expire when the child turns 18.
What was the earlier rule?
Previously, a 36-page ordinary passport issued to a child below 15 was valid for five years or until the child attained 15 years of age, whichever was earlier.
The amendment therefore extends the upper age limit linked to the minor passport from 15 to 18 years.
Passport application fees also addressed
The notification has also amended Rule 8, relating to passport application fees.
Under the revised wording, fees for different types of passport applications will be charged according to the corresponding rates specified in Schedule IV of the Passports Rules, 1980.
Revised passport fees came into effect in July
The latest changes follow a broader revision of passport fees that came into effect from July 1, 2026.
Under the revised fee structure, the fee for a fresh or reissued 36-page adult passport increased from ₹1,500 to ₹2,500, while the fee for a 60-page passport rose from ₹2,000 to ₹3,500.
The Tatkaal fee for a 36-page passport was increased to ₹5,000 from ₹3,500, while the fee for a 60-page Tatkaal passport was revised to ₹6,000 from ₹4,000.
The latest amendment modifies the existing framework under the Passports Act, 1967, and the Passports Rules, 1980.
Updated passport application charges for children:
Fresh or re-issued 36-page passports for minors under the standard category now cost Rs 1,750, up from the earlier Rs 1,000 fee. Meanwhile, minor passport applications submitted under the urgent Tatkaal service have been set at Rs 3,000.
Stricter replacement costs for lost or damaged passports:
Replacing lost or damaged passports now incurs higher expenses under the updated official fee structure. For example, replacing a damaged 60-page passport using urgent Tatkaal services now requires paying Rs 8,500, compared to Rs 5,500 previously.
