Child passport validity: MEA's new 5-year rule explained, fees revised
Synopsis
India has quietly but significantly changed how child passports work — minors under 15 now get a 5-year validity instead of a shorter window, saving families repeated renewal trips. Paired with the steepest passport fee hike in years, the MEA's gazette notification of 17 September 2026 will directly affect millions of Indian families planning international travel.
Key Takeaways
The MEA notified the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026 in the Gazette of India on 17 September 2026 .
Child passports (under 15 years ) will now be valid for 5 years or until the child turns 18 , whichever is earlier.
Adult 36-page passport fee (normal) raised from ₹1,500 to ₹2,500 ; Tatkaal from ₹3,500 to ₹5,000 .
Minor passport fee (36-page, normal) increased from ₹1,000 to ₹1,750 ; Tatkaal from ₹3,000 to ₹4,250 .
A 10% discount on fresh applications continues for children below 8 years and seniors above 60 years , but not on reissues.
Fee revisions had been in force since 1 July 2026 ; the gazette notification now provides formal legal backing.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has notified new passport rules that will make ordinary passports issued to children below 15 years valid for five years from the date of issue, or until the child turns 18, whichever comes earlier. The Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, published in the Gazette of India on 17 September 2026, amend the Passports Rules, 1980, and come into effect immediately upon gazette notification.
The Core Change: Amended Rule 12(1A)
Under the newly inserted Rule 12(1A), a 36-page ordinary passport issued to a child under the age of 15 will remain valid for five years from its date of issue, or until the child attains 18 years of age, whichever is earlier. Previously, child passports were issued with a shorter validity window, requiring more frequent renewals. The notification itself is dated 15 September 2026, with enforcement tied to the date of gazette publication.
Revised Passport Application Fees
The amended rules also revise Rule 8, linking fees to the updated Schedule IV. This formalises the MEA's fee revision that had already taken effect from 1 July 2026. The new fee structure covers fresh applications, renewals, Tatkaal (urgent) services, replacements for lost or damaged passports, and police clearance certificates (PCCs).
For adults, the fee for a normal fresh or renewal application for a 36-page passport has been raised from ₹1,500 to ₹2,500. A 60-page adult passport (normal) now costs ₹3,500, up from ₹2,000. Under the Tatkaal scheme, the 36-page adult passport fee has gone from ₹3,500 to ₹5,000, and the 60-page variant now costs ₹6,000, up from ₹4,000. For a 60-page Tatkaal replacement, the fee has jumped from ₹5,500 to ₹8,500.
For minors below 18 years, the fee for a fresh or reissue of a 36-page passport (normal category) has increased from ₹1,000 to ₹1,750. Under the Tatkaal scheme for the same category, the fee has risen from ₹3,000 to ₹4,250.
Who Gets a Discount
A 10% discount on fresh passport applications continues to apply for two groups: children below 8 years of age and senior citizens above 60 years. However, this discount does not extend to reissue (renewal) applications for either group, a distinction applicants should note carefully before applying.
What This Means for Families
The extended validity period is a practical gain for families who travel frequently with young children — fewer trips to Passport Seva Kendras and lower cumulative renewal costs over time. However, the steeper upfront fees mean the immediate out-of-pocket cost for new applications has risen sharply across all categories. Notably, the fee revision had already been in force since July; the gazette notification now provides the formal legal basis for all the changes. Families with children approaching the age of 15 or 18 should factor in the validity cut-off when planning passport applications or renewals.
Point of View
The steeper Tatkaal costs in particular will hit middle-income families who need expedited services most. The MEA's move to tie fees to a Schedule rather than fixed amounts also signals that future revisions can be made without fresh parliamentary notification — a quiet but significant procedural shift worth tracking.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will a child's passport be valid under the new MEA rules?
Under the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, a 36-page ordinary passport issued to a child below 15 years will be valid for 5 years from the date of issue, or until the child turns 18, whichever comes earlier. The rules were published in the Gazette of India on 17 September 2026 and take effect immediately.
What are the new passport fees in India for 2026?
The MEA revised fees from 1 July 2026, now formalised by gazette notification. A fresh or renewal 36-page adult passport (normal) now costs ₹2,500 (up from ₹1,500), a 60-page adult passport costs ₹3,500 (up from ₹2,000), and a 36-page minor passport (normal) costs ₹1,750 (up from ₹1,000). Tatkaal fees have also risen sharply across categories.
Who qualifies for the 10% passport fee discount?
A 10% discount on fresh passport applications applies to children below 8 years of age and senior citizens above 60 years. The discount does not apply to reissue or renewal applications for either group.
When did the new passport fee structure come into force?
The revised fee structure has been applicable since 1 July 2026. The Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, gazetted on 17 September 2026, provide the formal legal basis by amending Rule 8 to link fees to Schedule IV of the Passports Rules, 1980.
What is the Tatkaal passport fee after the 2026 revision?
Under the Tatkaal (urgent) scheme, the fee for a 36-page adult passport has increased from ₹3,500 to ₹5,000, while a 60-page Tatkaal adult passport now costs ₹6,000 (up from ₹4,000). For a 60-page Tatkaal replacement, the fee has risen from ₹5,500 to ₹8,500. Minor Tatkaal applications for a 36-page passport now cost ₹4,250, up from ₹3,000.
