India sets five-year passport validity for children under 15
The Ministry of External Affairs has amended passport rules, setting a five-year validity for ordinary passports issued to children below 15.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has amended India's passport regulations, introducing a new five-year validity period for ordinary passports issued to children under the age of 15. The changes, formalized through the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, came into force on September 15 upon publication in the Official Gazette.
Signed by Joint Secretary and Chief Passport Officer BS Mubarak, the amendment modifies Rule 12 of the Passports Rules, 1980, under the authority of the Passports Act, 1967. The new rule specifies that a 36-page ordinary passport for a child below 15 will be valid for five years from the date of issue or until the child turns 18, whichever occurs first.
How the new validity rule works
This change replaces the previous rule, which set validity at five years or until the child turned 15. The amendment's practical effect hinges on the child's age when the passport is issued. If a child reaches 18 before the five-year period ends, the passport's validity ceases on their 18th birthday.
For instance, a passport issued to a 14-year-old would, under a simple five-year term, be valid until they are 19. However, under the new 'whichever is earlier' clause, it will expire when they turn 18. The rule is designed to align passport validity with the transition to adulthood.
Revised passport application fees
The same notification also amended Rule 8 concerning application fees. The change mandates that all fees must now strictly adhere to the updated rates specified in Schedule IV of the Passports Rules, 1980. This amendment provides the legal basis for fee revisions that the MEA had implemented earlier.
New passport service fees took effect on July 1. The updated fee structure is as follows:
| Application Type | Page Count | Old Fee (₹) | New Fee (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh/Reissue | 36 pages | 1,500 | 2,500 |
| Fresh/Reissue | 60 pages | 2,000 | 3,500 |
| Tatkaal | 36 pages | 3,500 | 5,000 |
| Tatkaal | 60 pages | 4,000 | 6,000 |
Legal foundation and implementation
The amendments modify the foundational Passports Rules, 1980, which were themselves updated in June 2026. The notification states that the fee amendment replaces existing wording to clearly link charges to the rates in Schedule IV. This provides a consolidated legal reference for passport service costs.
The Hindustan Times report notes that the rules were signed by Chief Passport Officer BS Mubarak and took effect immediately upon gazette notification. The changes are now officially part of India's passport governance framework.
