Full Breakdown
India Introduces Five-Year Validity for Child Passports Under New MEA Rules
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Core Change to Child Passport Validity
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has amended Rule 12 of the Passports Rules, 1980 through the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026. Under the new provision 12(1A), an ordinary 36-page passport issued to a child under 15 years will remain valid for five years from the date of issue or until the holder turns 18, whichever occurs first. If the child reaches 18 before the five-year term expires, the passport ceases to be valid on that birthday.
Background to the Amendment
- December 11 1980 – The original Passports Rules, 1980 were notified (G.S.R. 691(E)).
- June 20 2026 – The rules were last amended (G.S.R. 156(E)).
- The current amendment is made under the Passports Act, 1967, which empowers the MEA to revise passport validity and fee structures.
Revised Fee Structure
The amendment also updates Rule 8, directing that all passport-related fees follow the rates listed in Schedule IV of the Passports Rules, 1980. Reported fees are:
| Category | Fresh / Re-issue (INR) | Tatkal (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| 36-page adult passport | 2,500 (up from 1,500) | 5,000 (up from 3,500) |
| 60-page adult passport | 3,500 (up from 2,000) | 6,000 (up from 4,000) |
| 36-page passport for children < 18 (five-year validity) | 1,750 | – |
These fee revisions are reported to have taken effect on July 1.
Implementation Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| December 11 1980 | Original Passports Rules, 1980 notified |
| June 20 2026 | Last amendment to the rules (G.S.R. 156(E)) |
| July 1 (occurred) | New fee structure becomes effective |
| September 15 2026 (scheduled) | MEA plans to issue a notification revising application fees per Schedule IV |
| September 17 (occurred) | Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026 published in the Gazette of India |
Official Statements & Responses
These statements were released in the official gazette notification and in subsequent MEA communications.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the precise timing of the fee revision. One report cites July 1 as the effective date for the new fee structure, while another references a June 20 scheduled notification that will set the revised fees. The exact relationship between the scheduled June 20 notification and the July 1 implementation remains unclear. Additionally, the sources do not provide the full Schedule IV fee table, leaving a gap in publicly available detail on all passport categories.
