India Revises Child Passport Validity, Fees
India Revises Child Passport Validity, Fees
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Key Points
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The amendment was made under the Passports Act, 1967, specifically modifying Rule 12 of the Passports Rules, 1980, which governs the validity of passports issued to minors.
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The revised adult fees also raise the cost of a normal 60-page passport to Rs 3,500 from Rs 2,000, while a 60-page Tatkaal passport now costs Rs 6,000 instead of Rs 4,000; a 60-page Tatkaal replacement costs Rs 8,500, up from Rs 5,500.
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Aadhaar is not mandatory for a child’s passport application. Parents may instead submit documents such as the child’s birth certificate, along with a parent’s Aadhaar card, voter ID or electricity bill as address proof.
India's Ministry of External Affairs has updated passport rules for children under 15, making their ordinary passports valid for five years or until age 18, whichever comes first. Investment Guru India reported that the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, took effect immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette, with new fee schedules rolling out July 1.
Adult passport fees jumped sharply. A normal 36-page passport now costs Rs 2,500, up from Rs 1,500. The 60-page version rose to Rs 3,500 from Rs 2,000. Financial Express noted that expedited Tatkaal services also increased — a 60-page Tatkaal passport climbed to Rs 6,000 from Rs 4,000.
Shorter Validity for Young Passport Holders
Child passports now follow a new timeline. Instead of longer validity periods, ordinary 36-page passports issued to children under 15 will expire after five years or when the child turns 18, whichever happens first. LiveMint explained that this change modifies Rule 12 of the Passports Rules, 1980, which previously governed minor passport validity.
The amendment applies only to children under 15. Passports issued to older teens follow different rules. DNA India confirmed the update targets minor applicants specifically, creating standardized validity terms across all child passport applications going forward.
Fee Increases Across All Passport Services
India's passport fee structure rose significantly across the board. The 60-page Tatkaal replacement cost jumped to Rs 8,500 from Rs 5,500. Even replacement passports for lost or damaged documents and Police Clearance Certificates saw price increases. Financial Express reported that all new charges took effect July 1, 2026.
A 10 percent discount still applies for first-time applications by children under 8 and seniors over 60. However, LiveMint clarified that this discount does not extend to reissues or replacements. The revised fees affect fresh passports, renewals, Tatkaal processing, and replacement documents.
Aadhaar Not Required for Child Passport Applications
Parents applying for their child's passport have flexibility with documentation. Daily Hunt noted that Aadhaar is not mandatory for minors. Instead, families can submit the child's birth certificate along with the parent's Aadhaar card, voter ID, or electricity bill as address proof.
This flexibility simplifies the application process. Families without Aadhaar can still move forward using alternative identity documents. The rule applies under the updated Passports Rules framework, allowing parents to choose the most convenient proof of address option available to them.
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