Patna: The Central Government has amended passport rules for children, introducing a new provision on the validity of standard 36-page passports issued to those under 15 years of age.
Under the amended rules, such passports will generally remain valid for five years. However, if the passport holder turns 18 before the five-year period ends, the passport will cease to be valid when the holder reaches 18.
New Validity Rule For Children
The change means the age of the child at the time of passport issuance will determine the effective period of validity.
For example, a passport issued to a 10-year-old will normally remain valid for five years. For a child aged 14, the passport may be issued with a five-year validity period, but it will cease to be valid when the child turns 18.
The provision is particularly relevant for parents and guardians planning international travel for children between the ages of 14 and 17.
Amendment Published In Gazette
The Ministry of External Affairs published the Passport (Amendment) Rules, 2026, in the Gazette of India on September 17, 2026.
The amendment modifies the Passport Rules, 1980, including Rule 12(1A), which deals with the validity of passports issued to children. Rule 8 relating to passport application fees has also been amended to refer to the amounts specified in Schedule 4.
The September amendment does not itself represent a fresh increase in passport fees. The latest fee revision had already come into effect on July 1, 2026.
Passport Fees Revised From July
The fee for a standard 36-page passport was increased from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500. The Tatkaal fee for the same passport is now Rs 5,000, compared with Rs 3,500 earlier.
For a 60-page passport, the standard fee increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500, while the Tatkaal fee rose from Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000.
The Tatkaal fee for a replacement 60-page passport in cases involving loss or damage has also increased, from Rs 5,500 to Rs 8,500.
Children’s Passport Fee
For children under 18, the fee for a standard 36-page passport is now Rs 1,750, compared with Rs 1,000 previously.
Under the Tatkaal service, the fee for a child’s passport is Rs 3,000.
Discount For Young Children And Senior Citizens
A 10% concession on new passport applications will continue for children up to eight years of age and senior citizens above 60.
The concession applies to fresh passport applications and does not extend to passport renewal or replacement applications.
What Guardians Need To Check
Parents and guardians applying for passports for children should consider the child’s age at the time of application and planned overseas travel dates.
For children aged 14 to 17, the passport’s effective validity will end when the holder turns 18, even if five years have not elapsed since its issue.
