New Delhi/IBNS-CMEDIA: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has introduced a new validity framework for passports issued to children below 15 years of age under the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, according to media reports.
The amended rules introduce different validity options based on the applicant’s age, while the passport fees have also been revised.
Here’s a breakdown of the new rules:
Children below 15 years
An ordinary 36-page passport issued to a child below 15 years will be valid for five years from the date of issue or until the child turns 18, whichever is earlier.
This means the passport will not necessarily have a full five-year validity if the child turns 18 before that period ends.
Teenagers aged 15 to 18
Applicants aged between 15 and 18 years will have two options.
They can either:
Apply for a passport valid until they turn 18, or opt for a full-validity passport.
The second option may be particularly relevant for teenagers planning to travel abroad for higher education or other purposes.
Adults aged 18 and above
For applicants aged 18 years or above, the existing basic framework remains unchanged.
An ordinary passport can have a validity of up to 10 years.
Who gets a fee discount?
The rules continue to provide a 10% discount on fresh passport applications for:
Children below eight years of age
Senior citizens aged 60 years or above
For applicants aged 15 to 18 years and adults aged 18 years or above, a normal 36-page passport will cost Rs. 2,500, while a 60-page passport will cost Rs. 3,500. Under the Tatkaal service, the fees will be Rs. 5,000 for a 36-page passport and Rs. 6,000 for a 60-page passport.
For minors:
A 36-page fresh or reissue passport will cost ₹1,750 under the normal category, while the Tatkaal fee is ₹3,000.
The key change is the introduction of a five-year-or-until-18 validity rule for ordinary 36-page passports issued to children below 15.
Teenagers between 15 and 18 can choose between a passport valid until 18 and a full-validity passport, while adults can continue to obtain passports with validity of up to 10 years.
