New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): In the first major revision of its kind in nearly fourteen years, the Union Government has officially announced a comprehensive restructuring of fees for Indian passports and related travel documents. Exercising powers conferred under Section 24 of the Passports Act, 1967, the Ministry of External Affairs has issued the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026. This notification completely replaces Schedule IV of the legacy Passports Rules, 1980, introducing an upward revision of costs across all demographic categories, page counts, and application modes. The revised financial framework is scheduled to take effect nationwide and across overseas missions starting July 1, 2026.
The new structure establishes distinct pricing brackets based on age, application speed, and document volume within domestic jurisdictions. For adult applicants aged 18 and above, alongside minors aged 15 to 18 opting for adult passports, an ordinary fresh or reissued 36-page booklet will now cost 2,500 rupees under the normal application mode, rising sharply to 5,000 rupees under the expedited Tatkal category. Those requiring a larger 60-page booklet will face a standard fee of 3,500 rupees, which escalates to 6,000 rupees for Tatkal processing. For minor applicants under the age of 18, a standard 36-page passport is priced at 1,750 rupees under normal processing and 4,250 rupees under Tatkal.
The cost of replacing lost, stolen, or damaged travel documents has also seen a substantial increase, creating a stronger financial deterrent against negligence. Domestic adult applicants seeking a replacement 36-page passport will be charged 5,000 rupees for normal processing and 7,500 rupees under Tatkal, while a 60-page replacement will demand 6,000 rupees and 8,500 rupees, respectively. Minor applicants requiring a replacement booklet due to damage or loss face a adjusted tariff of 4,250 rupees for ordinary applications and 6,750 rupees for Tatkal submissions. Parallel pricing tiers have been introduced for non-resident Indians and global applicants, with adult standard applications set at 125 US dollars and Tatkal operations capped at 250 US dollars.
The revised guidelines maintain standard validity periods, reinforcing that adult passports remain valid for a maximum of ten years, whereas minor documents expire after five years or upon the individual reaching 18 years of age. To ease the financial transition for vulnerable demographics, the central government has retained a 10 per cent fee concession specifically for fresh, first-time applications filed within India by children under eight years of age and senior citizens over 60 years of age. Additionally, auxiliary administrative services have been adjusted, setting a standardized flat rate of 750 rupees within India and 40 US dollars abroad for essential secondary clearings, including Police Clearance Certificates (PCC), Surrender Certificates, and Global Entry Programme verifications
