Stories
New Passport Rules for Children in 2026: What Parents Need to Know Now!
F
Firstpost•25-09-2026, 10:00
New Passport Rules for Children in 2026: What Parents Need to Know Now!
- •The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has introduced updated Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, revising validity periods and fee structures for children's passports.
- •Children under 15 will now receive passports valid for five years or until they turn 18, whichever comes first, a change from previous longer validity periods.
- •A standard 36-page passport for minors costs Rs 1,750 under normal application, with Tatkal services being significantly more expensive; a 10% fee concession applies to children under eight and senior citizens.
- •Teenagers aged 15-18 have the option for a 10-year passport or shorter validity, allowing flexibility for transition to adult passport categories.
- •Changes aim to improve identity verification due to rapid appearance changes in children and align with international documentation standards, requiring parents to plan for more frequent renewals and track expiry dates closely.
Key Questions Answered
Under the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, a standard 36-page passport issued to a child under 15 is valid for five years from the date of issue or until the child turns 18, whichever comes first.
For minors, a standard 36-page passport now costs approximately Rs 1,750 under normal applications, with Tatkal applications costing more depending on urgency.
Officials implemented the update as a practical administrative measure because children's appearances change rapidly, to improve identity verification accuracy, and to align with international documentation standards.
