New passport rules for children have come into effect in India, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) changing the validity period for ordinary passports issued to children below 15 years of age.
Under the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, a 36 page ordinary passport issued to a child below 15 will remain valid for five years from the date of issue or until the child turns 18, whichever comes earlier.
What the new rule means
- For example, if a passport is issued to a 10 year old child, it can normally remain valid for five years, until the child turns 15.
- However, if a passport is issued to a 14 year old, its validity will end when the child turns 18, because that comes before five years.
- The rule therefore links the passport’s maximum validity to both the five year period and the child’s 18th birthday.
Why children’s passports have shorter validity
- Children’s physical appearance can change significantly as they grow. Shorter passport validity helps ensure that passport photographs and other identification details remain reasonably current.
- Children below 15 generally receive passports with shorter validity compared with adults.
Passport fees also revised
- The amendment also updates rules governing passport application fees.
- The revised fee structure covers different passport services, including fresh passports, reissue, Tatkaal services, replacement of lost or damaged passports and other passport related services.
- A 10% discount continues for fresh passport applications for children below eight years of age and senior citizens above 60. The discount does not apply to passport reissue applications.
When does the new rule apply?
The Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026 came into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette, September 17, 2026.
