Punjab Newsline | New Delhi
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has amended passport rules for children, extending the validity period of passports issued to those below 15 years of age. Under the revised provisions, a standard 36-page passport issued to a child will now remain valid until the child attains the age of 18 years or for five years from the date of issue, whichever is earlier.
The new provisions were notified through the Passport (Amendment) Rules, 2026, which were published in the Gazette of India on September 17. The amendment introduces changes to the Passport Rules, 1980.
Earlier, passports issued to children aged 15 years or below were valid for either five years or until the child reached the age of 15, whichever came first. As a result, children who obtained passports at a later age often did not benefit from the full five-year validity period. For instance, a passport issued to a 14-year-old would expire when the child turned 15.
Under the revised rules, children who obtain passports at the age of 15 or below will now be able to use them until they turn 18. For example, a passport issued to a 14-year-old will remain valid until the age of 18, providing a longer validity period than under the previous system.
Government has also retained the 10 per cent fee concession on fresh passport applications for children below eight years of age and senior citizens above 60 years. However, this concession will not be available for passport re-issuance.
Despite revisions in passport fees for children, the discount on new applications will continue. The updated fee structure also covers services such as Tatkaal passports, renewals, replacement of lost or damaged passports, and issuance of Police Clearance Certificates (PCCs).
