Planning to apply for a new passport or renew your old one? Be ready to pay more. The government has increased passport fees, and the new rates will come into effect from July 1, 2026.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has amended the Passport Rules, 1980, and introduced a new fee structure for various passport services.
New Passport Fees Explained
A new or reissued 36-page passport will now cost ₹2,500 under the normal process, up from ₹1,500. If you need the passport urgently through the Tatkal service, the fee has been increased from ₹3,500 to ₹5,000.
For a 60-page passport, the normal application fee has gone up from ₹2,000 to ₹3,500. The Tatkal fee has also increased from ₹4,000 to ₹6,000.
These revised charges apply to adults. Minors between 15 and 18 years who apply under the adult category will also have to pay these rates.
Replacing a Lost or Damaged Passport Is Now Costlier
The biggest hike has been made in the fees for replacing lost or damaged passports.
If a lost or damaged 36-page passport needs to be replaced, the normal fee will be ₹5,000, while the Tatkal service will cost ₹7,500.
For a 60-page passport, the replacement fee will be ₹6,000 under the regular process and ₹8,500 under the Tatkal service.
In the case of minors, replacing a lost or damaged 36-page passport will cost ₹4,250 through the normal process and ₹6,750 through the Tatkal route.
Fees for Other Passport Services Also Increased
Several other passport-related services have also become more expensive.
Police Clearance Certificates (PCC), Surrender Certificates, Global Entry Program Verification and similar services will now cost ₹750. A Certificate of Identity will cost ₹1,000.
For services obtained abroad, an Emergency Certificate will cost US$15, while a Certificate of Identity will cost US$50.
Who Will Get a Discount?
The government has offered some relief to certain applicants.
Children up to 8 years of age and senior citizens above 60 years will get a 10% discount on the application fee for a new passport. However, this benefit will not be available for passport reissue applications.
No Change in Passport Validity
The government has clarified that only the fees have changed. There is no change in the validity period of passports.
Adult passports will continue to remain valid for 10 years. Passports issued to minors will remain valid for five years or until the child turns 18, whichever comes first.
The government has also reminded citizens that a passport is a travel document and proof of identity abroad, but it is not a certificate of citizenship.
