India has changed its passport rules for children below 15 years of age. Under the new India Child Passport Rules 2026, an ordinary 36-page passport issued to a child under 15 will now be valid for five years from the date of issue or until the child turns 18, whichever comes earlier.The Ministry of External Affairs ( MEA ) notified the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026 through a notification dated September 15. The amended rules came into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. The notification was signed by Joint Secretary and Chief Passport Officer B.S. Mubarak.What has changed for children's passports?The main change is in Rule 12(1A) of the Passports Rules, 1980.Under the amended rule:A 36-page ordinary passport for a child below 15 years will have five-year validity.The passport will expire earlier if the child turns 18 before the five-year period ends.The rule therefore uses whichever date comes first — five years from issue or the child's 18th birthday.The change applies to ordinary passports covered by the amended provision.For example, if a passport is issued to a 14-year-old child, it will not necessarily remain valid for five full years if the child reaches 18 earlier.What is the new passport fee for children?The government had already revised passport fees from July 1, 2026. Under the revised fee schedule, a fresh or reissued 36-page ordinary passport for a minor costs ₹1,750. The Tatkaal fee for the same category is ₹4,250, according to the revised Schedule IV.A 10% discount continues for fresh passport applications by children below eight years and senior citizens above 60 years. The discount does not apply to reissue applications.What about adult passport fees?The July 2026 fee revision also increased charges for adults. A fresh or reissued 36-page ordinary passport now costs ₹2,500, while a 60-page passport costs ₹3,500. Tatkaal charges are ₹5,000 for 36 pages and ₹6,000 for 60 pages.“An ordinary passport for a child below the age of fifteen years, containing thirty-six pages, shall be in force for a period of five years from the date of its issue or until the child attains the age of eighteen years, whichever is earlier.”Why is the change important?The new child passport validity India rule gives parents and guardians a clearer validity period when applying for passports for young children. Families planning international travel will need to check the child's passport expiry date carefully, especially when the child is close to 18 years of age.The MEA passport rules 2026 amendment also updates the wording of Rule 8 so that passport application fees are charged according to the corresponding rates in Schedule IV of the Passports Rules, 1980.Also Read : External Affairs Ministry Clarifies Passport Role Amid Growing Debate Over Citizenship Documentation Rules
