The central government has implemented significant changes to passport application fees, effective from July 1, 2026. According to the latest notification by the Ministry of External Affairs through the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, the changes were made under the powers conferred by section 24 of the Passports Act, 1967. The new fee structure establishes ₹2,500 as the standard fee for fresh passport applications or reissue of passports with 36 pages for applicants aged 18 years and above, as well as minors aged 15-18 years applying under this category. For applicants below 18 years of age, the fee has been increased from ₹1,000 to ₹1,750 for fresh passport applications. As per the Ministry of External Affairs, the revised schedule introduces hikes of up to 75 per cent across various documentation categories, with the formal fee revision replacing rates that had remained unchanged for several years.
Under the revised fee structure, the Tatkal category now attracts a fee of ₹5,000 for ordinary applications, with the Tatkal charge inclusive of the normal fee set at ₹7,500. For applicants requiring a 60-page passport, the charges are ₹3,500 for normal applications and ₹6,000 for Tatkal applications. The notification also specifies that replacement passports issued after loss or damage will cost ₹4,250 for minors under normal category and ₹6,750 under Tatkal, while adults face replacement fees of ₹5,000 normal and ₹7,500 Tatkal. The revised schedule also increases the cost of replacing lost or damaged passports, with a replacement 36-page passport costing ₹5,000 under normal category and ₹7,500 under Tatkal, while a 60-page booklet will cost ₹6,000 and ₹8,500 respectively.
The new passport fee structure will be implemented from July 1, 2026, representing a comprehensive overhaul of the existing fee framework. According to the official notification, these amendments have been made through the exercise of powers conferred by section 24 of the Passports Act, 1967, establishing the new fee structure for both normal and expedited passport services. Under the revised validity structure, passports issued to adult applicants will remain valid for up to 10 years, while minors will have passports valid for five years or until the applicant turns 18, whichever is earlier. The notification also retains a 10 per cent discount on passport fees for fresh applications submitted for children up to eight years of age and senior citizens above 60 years, though this discount will not apply to passport reissue applications.
The revised fee structure will significantly impact household travel budgets, with families facing substantial increases in passport-related expenses. As per the latest reports, a family of four applying for ordinary 36-page passports will now spend ₹10,000 instead of ₹6,000. Families requiring urgent Tatkal passports will see the total application cost increase from ₹14,000 to ₹20,000. Since passport expenses are often accompanied by visa fees, travel insurance, air tickets, foreign exchange and documentation charges, the latest revision further increases the overall cost of planning an overseas trip. The government has advised applicants planning to apply for fresh passports or renew existing ones to complete the online application, payment and appointment process before the new rates become applicable.
The notification also revises charges for other passport-related services, with an Emergency Certificate continuing to be issued without a normal fee in India. A Certificate of Identity will cost ₹1,000 in India and USD 50 abroad, while the fee for issuing a Police Clearance Certificate, Surrender Certificate, Global Entry Programme verification, or any other miscellaneous certificate based on the passport has been revised to ₹750 in India and USD 40 abroad. The earlier fee structure provided a 10 per cent discount that reduced the cost of a fresh 36-page passport from ₹1,500 to ₹1,350 for eligible applicants, which remains unchanged under the new structure. Additionally, an Emergency Certificate compiled abroad will cost USD 15. For overseas applications, fresh 36-page passport applications will cost $125 normal and $250 Tatkal, while replacement passports will cost $150 normal and $275 Tatkal.
