The Ministry of External Affairs has notified the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, amending the Passports Rules, 1980. The notification, issued on September 15, 2026, revises provisions relating to passport fees and the validity of ordinary passports issued to children below the age of 15 years.

Under the amended Rule 8, the fee for a passport application submitted by an applicant will be payable at the rates specified in Schedule IV, as applicable to the service for which the application is made.

The amendment also substitutes Rule 12(1A) to provide that an ordinary passport issued to a child below 15 years of age, containing 36 pages, will remain valid for five years from the date of issue or until the child attains the age of 18 years, whichever is earlier.