New Delhi, September 17 — The Ministry of External Affairs has notified the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, amending the Passports Rules, 1980, according to a gazette notification dated September 15.
The amendment clarifies the validity period for passports issued to minors. Under the new rule, an ordinary 36-page passport issued to a child below 15 years of age will remain valid for five years from its date of issue, or until the child turns 18 — whichever comes first.
The rules also revise fee provisions, stipulating that charges for each category of passport application will be levied as per the rates specified in Schedule IV of the Passports Rules.
The notification, numbered G.S.R. 820(E), was issued by the Ministry under powers granted by Section 24 of the Passports Act, 1967, and takes effect from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. It was signed by B.S. Mubarak, Joint Secretary and Chief Passport Officer.
The Passports Rules, 1980 were originally published via notification G.S.R. 691(E) on December 11, 1980, and were last amended on June 20, 2026.
