The central government has announced a big hike in passport application fees effective from July 1, 2026, following official notification issued by the Ministry of External Affairs. The revision is in line with the Passports Rules, 1980, under powers of Section 24 of the Passports Act, 1967.
Under the new structure, applicants aged 18 years and above and minors aged 15-18 years applying under this category will pay ₹2,500 for a fresh or reissued 36‑page passport under the normal category. The fee is ₹1,500 for a 36‑page booklet and ₹2,000 for a 60‑page booklet. A 36‑page passport for minors below 18 years is now ₹1,750 under the normal category and ₹4,250 under Tatkaal. Children up to 8 years old will continue to get a 10% discount for fresh applications.
The Tatkaal category has also seen a steep increase. A 36-page passport will now cost ₹5,000, up from ₹3,500 earlier, while a 60-page passport will cost ₹6,000 under Tatkaal and ₹3,500 under normal applications.
When applicants lose or damage passports, they will face a higher price. The replacement of a 36-page passport will cost ₹5,000 under normal and ₹7,500 under Tatkaal, while the 60-page replacement will cost ₹6,000 under normal and ₹8,500 under Tatkaal. For children, a lost or damaged 36-page passport will cost ₹4,250 and ₹6,750 under Tatkaal.
The fee hike is to improve service delivery, strengthen infrastructure, and cover growing administrative costs, they said. India’s passport fees are still very competitive in comparison with other countries, the Ministry said.
The new fee structure is also one of the most comprehensive changes to passport charges in recent years. Although the increase does bring about higher fees for applications, it should bring about a faster and more efficient way to process passport applications. The move shows the government’s focus on improving documentation processes and balancing affordability with administrative requirements.
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