Passport fees hiked after 14 years: New charges from July 1
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has announced a revision in passport fees across all categories, the first such increase since 2012. The new charges, detailed in the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, will come into effect from July 1, 2026.
The government stated that the fee hike is necessary to align application charges with the rising administrative costs of processing, printing, and securing passports. The revised fees apply to both fresh passports and reissues.
Under the new rules, a 36-page passport will cost Rs 2,500, up from Rs 1,500. A 60-page passport will now cost Rs 3,500, compared to the earlier Rs 2,000. For the tatkaal (expedited) service, a 36-page passport will cost Rs 5,000 (previously Rs 3,500) and a 60-page version will cost Rs 6,000 (up from Rs 4,000).
The MEA has introduced a 10% discount on fresh passport applications for children up to eight years of age and senior citizens above 60. However, reissue fees for lost or damaged passports have seen a steeper increase: a 36-page book will now cost Rs 7,500 (from Rs 5,000), and a 60-page book will cost Rs 8,500 (from Rs 6,000).
The fee revision aims to cover the increased costs of materials, security features, and processing infrastructure. The last revision occurred in 2012, and the government noted that operational expenses have risen significantly since then. The changes are part of routine administrative updates to ensure the sustainability of passport services.
