Passport Fees Rise 67% After 14 Years; MEA Cites Input Costs, Service Upgrades
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has justified the recent 67% increase in passport fees, stating it follows a comprehensive review of service delivery costs and operational requirements. The revision, which takes effect from July 1, 2026, is the first since 2012.
In a written response to a query in the Lok Sabha on Friday, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said the hike was necessitated by a rise in input costs and improvements in service delivery over the past 14 years. The government amended the Passports Rules, 1980, to raise the application fee for a 36-page ordinary fresh passport from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500.
Responding to questions on whether any cost study, regulatory impact assessment, or affordability assessment was conducted before the revision, Singh said passport fees are revised periodically after a comprehensive review. He did not provide details of any specific study but outlined the historical pattern of fee revisions.
The minister noted that passport fees were previously revised in 1971, 1980, 1993, 2002, and 2012. He provided context: the fee increased by 67% over four years in 1971, 100% over nine years in 1980, 500% over 13 years in 1993, 233% over nine years in 2002, and 50% over ten years in 2012. The current increase follows a 14-year gap.
The government also highlighted initiatives to enhance passport services, including the upgraded Passport Seva Programme (PSP) Version 2.0 and the introduction of e-passports. These measures have improved the quality, security, and efficiency of passport services, but have also raised the cost of service delivery, according to the Centre.
The revised fees apply from July 1, 2026, under Section 5(1) of the Passports Act, 1967, and Rule 8 of the Passports Rules, 1980. Applicants will be required to pay the prescribed fee when submitting their applications.
The increase has drawn attention to the financial burden on citizens, but the government maintains that the fee revision is essential to cover the growing expenses of providing secure and efficient passport services.
