Passport Fees Set to Rise: New Rates Take Effect From July 1

The Centre has announced a significant hike in passport application charges across all categories, marking the first such revision in over a decade.

For millions of Indians planning to head abroad, the cost of securing travel documents is set to increase. The Ministry of External Affairs has officially notified an amendment to the Passports Rules, 1980, which will see revised passport fees come into force starting July 1, 2026. This long-awaited update ends a 14-year period of stable pricing, impacting everything from fresh applications to urgent requests under the Tatkal scheme.

Under the new notification, an ordinary fresh passport or a re-issued 36-page booklet will now cost ₹2,500, up from the current ₹1,500. Those opting for the speedier Tatkal service for the same booklet will see their costs rise from ₹3,500 to ₹5,000. Frequent international travellers who prefer the 60-page jumbo booklet are also facing a steeper bill: the normal application fee has been bumped to ₹3,500, while the Tatkal rate has increased from ₹4,000 to ₹6,000.

Breaking Down the New Schedule

The revised rules, introduced via the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, extend to specific categories including minor applicants and those seeking replacements for lost or damaged documents. For minors, a fresh 36-page passport will now be priced at ₹1,750, with Tatkal services for the same category rising to ₹4,250.

The financial burden is most pronounced for those replacing lost or damaged passports. A standard 36-page replacement will now cost ₹5,000, jumping to ₹7,500 for those requiring urgent processing. These changes are part of a broader shift in the fee structure, with the government substituting the existing "Schedule IV" of the 1980 rules to streamline these updated categories for both adults and minors.

Why It Matters: The Bigger Picture

This price hike arrives at a time when the government is actively recalibrating how it communicates the utility of these documents. During recent Passport Seva Divas events, the Ministry of External Affairs clarified that while passports undergo rigorous scrutiny, they are fundamentally travel documents meant to facilitate international movement and attest to nationality abroad. They are not, the government reiterated, to be treated as standalone proof of domestic citizenship.

The timing of this fee revision—coming after a 14-year hiatus—suggests a policy effort to align administrative costs with current operational expenses at regional passport offices. While the increase may cause a temporary stir for first-time applicants, the move is largely viewed as a routine fiscal adjustment. As the July 1 deadline approaches, those with impending travel plans or expiring documents should ensure their applications are submitted well in advance to avoid the new, higher charges.