The Ministry of External Affairs has amended India’s passport rules for children below 15 years of age. Under the new regulations, an ordinary 36-page passport issued to a child will remain valid for five years from the date of issue or until the child turns 18, whichever comes earlier.
This means the validity will depend on the child’s age when the passport is issued. For example, a passport issued to a 10-year-old will generally remain valid for five years, while one issued at the age of 14 will expire when the child turns 18.
The Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026 were notified in the Official Gazette and have come into force following publication. The amendment also updates provisions related to passport application fees, with revised fee rates already applicable under the updated rules.