Indian Passport Fees Rise From Tomorrow: What You Need to Know Before Applying
The Ministry of External Affairs has revised rates for the first time in 14 years — and applications submitted before midnight tonight will still be processed at the old fee
If applying for or renewing an Indian passport has been sitting on your to-do list for the past several months, tonight is the last chance to do it at the rates you have always known. Starting tomorrow, 1 July 2026, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will bring into force a comprehensive revision of passport fees across all categories — the first such update since 2012, and one that affects everyone from first-time applicants to those replacing a lost or damaged booklet.
The revised schedule was notified through the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, on 25 June 2026, and covers fresh applications, renewals, Tatkal (expedited) processing, minor passports, Police Clearance Certificates, and replacement services for lost or damaged documents. Applications submitted before the rules take effect will continue to be processed under the existing fee structure.
The New Fee Structure
Under the revised rules, a standard 36-page passport — covering both fresh applications and reissues for adults — will cost Rs 2,500 under the normal processing category, up from the existing Rs 1,500. The 60-page booklet preferred by frequent travellers and professionals who need space for multiple visa stamps rises to Rs 3,500 under the same category.
Tatkal fees, which apply to expedited processing, have also been revised upward. A 36-page Tatkal passport now costs Rs 5,000, against the previous fee of Rs 3,500. The 60-page Tatkal option rises to Rs 6,000.
For passports belonging to minors — a significant category given that between 13 million and 14 million passports are issued annually in India and an estimated 25 to 30 per cent of those go to applicants under 18 — both normal and Tatkal fees have been increased proportionately. The government has retained a 10 per cent concession on normal fees for fresh applications made by children under 8 years of age and senior citizens above 60.
Those replacing a lost or damaged passport will now pay fees equivalent to the new Tatkal rates in the corresponding booklet category — Rs 5,000 for a standard 36-page lost passport replacement, and Rs 7,500 under Tatkal.
Why the Revision, and Why Now?
The MEA has cited rising operational costs, enhanced security features being incorporated into new-generation passport booklets, and the ongoing rollout of Passport Seva Programme 2.0 as the primary reasons behind the revision. India has simultaneously launched chip-based e-passports across 544 service centres, with biometric data embedded directly into the booklet — a significant upgrade from the previous generation of documents.
It is worth noting that the revision also arrives alongside a legal clarification from the MEA that has attracted its own share of attention: a passport, the ministry reiterated, is a travel document and not conclusive proof of Indian citizenship. That distinction matters practically for NRIs, OCI applicants, and those navigating complex residency or dual-nationality questions, where citizenship documents and passport documents serve different legal purposes.
What You Should Do Today
If your passport is due for renewal within the next several months, applying before tonight locks in the lower fee. The Passport Seva Portal at passportindia.gov.in accepts online applications around the clock, and appointments at Passport Seva Kendras across the country remain available for walk-in and scheduled visits.
For those already in the queue with a scheduled appointment after 1 July, the new fees will apply at the time of payment unless the application was formally submitted and fees paid in advance of tonight’s deadline. Indian missions and consulates abroad will also implement revised fee schedules from the same date, meaning NRIs looking to renew through overseas passport centres will see higher costs as well.
The revision is described by the MEA as a one-time adjustment rather than the beginning of recurring annual increases — though officials have acknowledged that fees are subject to periodic review as technology and operational costs evolve.
