New Delhi, Sep 17 : The government has notified new passport rules stipulating that an ordinary passport with 36 pages issued to a child below 15 years of age will remain valid for five years or until the child turns 18, whichever is earlier.
The Ministry of External Affairs has issued the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, further amending the Passports Rules, 1980. The amendments were carried out in exercise of powers conferred by Section 24 of the Passports Act, 1967.
According to an official gazette notification accessed The Web Story/The Varmul Post in the Passports Rules, 1980, for sub-rule (1A) of Rule 12, a new sub-rule has been substituted.
“(1A) An ordinary passport for a child below the age of fifteen years, containing thirty-six pages, shall be in force for a period of five years from the date of its issue or until the child attains the age of eighteen years, whichever is earlier,” the notification said.
The rules also amend Rule 8 regarding fees, specifying that the fee payable on every type of application will be at the rates specified in the corresponding entry in Schedule IV of the rules.
The new rules come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette the notification further reads.
