India hikes passport fees for first time in 14 years

The Indian government has announced a significant increase in passport fees, with the new rates set to take effect on July 1, 2026. This marks the first major revision to the fee structure in approximately 14 years. The Ministry of External Affairs notified the changes through the Passports Amendment Rules, 2026, which amend the Passports Rules, 1980.

Under the revised schedule, the cost of obtaining a passport will rise across all major categories. For adults, a fresh or reissued 36-page passport under the normal application scheme will now cost 2,500 rupees, up from 1,500. The fee for the same document under the expedited Tatkal service will increase to 5,000 rupees from 3,500. For a 60-page passport, the normal fee rises from 2,000 to 3,500 rupees, while the Tatkal fee increases from 4,000 to 6,000.

Applicants seeking to replace lost, stolen, or damaged passports will also face higher charges. A replacement 36-page passport will cost 5,000 rupees normally and 7,500 under Tatkal. For a 60-page replacement, the fees are 6,000 and 8,500 rupees, respectively.

Fees for minors have been adjusted as well. A fresh or reissued 36-page passport for applicants under 18 will cost 1,750...