Government Increases Passport Fees for the First Time in 14 Years
In a notable move, the Indian government has raised passport fees for the first time in 14 years, effective July 1. The new fee structure includes increases for both normal and expedited services, impacting various categories of passports. This change follows a clarification from the Ministry of External Affairs regarding the nature of passports as travel documents rather than proof of citizenship. The adjustments also affect fees for lost or damaged passports and other related services. Read on to discover the full details of the new fee structure and its implications.
Jun 25, 2026, 20:04 IST
New Passport Fee Structure Announced
The government has announced an increase in passport fees for the first time in nearly 14 years. Starting from July 1, the cost for a new passport under the normal scheme will rise to ₹2,500, while the fee for the expedited service will be ₹5,000. This announcement follows a clarification from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which stated that a passport primarily serves as a travel document rather than proof of Indian citizenship.
Revised Fees for Different Passport Categories
Under the new fee structure, individuals aged 18 and above will see the cost of a new 36-page passport or its reissue increase from ₹1,500 to ₹2,500 in the normal scheme, and from ₹3,500 to ₹5,000 for the expedited service. Similarly, the fee for a 60-page passport will rise from ₹2,000 to ₹3,500 in the normal category and from ₹4,000 to ₹6,000 in the urgent category. The MEA has introduced this new fee structure through the Passport (Amendment) Rules, 2026, marking the first significant change since the last fee increase in 2012.
Costs for Lost or Damaged Passports
Applicants needing to replace lost or damaged passports will also face higher fees. The cost for replacing a 36-page passport will now be ₹5,000 under the normal scheme and ₹7,500 for the expedited service, while the fee for a 60-page passport will be ₹6,000 and ₹8,500, respectively. For applicants under 18, the fee for a new or reissued 36-page passport will be ₹1,750 in the normal scheme and ₹4,250 for urgent processing. The fee for replacing lost or damaged passports for minors is set at ₹4,250 in the normal category and ₹6,750 in the expedited category. The revised fees will apply to all passport applications submitted on or after July 1, as per the notification issued on June 20 under Section 24 of the Passport Act, 1967, which also includes changes to charges for various travel documents and passport-related services.
Emergency Certificates and Other Fees
Emergency certificates will continue to be issued free of charge in India, while applicants abroad will be charged $15. The cost for a Certificate of Identity will be ₹1,000 in India and $50 overseas. Fees for police clearance certificates (PCC), surrender certificates, global entry program verification, and other passport-related certificates will be ₹750 in India and $40 abroad. The last adjustment to passport fees occurred in 2012, when the government raised the standard fee for a 36-page passport from ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 and the expedited fee from ₹2,500 to ₹3,500.