The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has revised Passport Fees 2026 through the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, with the new charges effective from 01 July 2026. Students applying for admission abroad, exchange programmes, or study visas should factor in the updated costs before submitting fresh applications or renewals.
New Passport Fee Structure Explained
Under the revised structure, the Passport Fees for a fresh 36-page ordinary passport or its reissue has gone up from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500. Applicants opting for Tatkal processing on a 36-page passport will now pay Rs 5,000, up from Rs 3,500 earlier. For those applying for a 60-page passport, fresh applications or reissues now cost Rs 3,500, compared to Rs 2,000 previously. Replacement passports issued for lost or damaged documents attract higher charges still, with a 36-page replacement priced at Rs 5,000 under the normal route and Rs 7,500 under Tatkal.
Why the Fees Have Increased After 14 Years
This marks the first passport fee revision in India in nearly 14 years, with charges having remained unchanged since 2012. The government has attributed the hike to rising costs of passport printing, chip-enabled security features, biometric integration, and the continued expansion of the Passport Seva network, including additional Seva Kendras and stronger cybersecurity infrastructure.
The Passport Fees 2026 (Amendment) Rules, also confirm that a standard 36-page passport remains valid for ten years, while passports issued to minors remain valid for five years or until the applicant turns 18, whichever comes earlier.
Impact on Students Applying to Study Abroad
For students preparing university applications, visa interviews, or Police Clearance Certificates as part of their study-abroad process, the revised fees mean higher upfront costs at each stage. Since Passport Fees 2026 now apply to reissues as well as fresh applications, students renewing a passport nearing expiry before travelling should account for the increase while budgeting.
Those relying on Tatkal services to meet tight admission or visa deadlines will see a sharper cost jump, making early planning more important than before. The revised charges also apply to applications submitted through Indian missions and posts abroad, quoted separately in US dollars.
Discounts and Exceptions Students Should Note
The MEA notification confirms a 10 percent discount on the normal fee for fresh applications, not reissues, for minors up to the age of 8 and senior citizens above 60. This concession does not apply to older students applying for their first passport or renewing an existing one.
Applications submitted before 01 July 2026 were charged under the old fee schedule, but any application filed from that date onward, regardless of when the appointment was originally booked, attracts the revised rates.
