The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has notified the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, amending the Passports Rules, 1980, with a specific provision on the validity of ordinary passports issued to children below 15 years of age. Under the amended Rule 12(1A), a 36-page ordinary passport issued to a child under 15 will remain valid for five years from the date of issue or until the child turns 18, whichever is earlier.
The notification was issued on September 15, 2026, under powers granted by the Passports Act, 1967, and came into force upon publication in the Official Gazette. The amendment was signed by B.S. Mubarak, Joint Secretary and Chief Passport Officer.
While the provision formally updates the rules, Passport Seva’s existing guidance had already stated that minors below 15 would receive passports valid for five years or until they turned 18, whichever was earlier. The latest notification also amends Rule 8 to specify that passport application fees will be charged according to the rates prescribed in Schedule IV.
What The Amendment Says
The key change concerns children who are below 15 years of age when they apply for an ordinary passport. The amended rule specifically refers to a passport containing 36 pages and states that its validity will run for five years from the date it is issued, unless the child turns 18 before that period ends. In that case, the passport will expire on the child’s 18th birthday. For example, a 10-year-old receiving such a passport would generally have it for five years, while a 14-year-old would have it only until turning 18.
The notification does not provide a separate explanatory statement from the ministry on why the wording has been amended. However, the official Gazette notification identifies B.S. Mubarak, Joint Secretary and Chief Passport Officer, as the officer who issued and signed it. The rules were framed under Section 24 of the Passports Act, 1967, which empowers the Central Government to make rules under the legislation.
The amendment also changes Rule 8(1), stating that the fee payable for different passport and travel-document applications will be according to the corresponding rates specified in Schedule IV. This follows a separate amendment notified in June 2026 that revised passport fees with effect from July 1.
What Parents Should Know
For parents applying for a passport for a child below 15, the most important point is that the passport’s validity is linked to both time and age. The document will not automatically remain valid until the child is 18 if five years have already elapsed. Similarly, a child who is close to turning 18 will have a shorter validity period because the passport expires on the 18th birthday if that occurs first.
The distinction between the formal rule and earlier Passport Seva guidance is also important. The existing Passport Rules documentation available through Passport Seva had already stated that minors below 15 years would receive passports valid for five years or until they attained 18 years, whichever was earlier. It also noted that minors between 15 and 18 could seek a passport with longer validity under specified conditions.
The September notification therefore formally substitutes the wording of Rule 12(1A), rather than introducing an entirely unfamiliar validity principle for children’s passports. The amended rules were notified in the Gazette on September 17, with the notification itself dated September 15, and took effect from the date of publication.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Passport rules can appear administrative, but for families they have a direct bearing on travel, documentation and planning. Clear rules are particularly important when children are involved, as their age and identity documents naturally change as they grow.
The latest amendment provides a specific statutory framework for the validity of passports issued to children below 15, while the existing Passport Seva guidance offers useful context on how the provision has been understood. As government rules evolve, transparent communication can help families avoid confusion, missed travel plans and unnecessary paperwork. Do you think clearer, age-specific passport rules can make the process easier for parents and children?
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