Passports for children below 15 years valid for 5 years or till they turn 18: MEA amends rules
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has amended passport rules, stating that passports for children under 15 will be valid for five years or until they turn 18, whichever comes first. The update also clarifies recent fee hikes for various passport services.
Why it matters
This is a significant administrative update affecting travel documentation for families and citizens in India.
The ordinary passport issued to a child under the 15 years of age will be valid for five years or until the child turns 18 years, whichever is earlier, as per the new rules notified by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, notified this week amends the Passports Rules, 1980.
The MEA notification, dated September 15, 2026, amended Rule 12 of the Passport Rules, 1980, which states: “(IA) 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 issue or until the child attains the age of eighteen years, whichever is earlier.”
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