Indian passport applicants will now have to pay more, with the Ministry of External Affairs revising passport charges effective from July 1. The new fee structure covers fresh passports, reissues, Tatkal applications and several related services, making it one of the biggest updates to passport costs in years.
The revision comes at a time when more Indians are applying for passports for study, work and travel abroad. For many families, the change will mean a higher upfront cost, especially for those opting for faster processing or larger passport booklets.
What has changed
Under the revised rates, an adult applying for a fresh or reissued 36-page passport will now pay Rs 2,500 under the normal scheme. The Tatkal fee for the same passport has been fixed at Rs 5,000.
For a 60-page passport, the normal fee has been raised to Rs 3,500, while Tatkal applicants will now have to pay Rs 6,000. The revised charges also apply to lost, damaged and replacement passports, which will now cost more than before.
Children and senior citizens
Applicants below 18 years of age will also see a revised fee structure. A 36-page passport for minors will cost Rs 1,750 under the normal category and Rs 4,250 under Tatkal.
The MEA has also announced a 10% discount on fresh passport applications for children up to eight years of age and senior citizens above 60. That small relief may soften the impact for some applicants, but the overall increase is still significant.
Other services affected
The fee revision is not limited to passport booklets alone. Services such as Police Clearance Certificates, Surrender Certificates and Global Entry Program verification will now cost Rs 750. Emergency Certificates and identity-related documents have also been updated under the new rules.
For many people, these smaller charges may not seem as visible as the passport fee itself, but they add up for those navigating immigration, travel or documentation requirements. That makes the revision relevant not only for first-time applicants but also for regular travellers and students.
Why it matters
The increase is likely to hit especially hard for those applying under Tatkal, where speed already comes at a premium. With international travel plans often tied to tight deadlines, many applicants may have little choice but to absorb the higher cost.
For news readers, the bigger story is simple: the passport, once one of the more predictable government services, is now costlier across the board. Anyone planning to apply soon will need to factor in the new rates before visiting the passport office.
