India’s New Child Passport Rule: Under-15 Passports Valid for 5 Years or Until 18

Last updated: Sep 24, 2026

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Child passport validity
Questions
Sources

Child passport validity under the new rule

Checked against Rule 12(1A), Passports Rules, 1980, as amended in the Gazette of India, 17 September 2026.

Child’s age on the day of issue

Under 13131415 to 17

Valid for5 yearsExpires5 years after issueFive years runs out before the 18th birthday, so your child gets the full term. Issued at 8, it expires at 13.

Valid for4 to 5 yearsExpiresOn the 18th birthdayFive years would run past 18, so the passport validity stops on the birthday instead. Issued on the 13th birthday itself, it still lasts the full five.

Valid for3 to 4 yearsExpiresOn the 18th birthdayIssued on the 14th birthday, it lasts four years. Issued the day before turning 15, it lasts just over three.

Under-15 ruleDoes not applyAdult optionUp to 10 yearsFrom 15, you can choose the adult-category passport instead, subject to the usual conditions.

In September 2026, India’s Ministry of External Affairs amended the validity rule for children’s passports. A passport issued to a child under 15 now lasts five years, or until they turn 18 if that comes first.

Fees changed separately, in an earlier update announced in June that applies from July:

Normal application: ₹1,750
Tatkaal: ₹4,250
Children up to age 8: 10% off the normal fee, on fresh applications only

See the full list in our guide to India’s new passport fees.

Passport sorted?

Once the new passport is in hand, compare fares for the family trip on Wego.

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Questions

Does the new rule change a passport my child already has?

None of the reports on the amendment say it does. The expiry date printed in your child’s passport is the one that counts.

Which passports does the under-15 rule cover?

The 36-page ordinary passport issued to a child below 15. It is valid for five years from the date of issue or until the child turns 18, whichever is earlier.

Why does a 14-year-old’s passport last less than five years?

Because the rule stops at the 18th birthday. Five years from age 14 would reach 19, so the passport ends at 18 instead, three to four years after issue.

Are minors eligible for a 10-year passport?

Yes, from age 15. Applicants aged 15 to 18 can opt for the adult-category passport, which is valid for up to 10 years, subject to the applicable conditions.

Where should I apply for my child’s passport?

Use the official Passport Seva portal for applications and payments. The MEA has warned against fraudulent websites and agents that charge extra fees. Living in the UAE? See our guide to Indian passport renewal in Dubai.

Sources

The Economic Times, amended Rule 12(1A) wording and Gazette date, retrieved 24 September 2026.
Gulf News, the amendment and the 10-year option from age 15, retrieved 24 September 2026.
The Tribune, the rule taking effect on publication, retrieved 24 September 2026.
IFL Kuwait, reposting the Embassy of India, Kuwait fee notice, fees for minors from 1 July 2026, retrieved 24 September 2026.
The Logical Indian, earlier Passport Seva guidance for minors, retrieved 24 September 2026.

How these figures were worked out

Ages are the child’s age on the date the passport is issued. The expiry is whichever comes first: five years after issue, or the 18th birthday.
Press reports differ on what the rule said before. Gulf News says child passports previously ran to age 15; The Logical Indian says Passport Seva guidance already used age 18. This page describes the rule as it now stands.
The rule wording is taken from press reports of the Gazette notification, not from the Gazette itself.

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