Child Passports Get New Validity Rule Expire at 18 or in 5 Years, Whichever Comes First
What Happened
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has amended the Passports Rules, 1980. Under the new rules, ordinary 36-page passports issued to children below 15 years will now be valid for five years from the date of issue or until the child turns 18, whichever is earlier. The amendment also revises passport application fee provisions and takes effect immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette.
Key Takeaways
The move standardizes passport validity for younger children, ensuring that passport details and photographs are updated more frequently as children grow, while also aligning passport issuance with the revised 2026 passport rules framework.