Parliament Question: Revision of Passport Fee

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 2208 ANSWERED ON - 31/07/2026 REVISION OF PASSPORT FEE

2208. SHRI ABHISHEK BANERJEE

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a)whether the Government has undertaken any cost study, regulatory impact assessment or affordability assessment before revising passport and passport-related service fees under the Passports (Amendment)Rules, 2026 notified vide G.S.R. 516(E), if so, the details thereof;

(b)the legislative, administrative and cost-based rationale for the revised fee structure, along with the category-wise increase over the earlier fees;

(c)the component-wise cost considered for passport issuance, including application processing, biometrics, police verification, 1cyber security, passport booklet printing, e-Passport chip embedding and dispatch;

(d)the per-application amount payable to service providers under the Passport Seva Programme Phase II and the manner in which it differs from Phase I; and

(e)the unit cost of manufacturing and embedding the e-Passport chip and the extent to which this cost has contributed to the revised passport fees? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (e) Passport fees are revised from time to time after a comprehensive review of the cost of providing passport and related services, operational requirements, and service delivery improvements. Earlier, passport fees have been revised in 1971 [vide G.S.R. 1783 dated 11.11.1971], 1980 [vide G.S.R. 691(E) dated

11.12.1980], 1993 [vide G.S.R. 503 (E) dated 10.07.1993], 2002 [vide G.S.R. 235 (E) dated 28.03.2002] and 2012 [vide G.S.R. 731 (E) dated

28.09.2012], and now in 2026 [vide G.S.R. 516(E) dated 25.06.2026]. A 2number of initiatives have been taken for improvement of passport services including implementation of upgraded Passport Seva Programme (PSP) Version 2.0 and e-Passports which has enhanced the quality, security and efficiency of passport services, while increasing the cost of service delivery. In addition, the increase in the cost of various inputs and service delivery over the fourteen years since the last revision in 2012 made it necessary to revise the passport fees.

The current increase in passport fees is 67%, after 14 years. For reference purposes, it was increased 67% over 4 years in 1971; 100% over 9 years in 1980; 500% over 13 years in 1993; 233% over 9 years in 2002 and 50% over 10 years in 2012.

Provisions for Passport applications being accompanied by prescribed fee are in Section 5(1) of the Passports Act 1967 and Rule 8 of the Passports Rules 1980. Copy of the Gazette notification revising fee from 1st July 2026 is at Annexure-I. The details of category-wise increase over the earlier fees are at Annexure-II.

3The issuance of a passport involves several components of expenditure. The major direct cost elements include: Cost of Passport Booklet, Printing of data in the Passport booklet, Payment to Service Provider, Payment to Police Department for Police Verification, Payment to Department of Post, Courier charges, Expenditure on Technical support and cost of ePassport project including its operation and maintenance for validation of ePassports through Public Key Directory in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines. Besides there, there are a number of other expenditure relating to establishment and infrastructure.

The amount payable to service providers has increased in comparison to the Passport Seva Programme Version 1.0 (Phase I) and on the basis of high production cost, India Security Press (ISP) has substantially increased the cost of chip based ePassport booklets.

Further, there are additional costs associated with ePassport booklet, namely Personalization (applicant’s data printing) cost, cost on ePassport project and other operational costs.

4Annexure-I MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

NOTIFICATION New Delhi, dated the 20th June, 2026.

G.S.R. 516(E).─ In exercise of the powers conferred by section 24 of the Passports Act, 1967(15 of 1967), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Passports Rules, 1980, namely:─

1. (1) These rules may be called the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026.

(2)They shall come into force with effect from the 1st day of July,

2026.

2. For Schedule IV to the Passports Rules, 1980, the following Schedule shall be substituted, namely:─ ‘SCHEDULE IV (See rule 8) Schedule of fees payable in respect of applications for passport and travel documents Sl. Particulars of application Scale of fees No.

Normal Fee Tatkaal fee (inclusive of normal fee) India Abroad India Abroad 5Rs. $ Rs. $

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) I. PASSPORT─

(a) Applicants (18 years of age and above / Minors aged between 15 to 18 years, if applied under this category) :

1. For an ordinary fresh passport 2500 125 5000 250 or reissue of passport containing 36 pages

2. For an ordinary fresh passport 3500 175 6000 300 or reissue of passport containing 60 pages

3. For an ordinary passport in 5000 250 7500 375 lieu of lost or damaged passport containing 36 pages

4. For an ordinary passport in 6000 300 8500 425 lieu of lost or damaged passport containing 60 pages

(b) Minor Applicants (below 18 years of age) :

5. For an ordinary fresh passport 1750 90 4250 215 or reissue of passport containing 36 pages

6. For an ordinary passport in 4250 215 6750 340 lieu of lost or damaged passport containing 36 pages 6II. SPECIAL TRAVEL DOCUMENT─

7. Emergency Certificate NA 15 NA NA

8. Certificate of Identity 1000 50 NA NA III. MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES─

9. Issue of Police Clearance 750 40 NA NA Certificate or Surrender Certificate or Global Entry Program verification or any other Miscellaneous certificates based on the passport

Note:

1. “NA” means “not applicable”.

2. The validity of passports issued under serial number I(a) shall not exceed ten years, and the validity of passports issued under serial number I(b) shall be for five years or until the applicant attains the age of 18 years, whichever is earlier.

3. There shall be a discount of ten per cent. in passport fee for fresh applications (and not for re-issue) in respect of minors up to the age of 8 years and senior citizens (persons above the age of 60 years).’.

[No. 401/01/20/2025] B.S. MUBARAK, Jt. Secy. and Chief Passport Officer Note.─ The Passport Rules, 1980 were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), vide notification number G.S.R. 691(E), dated the 11th December, 1980 and last 7amended vide notification number G.S.R. 156 (E), dated the 24th February, 2025.

8Annexure-II Details of category-wise increase over the earlier passport fees S. Particulars of Earlier fee Revised Fee No. Application (as fixed in 2012) (as fixed in 2026) (in Rs.) (in Rs.) Normal Tatkaal Normal Tatkaal Fee Fee Fee Fee (inclusive (inclusive of normal of normal fee) fee) I. Passport

(a)Applicants (18 years and above, also applicable to minors aged between 15-18 years) :

1. For an ordinary fresh / Rs. 1500 Rs. 3500 Rs. 2500 Rs. 5000 reissue of passport containing 36 pages

2. For an ordinary fresh / Rs. 2000 4000 Rs. 3500 Rs. 6000 reissue of passport containing 60 pages

3. For an ordinary passport Rs. 3000 Rs. 5000 Rs. 5000 Rs. 7500 in lieu of lost / damaged passport containing 36 pages

4. For an ordinary passport Rs. 3500 Rs. 5500 Rs. 6000 Rs. 8500 in lieu of lost / damaged passport containing 60 pages

(b)Minor Applicants (below 18 years of age) :

5. For an ordinary fresh / Rs. 1000 Rs. 3000 Rs. 1750 Rs. 4250 reissue of passport containing 36 pages

6. For an ordinary passport Rs. 3000 Rs. 5000 Rs. 4250 Rs. 6750 in lieu of lost / damaged 9passport containing 36 pages II. Special Travel Document

7. Emergency Certificate NA N.A. NA N.A.

8. Certificate of Identity Rs. 1000 N.A. NA N.A.

III. Miscellaneous Services

9. Issue of Police Rs. 500 N.A. Rs. 750 N.A.

Clearance Certificate or Surrender Certificate or any other Miscellaneous certificates based on the passport ***** 10