The Ministry of External Affairs has notified the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, bringing a change to the validity of ordinary passports issued to children under 15 years of age.
Under the amended provision, an ordinary passport with 36 pages issued to a child in this age group will be valid for 5 years or until the child turns 15, whichever comes first. The change amends the Passports Rules, 1980.
What the amendment changes
The revised rule links the passport’s validity to both a fixed period and the child’s age. This means the document will not remain valid beyond the child turning 15, even if 5 years have not passed since issuance.
For eligible applicants, the key details are:
- The passport is an ordinary passport with 36 pages.
- It applies to a child under 15 years of age.
- Validity is 5 years or until the child turns 15, whichever comes first.
The amendment was published in the Gazette of India on 17 September 2026. The notification records the change as an amendment to the existing Passports Rules, 1980.
What parents and guardians need to know
Parents and guardians applying for a passport for a child under 15 will need to account for the revised validity period. The applicable end date will depend on which comes earlier: the completion of 5 years from issuance or the child’s 15th birthday.
The rule concerns the validity of the specified ordinary passport. The notification details provided here do not establish any separate change to passport fees, application procedures or other document categories.
Conclusion
The amended passport rules set a validity period of 5 years or until the child turns 15, whichever comes first, for ordinary 36-page passports issued to children under 15.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the new passport validity for children under 15?
An ordinary 36-page passport issued to a child under 15 will be valid for 5 years or until the child turns 15, whichever comes first.
Q. Which passport does the amendment cover?
The provision covers an ordinary passport with 36 pages issued to a child under 15 years of age.
Q. When was the amendment notified?
The Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, were notified by the Ministry of External Affairs and published in the Gazette of India on 17 September 2026.
Q. Which earlier rules have been amended?
The amendment changes the Passports Rules, 1980.
Q. What happens if the child turns 15 before 5 years are completed?
The passport’s validity ends when the child turns 15 because the rule applies whichever comes first: 5 years or the child’s 15th birthday.
