New Passport Rules: Five-Year Validity for 36-Page Passports Issued to Children Under 15

The Ministry of External Affairs has notified the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, introducing updated provisions for ordinary passports issued to children.

Under the revised rules, a 36-page ordinary passport granted to a child below the age of 15 will remain valid for five years or until the child reaches 18 years of age, whichever occurs earlier. The amendment has been issued under the Passports Act, 1967.

The change establishes a clear validity period for the shorter booklet format commonly used for younger applicants. It aims to provide defined timelines for passport duration in cases involving minors, aligning the document’s life with either a fixed five-year span or the point at which the child attains majority.

The notification formalises the updated framework governing the issuance and duration of these passports for children under 15.