1 month ago
India Raises Passport Fees by 67% After 14 Years
India has decided to charge more for a new passport.
The fee for a regular passport went from 1,500 rupees to 2,500 rupees, which is a 67 percent increase.
This is the first change in 14 years.
The government says the cost of making passports has gone up because of new technology and better services.
They also added a new program called Passport Seva Programme 2.0 and started using e‑passports, which are more secure.
The change will start on July 1, 2026, and the Ministry of External Affairs explained the reasons to the parliament.
India increased the ordinary fresh passport fee from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500, a 67% hike effective July 1, 2026.
The change follows a 14‑year gap since the last fee revision in 2012.
The Ministry of External Affairs cited rising input costs and service‑delivery upgrades, including Passport Seva Programme 2.0 and e‑passports, as reasons for the hike.
The amendment to the Passports Rules, 1980, was notified under the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026.
The government said the fee review was based on a comprehensive cost and operational assessment.
- Who
- Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs
- What
- Revised passport fee structure, raising ordinary fresh passport fee to Rs 2,500
- Where
- India, Ministry of External Affairs
- When
- Effective July 1, 2026; announced July 31, 2026
- Why
- Rising input costs and service‑delivery upgrades such as Passport Seva Programme 2.0 and e‑passports
Key facts
- Country
- India
- Effective Date
- July 1, 2026
- Old Fee
- Rs 1,500
- New Fee
- Rs 2,500
- Increase Percentage
- 67%
- Last Revision
- 2012
- Ministry
- Ministry of External Affairs
Quotes
Kirti Vardhan Singh
Minister of State for External Affairs, Government of India
“"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."”
theprint.in
Sources
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