New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday announced a significant change in the rules governing passports issued to children below the age of 15. Under the revised regulations, the normal 36-page passport for this age group will now carry a validity of just five years from the date of issue, instead of the previous ten-year validity period. This marks one of the most substantial overhauls in India's passport policy in recent decades.
The new framework stipulates that the passport will remain valid for five years or until the child attains the age of 18, whichever is earlier. For instance, if a six-year-old child is issued a passport today, it will expire in five years even though the child will only be 11 at that point. Conversely, if a 14-year-old applies, the passport would remain valid only until they turn 18 — roughly four years from issuance.
The amendment, officially notified through the Passport Rules Amendment, 2026, was published in the Gazette of India on September 17. The Ministry has stated that the change is intended to ensure that children's passports reflect their current appearance and biometric details more accurately, as young children undergo rapid physical changes during their formative years. Outdated photographs in longer-validity passports have sometimes led to complications during international travel and identity verification.
Officials at the MEA told reporters that the move aligns India with international best practices, noting that several countries already issue short-validity passports to minors. The government said the revision will also help reduce incidents of fraud and misuse, as stale photographs in long-validity documents have occasionally been exploited for illegal purposes.
Travel agencies and parents who had recently applied for or renewed children's passports under the old rules expressed mixed reactions. While some appreciated the clarity and security benefits, others flagged the additional cost and procedural hassle of frequent renewals. Parents are being advised to plan ahead and submit fresh applications well before their child's existing passport nears expiry, as processing times typically range from two to four weeks depending on the city and verification requirements.
The Ministry has also confirmed that existing passports issued under the old ten-year validity rule to children below 15 will continue to be honored until their original expiration date. No reissuance is mandatory solely on account of the new rules. However, any renewal sought after the current passport expires will fall under the five-year validity framework.
Experts say the change could see millions of Indian children's passports entering the renewal pipeline over the next five to seven years, potentially creating a surge in application volumes at passport offices across the country.
