Srinagar, Sept. 17 -- Srinagar- The Ministry of Home Affairs has amended the passport rules governing the validity of passports issued to children below 15 years of age.

Under the amended Rule 12(1A) of the Passports Rules, 1980, an ordinary 36-page passport issued to a child below 15 will remain valid for five years from the date of issue or until the child turns 18, whichever is earlier.

The change has been notified through the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, published in the Gazette of India on September 17.

The amendment also revises Rule 8 relating to passport application fees, with the applicable charges specified in Schedule IV.

The amended rules have come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette...