New Delhi, July 1: Obtaining a passport has become more expensive across India from July 1 after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) implemented a revised fee structure covering fresh passport applications, renewals, Tatkaal services, replacement of lost or damaged passports, police clearance certificates and several other passport-related services.
The revised charges came into effect on Wednesday and apply to passport applications submitted both within India and through Indian missions and consulates abroad. The fee revision affects adults and minors across multiple categories of passport services.
Under the revised structure, the fee for a fresh 36-page passport or its renewal under the normal category for adults has increased from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500. The fee for a 60-page passport has been raised from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500.
Applicants seeking expedited passport issuance under the Tatkaal scheme will also pay higher charges. The fee for a 36-page adult passport under Tatkaal has increased from Rs 3,500 to Rs 5,000, while the charge for a 60-page passport under the same category has risen from Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000.
The Ministry has also revised charges for replacement passports issued due to loss or damage. The fee for replacing a 36-page passport has increased from Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000, while the replacement fee for a 60-page passport has been raised from Rs 3,500 to Rs 6,000. Under the Tatkaal category, replacement of a lost or damaged 60-page passport will now cost Rs 8,500, compared with the earlier fee of Rs 5,500.
Passport services for minors have also become costlier under the revised schedule. The fee for a fresh or reissued 36-page passport under the normal category has increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,750. Under the Tatkaal scheme, the fee has been raised from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,250.
For minors seeking replacement of lost or damaged passports, the revised fee has been fixed at Rs 4,250 under the normal category and Rs 6,750 under the Tatkaal category.
The Ministry has also revised charges for miscellaneous passport-related services. The fee for obtaining a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) and other passport-related certificates has increased from Rs 500 to Rs 750. The revised fee schedule also covers services such as surrender certificates and other passport-linked documentation.
Indian citizens applying for passport services through Indian missions and consulates abroad will be governed by a separate overseas fee structure. Under the revised rates, the fee for a fresh 36-page passport application under the normal category has been fixed at 125 US dollars, while the corresponding Tatkaal application will cost 250 US dollars.
Despite the increase in fees, the Ministry has retained the existing 10 per cent concession on fresh passport applications for children below eight years of age and senior citizens above 60 years. The concession, however, will not apply to passport reissue applications.
The revised fee structure marks a nationwide increase in passport service charges and is applicable to all eligible applications submitted from July 1 onward through passport offices in India as well as Indian diplomatic missions overseas.
