Parliament Question: Passport Applications Fees

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 1049 ANSWERED ON - 24/07/2026 PASSPORT APPLICATION FEES 1049. DR. M K VISHNU PRASAD Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a)whether the Government has revised the passport application fee during the last five years and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons for such revision; (b)the total revenue generated from passport application fees during the last five years, year-wise along with the details of its utilisation for strengthening the passport and consular services; (c)the number of passport applications received, passports issued and rejected during the last five years, year-wise; and 1(d)the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to make passport services more affordable, faster and accessible, particularly for students, senior citizens and first- time applicants? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a)The fee for all passport and passport-related services prescribed under Schedule IV of the Passports Rules, 1980 has been revised vide Gazette Notification G.S.R. No. 516(E) dated 25.06.2026, with effect from 1 July 2026. A copy of the Gazette notification having revised fee is enclosed as Annexure-I. 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. Earlier, passport fees have been revised in 1971, 1980, 1993, 2002, 2012, and now in 2026. A number of initiatives have been taken for improvement of passport services including implementation of upgraded 2Passport Seva Programme (PSP) Version 2.0 and e-Passports which has enhanced the quality, security and efficiency of passport services, while increasing the cost of service delivery. Combined with these expenses and the inflation in the cost of all the components of issuance of passports and providing passport services in last 14 years since the last revision of passport fees was undertaken in 2012, this increase in passport fees was unavoidable. (b)The total revenue generated from passport application fees during last five years (from 2021-22 to 2025-26) is Rs. 16,767.55 crores. (c)As per the available records, the applications received, passports issued and applications rejected during last five years from 2021 to 2025 are 6,81,81,433; 6,50,70,353 and 8,794 respectively. (d)The Government has undertaken several initiatives to make passport services affordable, faster and more accessible by expansion of the Passport Seva network through Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) and Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs), end-to-end online application and appointment 3system, and the ‘Anywhere Passport’ facility. These initiatives inter-alia helpful for students as well, as they can submit passport applications at their place of study or native place. Also Mobile Passport Seva Vans are deployed, to educational institutions and remote areas allowing them to submit applications at their closest place. Senior citizens are provided priority tokens at PSKs and additional care in submission of passport applications. Besides a 10% concession on fresh passport fees are also given to senior citizens for fresh passport. The upgraded PSP Version 2.0 also provides AI-enabled citizen assistance, DigiLocker integration, automated document validation and multilingual National Call Centre support, making passport services more convenient, particularly for first-time applicants. ***** 4Annexure-I MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS NOTIFICATION New Delhi, dated the 20th June, 2026. G.S.R. 516(E).─ In exercise of the powers conferred by section 24 of the Passports Act, 1967(15 of 1967), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Passports Rules, 1980, namely:─ 1. (1) These rules may be called the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026. (2) They shall come into force with effect from the 1st day of July, 2026. 2. For Schedule IV to the Passports Rules, 1980, the following Schedule shall be substituted, namely:─ ‘SCHEDULE IV (See rule 8) Schedule of fees payable in respect of applications for passport and travel documents 5Sl. No. Particulars of application Scale of fees Normal Fee Tatkaal fee (inclusive of normal fee) India Abroad India Abroad Rs. $ Rs. $ (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) I. PASSPORT─ (a) Applicants (18 years of age and above / Minors aged between 15 to 18 years, if applied under this category) : 1. For an ordinary fresh 2500 125 5000 250 passport or reissue of passport containing 36 pages 2. For an ordinary fresh 3500 175 6000 300 passport or reissue of passport containing 60 pages 3. For an ordinary passport in 5000 250 7500 375 lieu of lost or damaged passport containing 36 pages 64. For an ordinary passport in 6000 300 8500 425 lieu of lost or damaged passport containing 60 pages (b) Minor Applicants (below 18 years of age) : 5. For an ordinary fresh 1750 90 4250 215 passport or reissue of passport containing 36 pages 6. For an ordinary passport in 4250 215 6750 340 lieu of lost or damaged passport containing 36 pages II. SPECIAL TRAVEL DOCUMENT─ 7. Emergency Certificate NA 15 NA NA 8. Certificate of Identity 1000 50 NA NA III. MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES─ 9. Issue of Police Clearance 750 40 NA NA Certificate or Surrender Certificate or Global Entry Program verification or any 7other Miscellaneous certificates based on the passport Note: 1. “NA” means “not applicable”. 2. The validity of passports issued under serial number I(a) shall not exceed ten years, and the validity of passports issued under serial number I(b) shall be for five years or until the applicant attains the age of 18 years, whichever is earlier. 3. There shall be a discount of ten per cent. in passport fee for fresh applications (and not for re-issue) in respect of minors up to the age of 8 years and senior citizens (persons above the age of 60 years).’. [No. 401/01/20/2025] B.S. MUBARAK, Jt. Secy. and Chief Passport Officer Note.─ The Passport Rules, 1980 were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), vide notification number G.S.R. 691(E), dated the 11th December, 1980 and last amended vide notification number G.S.R. 156 (E), dated the 24th February, 2025. ***** 8