New Delhi, September 17: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has notified the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, bringing changes to the Passports Rules, 1980, particularly concerning the validity period of passports issued to children.
According to the notification issued on September 15, 2026, an ordinary passport containing 36 pages issued to a child below 15 years of age will remain valid for five years from the date of issue or until the child attains 18 years of age, whichever is earlier.
The amendment has been notified under the powers conferred by Section 24 of the Passports Act, 1967.
The revised provision replaces the earlier corresponding provision under Rule 12 of the Passports Rules, 1980.
The notification further states that the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026 will come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
The amendment is aimed at updating the passport validity framework for children, providing a clearly defined validity period based on the child’s age at the time of passport issuance.(KNC)
