Your e-passport will cost more from July 1: here is how much you can save by applying now

Getting a passport in India is about to get more expensive. The Ministry of External Affairs has announced new passport fees that come into effect on 1 July 2026 and the increase applies to almost every kind of passport service, whether you’re applying for the first time, renewing an old passport, replacing a lost one, or getting a passport for your child. If you’ve been putting off your passport application, this is the week to stop putting it off.

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This matters more than usual right now because India has been rolling out e-passports which use an embedded RFID chip to store a holder’s personal and biometric data, encrypted to global security standards. The e-passport service is currently live in select cities including Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Jammu, Panaji, Shimla, Raipur, Amritsar, Jaipur, Chennai, Hyderabad, Surat and Ranchi, with a nationwide rollout expected to follow. Since e-passports are issued through the same application process and fee structure as regular passports, this fee hike applies to e-passport applicants too.

What changes from 1 July

For applicants aged 18 and above, and minors aged 15 to 18 applying under the adult category, a fresh or reissued 36-page passport will cost Rs 2,500 for normal processing and Rs 5,000 for Tatkal, up from Rs 1,500 and Rs 3,500 respectively. The 60-page version rises to Rs 3,500 normal and Rs 6,000 Tatkal, up from Rs 2,000 and Rs 4,000. A replacement for a lost or damaged 36-page passport will cost Rs 5,000 normal and Rs 7,500 Tatkal, up from Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000.

For minors below 18 applying under the minor category, a fresh or reissued 36-page passport now costs Rs 1,750 normal and Rs 4,250 Tatkal, up from Rs 1,000 and Rs 3,000. A Police Clearance Certificate, Surrender Certificate or Global Entry Program verification now costs Rs 750, up from Rs 500.

How much you can save by applying before 1 July

Passport validity remains unchanged. A standard passport continues to be valid for 10 years, while a minor’s passport remains valid for 5 years or until the holder turns 18, whichever comes first.

How to apply before the deadline

If you want to lock in the current, lower fee, you will need to submit your application and complete payment before 1 July 2026. Here’s the process:

1. Visit the Passport Seva Online Portal and register if you haven’t already
2. Log in and click “Apply for Fresh Passport/Re-issue of Passport,” choosing the Fresh Issuance category if this is your first passport
3. Fill in the required details and submit the form
4. Go to “View Saved/Submitted Applications” and select “Pay and Schedule Appointment.” Online payment is mandatory to book an appointment at any Passport Seva Kendra, Post Office PSK or Regional Passport Office
5. Print the receipt with your Application Reference Number and appointment details, and save the SMS confirmation you receive
6. Visit your scheduled Passport Seva Kendra or Regional Passport Office with original documents for biometric and physical verification

Given the volume of applicants likely to rush before the deadline, it’s worth starting this process as early as possible rather than waiting until the last few days of June.

Siddharth Chauhan

Siddharth reports on gadgets, technology and you will occasionally find him testing the latest smartphones at Digit. However, his love affair with tech and futurism extends way beyond, at the intersection of technology and culture. View Full Profile