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Passport Fees Hiked From July 1: A 36-Page Booklet Will Now Cost Rs 2,500
Getting an Indian passport will soon cost more. A passport is the small booklet that lets you travel to other countries. The government is raising the fee (the money you pay for it) by as much as 75%. The new prices start on July 1, 2026.
The most common passport has 36 pages. It now costs Rs 1,500. From July 1 it will cost Rs 2,500. So if you plan to apply, doing it before July 1 can save you money.
This change comes from the Ministry of External Affairs (the part of the government that makes and gives out passports). The change was made by updating the old passport rules. The official notice came out on June 20, 2026. A notice like this is called a “notification” — it is the way the government tells everyone about a new rule.
The new fee table
The higher price covers both passport sizes and both speeds of service. A passport comes with either 36 pages or 60 pages. The 60-page one is for people who travel a lot. They need more pages for visas (a visa is a stamp or sticker that lets you enter another country).
There is also a faster service called Tatkal. Tatkal means you get your passport quickly, but you pay extra for the speed.
Key facts
| Passport type | Old fee | New fee | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36-page, normal | Rs 1,500 | Rs 2,500 | 67% |
| 36-page, Tatkal | Rs 3,500 | Rs 5,000 | 43% |
| 60-page, normal | Rs 2,000 | Rs 3,500 | 75% |
| 60-page, Tatkal | Rs 4,000 | Rs 6,000 | 50% |
The biggest jump is 75%. That is for the normal 60-page passport. The common 36-page passport goes up by about two-thirds (about 67%).
When the new rates kick in
The new fees start on July 1, 2026. If you apply on that day or after it, you pay the higher price. The rules were changed under the Passports Act. (An Act is a law passed by the government.) The new set of rules is called the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026. “Amendment” just means a change to an old rule.
The government’s notice did not say why the fee went up. Passport fees had stayed the same for many years. So this is the first big change in a long time.
What the hike means in plain numbers
Look at the table. The pattern is easy to see. Every type of passport now costs more. The normal services went up the most by percentage. The Tatkal services were already costly. They went up a little less by percentage, but you still pay more rupees.
Most people getting their first passport pick the 36-page normal one. That fee went from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500. That is Rs 1,000 more. People who travel a lot and need the 60-page book will feel it the most. Their fee went up 75%, to Rs 3,500.
How the change was made official
The fees were raised by the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026. These new rules change the older Passports Rules, 1980. The change was made under the Passports Act, 1967. That Act is the main law about passports in India.
The notice was dated June 20, 2026. The new prices start on July 1, 2026. Because the rules were already announced, there is no wait. From the first day of July, the higher fees apply to all new applications.
Why it matters (especially for India)
Millions of Indians apply for a passport every year. Students, job seekers and families who want to travel will all pay more now. A family of four getting fresh 36-page passports will pay Rs 4,000 more than before.
The smart thing is good timing. If your passport renewal is coming up soon, apply before July 1. (Renewal means getting a new passport when your old one is about to run out.) That way you pay the old, lower fee. After July 1, the new prices apply to everyone. This is one of several recent government fee and policy changes. Another example is the big port project in Odisha. Such changes affect both everyday people and the country’s economy.
FAQ
When do the new passport fees start?
They start on July 1, 2026. Apply before that day to pay the old, lower fee.
How much will a normal 36-page passport cost now?
It will cost Rs 2,500. That is up from Rs 1,500. So it costs about 67% more.
Which passport saw the biggest hike?
The normal 60-page passport. It went up 75%, from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500.
Who announced the change?
The Ministry of External Affairs. It made the change to the passport rules in a notice on June 20, 2026.
Should I apply before July 1?
If your passport needs renewing soon, then yes. Applying before July 1 lets you pay the old, lower fee. After that day, you cannot avoid the new prices.
Tips before you apply
A few simple steps can save you money and stress. First, check the expiry date on your old passport. (The expiry date is the day it stops working.) If it ends within the next year, it may be smart to renew now at the old fee. Second, think about whether you really need the 60-page book. The cheaper 36-page one may be enough.
Third, pick Tatkal only if you are in a real hurry. It costs about double the normal fee. And last, keep your papers ready so your application is not slow. A slow application could push you past the deadline. Then you would pay the higher rate after July 1.
The main point: passports get more costly from July 1. The rise can be as much as 75%. If you need a new or renewed passport soon, apply before the deadline. It can save you a fair bit of money.
Source: Financial Express and The Federal.
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