The New Standard Application Cost
As of July 1, 2026, the cost of applying for an Indian passport has seen a notable increase, impacting how travellers need to plan their initial expenses. For a standard fresh passport or a reissue for an adult, the fee for a 36-page booklet is now ₹2,500.
If you are a frequent traveller who anticipates needing more space for visas and entry stamps, opting for the 60-page booklet is a wise choice, and this will cost you ₹3,500. These fees apply to both first-time applicants and those renewing their existing passports. The validity for an adult passport remains 10 years, making it a long-term investment in your travel future, but one that now requires a larger upfront payment.
The Price of Urgency: Tatkaal Fees
If your travel plans are sudden or you need a passport in a hurry, the Tatkaal scheme offers an expedited service. However, this convenience comes at a significant premium. Under the revised fee structure, a 36-page Tatkaal passport for an adult now costs ₹5,000. For those who need both speed and extra pages, the 60-page Tatkaal passport comes with a fee of ₹6,000. This is a substantial jump from the previous rates and underscores the financial benefit of planning ahead. Waiting until the last minute can effectively double the cost of your passport, money that could otherwise be spent on your trip itself. The Tatkaal service aims to deliver your passport within a much shorter timeframe, but it's a costly alternative to a standard application.
Don't Forget the Minors
The fee adjustments also extend to passports for children. For applicants below the age of 18, a fresh or reissued 36-page passport now costs ₹1,750. This passport is typically valid for five years or until the minor turns 18, whichever comes first. If a passport for a minor is needed urgently through the Tatkaal scheme, the fee increases to ₹4,250. These revised costs are important for families to consider, as outfitting even one child with a passport is a notable expense. For those with multiple children, these fees can quickly accumulate into a significant budget item that needs to be factored into your overall travel planning from the very beginning.
How Costs Multiply for a Family
While a single passport fee might seem manageable, the costs can escalate quickly for a family. Consider a family of four—two adults and two children—applying for standard 36-page passports. The two adult passports would cost ₹5,000 (₹2,500 each), and the two minor passports would cost ₹3,500 (₹1,750 each). This brings the total to ₹8,500 before you've even booked a single flight. If the family needed their passports urgently under the Tatkaal scheme, that total would soar to ₹18,500. This example illustrates how passport fees are no longer a minor administrative cost but a genuine budgetary line item that requires careful consideration, especially for larger families planning their first international trip together.
Beyond the Official Fee
The official application fee is the largest component, but it's not the only expense involved in getting a passport. Applicants should also budget for ancillary costs. These can include the cost of getting regulation-compliant passport photographs, which must meet specific criteria. You may also have expenses related to travel to and from the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) for your appointment. Furthermore, gathering the necessary documentation, such as birth certificates or address proofs, might involve its own minor costs for printing or notarization. While these individual expenses may be small, they contribute to the total cost of securing your travel document and are worth keeping in mind as you prepare your application.
