SRINAGAR: The Ministry of External Affairs has amended the passport rules to revise the validity period of ordinary passports issued to children below 15 years of age.
Under the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, an ordinary 36-page passport issued to a child below 15 will be valid for five years from the date of issue or until the child turns 18, whichever occurs earlier.
The amendment was notified by the Ministry of External Affairs on September 15, 2026, under powers granted by Section 24 of the Passports Act, 1967.
The revised provision replaces the corresponding provision under Rule 12 of the Passports Rules, 1980.
The notification states that the amended rules will take effect from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
The changes establish a specific validity framework for passports issued to children, with the period determined by the child’s age when the passport is issued.
