India · Application requirements

India Passport Requirements 2026

All Indian citizens are eligible to apply for an ordinary passport — fresh issue (first-time), re-issue (expiry, exhausted pages, name change, address change, damage), or Tatkaal (fast-track). Minors below 18 receive a passport with 5-year validity or until age 18, whichever is earlier. Applicants aged 15–18 may choose between a 5-year minor passport or a regular 10-year passport. As of 2024–2026, MEA is issuing the new chip-embedded ePassport in line with ICAO standards, which is replacing the legacy machine-readable booklet in a phased rollout.

Issued by Ministry of External Affairs (Passport Seva) · Last verified May 28, 2026 · Official source ↗

At a glance

Application fee

Fresh / re-issue — 36 pages, 10-year (adult): ₹1,500
Fresh / re-issue — 60 pages, 10-year (adult): ₹2,000
Minor (under 18) — 36 pages, 5-year: ₹1,000
Tatkaal — additional fee on top of base: +₹2,000
Lost / damaged — 36 pages: ₹3,000
Lost / damaged — 60 pages: ₹3,500

as of May 28, 2026 · details

Processing time

Normal — dispatch after PSK appointment: 1–2 weeks
Tatkaal — dispatch after PSK appointment: 1–3 working days
Police verification (typical): 7–21 days
End-to-end normal (with PVR): 2–4 weeks

details

Issuing authority

Ministry of External Affairs (Passport Seva)

Who needs a India Passport?

Where to apply

Online via the Passport Seva portal at passportindia.gov.in: register, fill the application form, pay the fee, and book an appointment at a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or a Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK). As of March 2026, around 452 POPSKs are operational across India in addition to the 90+ PSKs run by MEA / TCS — together giving near-district-level coverage. Walk-ins are not permitted; an appointment is mandatory. Indian nationals abroad apply via the local Indian Embassy or Consulate (or its outsourced service provider such as VFS / CKGS).

Fees

Fresh / re-issue — 36 pages, 10-year (adult): ₹1,500
Fresh / re-issue — 60 pages, 10-year (adult): ₹2,000
Minor (under 18) — 36 pages, 5-year: ₹1,000
Tatkaal — additional fee on top of base: +₹2,000
Lost / damaged — 36 pages: ₹3,000
Lost / damaged — 60 pages: ₹3,500

Normal application fees set by MEA: ₹1,500 for a fresh or re-issue 36-page adult passport (10-year validity); ₹2,000 for a 60-page (jumbo) adult passport. Minor passports (under 18, 36 pages, 5-year validity) cost ₹1,000. Tatkaal (fast-track) adds ₹2,000 on top of the relevant base fee — so ₹3,500 for a 36-page Tatkaal, ₹4,000 for a 60-page Tatkaal, ₹3,000 for a minor Tatkaal. Replacement of a lost, stolen, or damaged passport costs ₹3,000 (36 pages) or ₹3,500 (60 pages). Fees are paid online via the Passport Seva portal when booking the PSK appointment.

Fees as of May 28, 2026. Confirm current amounts on the official source before paying.

What to bring

Documents and items you'll need at the appointment or with your application.

Application Reference Number (ARN) and printed receipt from passportindia.gov.in
Proof of identity — Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, or driving licence (original + self-attested copy)
Proof of present address — Aadhaar with current address, utility bill, bank statement, or registered rent agreement
Proof of date of birth — Aadhaar, birth certificate, school leaving certificate, or PAN
Old passport (original) for re-issue / renewal applications
Annexure / affidavit specific to the case (e.g. lost passport, name change, minor by single parent)
For minors: parents' passports (if held) and parental consent form Annexure D / H

Need the photo specs?

Exact size, head height, background, and what gets rejected.

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How long does it take?

Normal — dispatch after PSK appointment: 1–2 weeks
Tatkaal — dispatch after PSK appointment: 1–3 working days
Police verification (typical): 7–21 days
End-to-end normal (with PVR): 2–4 weeks

Normal applications: typically 1–2 weeks for the passport to be printed and dispatched after the PSK appointment, assuming the police verification report (PVR) is clear. Tatkaal: 1–3 working days for dispatch after the PSK appointment when documents are in order and post-PVR is used. Police verification itself usually takes 7–21 days and runs in parallel for Tatkaal cases (post-issue) or before issue for normal applications — the mPassport Police App (live in 25+ states/UTs) has shortened verification considerably. End-to-end realistic timeline: 2–4 weeks normal; 3–7 days Tatkaal in routine cases; longer if PVR is adverse or documents are incomplete.

Times vary by location, season, and individual case. Always check the official source for the current backlog before you book travel.

Official source

https://www.passportindia.gov.in/

Last verified May 28, 2026

Verify before applying. We compile this from official government sources and re-verify regularly. Fees, processing times, and rules change without notice — always confirm current information on the official site before you apply or pay any fee.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about applying for a india passport.

How much does an Indian passport cost in 2026? +

A 36-page adult passport (10-year validity) costs ₹1,500 under normal processing. A 60-page jumbo passport costs ₹2,000. Minor passports (under 18, 5-year validity) cost ₹1,000. Tatkaal (fast-track) adds ₹2,000 on top of the relevant base fee. Lost or damaged passport replacement is ₹3,000 (36 pages) or ₹3,500 (60 pages). Fees are paid online via passportindia.gov.in.

What is the difference between 36-page and 60-page Indian passports? +

A 60-page (jumbo) passport gives you 57 visa pages vs 33 on the standard 36-page booklet — useful for frequent international travellers. It costs ₹500 more (₹2,000 vs ₹1,500). Both have 10-year validity for adults. Minors under 15 are issued only 36-page passports; 15–18 year olds may choose either format.

How long does an Indian passport take? +

Normal processing: 1–2 weeks for dispatch after your PSK appointment, with police verification adding 7–21 days. End-to-end is typically 2–4 weeks. Tatkaal (fast-track) dispatches in 1–3 working days after the PSK appointment using a post-issue police verification path. Delays happen when police verification is adverse, when documents are incomplete, or in special cases (single-parent minor, major name change, lost passport).

What is Tatkaal and is it worth the extra ₹2,000? +

Tatkaal is the fast-track service for applicants who need a passport urgently. It adds ₹2,000 to the base fee and gives you a printed passport within 1–3 working days of the PSK appointment, with police verification happening after issuance. Tatkaal does not require you to prove urgency, but you must produce 3 valid identity / address proofs from the prescribed Tatkaal list. It is the right choice if your travel is within ~3 weeks; otherwise normal processing is fine.

How do I book a PSK or POPSK appointment? +

Register at passportindia.gov.in, fill the application form, pay the fee online, and pick an available slot at your nearest PSK or POPSK. As of March 2026, around 452 POPSKs operate across India in addition to the main PSK network, so most districts have coverage. You cannot walk into a PSK without an appointment. Appointments can be rescheduled or cancelled up to twice within a year.

What is the new ePassport and do I have to get one? +

The Indian ePassport is the chip-embedded biometric passport launched by MEA in April 2024 under Passport Seva Programme V2.0. It contains an RFID chip storing your facial image and fingerprints, compliant with ICAO standards. Rollout is phased — by 2025–2026 ePassports are issued to most new applicants and on re-issue. You do not need to apply separately; if you renew or apply fresh, you receive whichever booklet your PSK is currently issuing.

Do I need police verification for renewal? +

Police verification is required in most cases. For straightforward renewals (re-issue before expiry, no changes to name / address) the PVR is often done post-issue. For fresh applications and significant changes, PVR is typically done before issuance and takes 7–21 days. The mPassport Police App, now live in over 25 states and union territories, lets officers complete verification at the applicant's home and upload results digitally — substantially faster than the legacy paper process.

Can I apply for an Indian passport from abroad? +

Yes. Indian citizens abroad apply via the local Indian Embassy or Consulate. Most missions outsource collection to VFS Global, CKGS (US), or BLS — you complete the application online at the Embassy Passport India portal (embassy.passportindia.gov.in), pay the local-currency fee, then submit documents and biometrics at the service centre. Fees and processing times vary by country; expect 3–6 weeks typically.

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