The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, has amended the passport rules for children below 15 years of age under the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, which came into effect following their publication in the Official Gazette on 17 September 2026. Under the revised rules, an ordinary passport containing 36 pages issued to a child below 15 years will be valid for five years from the date of issue or until the child turns 18, whichever comes first. This means the passport's actual validity will depend on the child's age when it is issued. For example, a passport issued to a 14-year-old will remain valid only until the child turns 18, even if five years have not elapsed. The amendment also revises the provision governing passport application fees, linking the fees for different application categories to the applicable rates specified in Schedule IV of the Passports Rules, 1980. These changes are important for parents and guardians applying for passports for their children, as they will need to consider the revised validity period when planning international travel and future passport renewals.