Getting a passport in India is about to get significantly more expensive. From July 1, the central government's revised fee structure under the Passport Rules, 1980 kicks in — the first revision since 2012, a gap of fourteen years.

The standard 36-page passport, which currently costs Rs 1,500, will now be priced at Rs 2,500. Those opting for the tatkal route will pay Rs 5,000, up from Rs 3,500. For the 60-page booklet, the normal fee goes from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500, while tatkal applicants will need to shell out Rs 6,000 against the earlier Rs 4,000. The Ministry of External Affairs has issued a gazette notification formalising the new rates following the amendment to passport rules.

The steepest charges apply when a passport is lost or damaged. Replacing a lost or damaged 36-page passport will cost Rs 5,000 under normal processing and Rs 7,500 under tatkal. For the 60-page version, those figures climb to Rs 6,000 and Rs 8,500 respectively. Separate rates have been set for minors — replacing a lost 36-page passport for a child will cost Rs 4,250 normally and Rs 6,750 under tatkal.

Fees for Police Clearance Certificates and surrender certificates have also been revised upward, though specific figures are yet to be widely circulated.

Passport validity remains unchanged. Adults continue to get a ten-year passport; for minors, validity stays at five years or until the applicant turns 18, whichever comes earlier.

The hike arrives at a time when passport applications have been surging across India, driven by a sharp increase in outbound travel, overseas education, and international employment. For most first-time applicants or those renewing a standard booklet, the jump of Rs 1,000 in normal fees may be manageable — but families dealing with a lost document, or those needing urgent processing, will feel the pinch more sharply.

The EPFO online claims portal is also set to remain unavailable from June 26 to 28 due to system migration and software upgrades, during which PF withdrawals, e-passbook services, and other digital services will be suspended.