Passport more expensive from July 1: Center increases fees after 14 years, check new rates | Today’s news
The central government on Thursday raised passport fees for the first time in about 14 years, raising the cost of a new passport to ₹2,500 under normal mode and ₹5,000 under the Tatkaal scheme. The fee increase should apply from July 1.
The development comes a day after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that a passport is only a travel document and not a proof of citizenship.
Read also | A passport is a travel document, not a citizenship document, the MEA clarifies
The official document reads: “In exercise of the powers conferred by section 24 of the Passports Act, 1967 (15 of 1967), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further amending the Passport Rules, 1980.
Here is a list of adjusted rates:
Quick answers to key questions
•5 QUESTIONS
The new charges for the new regular passport will be ₹2,500 and ₹5,000 for the Tatkaal scheme. For a 60-page passport, the fees are ₹3,500 (Normal) and ₹6,000 (Tatkaal).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that a passport is primarily a travel document and that citizenship is governed by the Citizenship Act 1955, not the Passports Act 1967.
Indian citizenship can be acquired by birth, descent, registration, naturalization or incorporation as specified in the Citizenship Act 1955.
No, while a passport is strong proof of Indian nationality in day-to-day situations, it is not considered irrefutable legal proof of citizenship in disputes.
Documents such as birth certificates, citizenship certificates and government records related to parentage can help establish Indian citizenship.
Under the new rates, a 36-page ordinary fresh passport or its reissue for applicants aged 18 will now cost ₹2,500 under the normal regime, while the Tatkaal fee has been increased to ₹3,500. Currently there is a normal passport fee/reissue fee ₹1,500 as compared to ₹3,500 under the Tatkaal scheme.
There will be a new fee for a 60-page passport ₹3,500 for normal category a ₹6,000 for Tatkaal. The current charge for 60 pages under normal mode is ₹2,000 a ₹4000 for Tatkal.
The fee to 60 pages for a lost or damaged passport has also been increased. The normal fee is ₹6,000, more than ₹3,500 a ₹8,500 in the Tatkaal category ₹5,500. Similarly, there is a cost for a lost or damaged passport with 36 pages ₹5,000 under normal mode and ₹7,500 under Tatkaal, more than from ₹3,000 a ₹5,000 or
For applicants below 18 years of age, the revised passport fee is for a new issue within the normal category ₹1,750, more than ₹1,000, and for the Tatkaal category, yes ₹4,250, more than ₹2000. Fee for re-issuance of lost or damaged passport for minors is ₹4,250 as part of the normal application process and ₹6,750 under the Tatkaal scheme.
Read also | Here’s what the Passports Act 1967 says about proof of citizenship
The government has also increased the police clearance certificate fee to ₹750 from ₹500. Additionally, while the emergency certification will be issued free of cost to applicants in India, those abroad will be charged $15. The identity certificate will now stand ₹1000 in India and $50 abroad.
The fee for transfer certificates, Global Entry Program verification and other passport-related certificates has been set at ₹750 in India and $40 abroad.
Passport is not proof of citizenship: MEA
Earlier on Wednesday, the MEA clarified that a passport is not a proof of citizenship as India marked the 14th Passport Seva Divas. Following these remarks, opposition leaders began questioning the Centre. Kapil Sibal was the first to question the statement. In a post on X, he wrote: “A passport is a travel document, not a document of citizenship. So which document is a document of citizenship?” He further wrote that the BLO may question his citizenship and deprive him of his vote.
The MEA cited a 2013 judgment of the Bombay High Court which held that possession of a passport does not constitute citizenship.
