From 1 July, Indians are paying substantially more for travel documents under the Passports (Amendment) Rules 2026. The fee for a 36-page adult passport has jumped from ₹1,500 to ₹2,500, while the Tatkaal surcharge is now ₹5,000.
![Passport fees rise sharply as Passports (Amendment) Rules 2026 take effect]()
If navigating the new pricing landscape feels daunting, VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) can help you calculate the exact fees, fill out the latest application forms online, and even coordinate appointment slots—saving time for individual travelers and corporate HR teams alike.
A 60-page booklet costs ₹3,500 (normal) and ₹6,000 (Tatkaal). Charges for Police Clearance Certificates and surrender certificates have also increased. The Ministry of External Affairs says the hike—first since 2012—reflects higher production costs for upcoming chip-enabled e-passports and upgrades under Passport Seva Programme 2.0. Despite the steeper fees, the MEA claims India’s passport remains among the cheapest compared with other G20 nations when adjusted for purchasing-power parity. For mobility budgets, the impact is immediate: a family of four applying for standard booklets will now spend an additional ₹4,000. Employers that reimburse Tatkaal charges for urgent travel need to revise cost ceilings. Vendors processing bulk corporate applications have begun re-pricing service packages, so HR should review vendor contracts to avoid surprise invoices. Indian missions abroad have also updated their fee schedules, raising costs for NRIs renewing passports overseas. Companies with large expatriate Indian workforces—particularly in the Gulf—should communicate the new rates quickly, as out-of-country Tatkaal fees can now exceed US $80.
If navigating the new pricing landscape feels daunting, VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) can help you calculate the exact fees, fill out the latest application forms online, and even coordinate appointment slots—saving time for individual travelers and corporate HR teams alike.
A 60-page booklet costs ₹3,500 (normal) and ₹6,000 (Tatkaal). Charges for Police Clearance Certificates and surrender certificates have also increased. The Ministry of External Affairs says the hike—first since 2012—reflects higher production costs for upcoming chip-enabled e-passports and upgrades under Passport Seva Programme 2.0. Despite the steeper fees, the MEA claims India’s passport remains among the cheapest compared with other G20 nations when adjusted for purchasing-power parity. For mobility budgets, the impact is immediate: a family of four applying for standard booklets will now spend an additional ₹4,000. Employers that reimburse Tatkaal charges for urgent travel need to revise cost ceilings. Vendors processing bulk corporate applications have begun re-pricing service packages, so HR should review vendor contracts to avoid surprise invoices. Indian missions abroad have also updated their fee schedules, raising costs for NRIs renewing passports overseas. Companies with large expatriate Indian workforces—particularly in the Gulf—should communicate the new rates quickly, as out-of-country Tatkaal fees can now exceed US $80.
