Changes to Passport Rules: Children's Passports Now Valid for 5 Years – Know the New Rules

Rules regarding passports for children have been revised. Passports for children under the age of 15 will be valid for 5 years or until the child turns 18—whichever comes first. Here are the details regarding the new rules and fees.

If you have young children and are planning to get passports made for them, this news is relevant to you. Passport regulations have changed significantly. Under the new rules, passports issued to children under 15 will have a validity of 5 years.

However, there is an important condition: the passport's validity will be either 5 years or until the child turns 18, whichever occurs first.

What is the new rule for children?

According to the new rule, a passport issued to a child under 15 will remain valid for a maximum of 5 years. However, if the child turns 18 before the 5-year period expires, the passport's validity will end upon their turning 18.

For instance, if a 14-year-old child gets a passport, the standard 5-year validity rule applies; however, the validity will cease the moment the child turns 18. Conversely, for a younger child, the 5-year term might expire first, in which case the passport remains valid for that 5-year duration.

Will children get a 36-page passport?

Changes have also been made to the format of children's passports. Children will now be issued a standard 36-page passport. This means their passports will contain pages for foreign travel stamps and visas, just like standard passports.

When applying for a passport, parents must ensure that the information provided in the child's documents and the application is accurate. In particular, there should be no errors regarding the child's name, date of birth, or details concerning the parents.

Have passport fees changed?

The changes to passport rules are not limited merely to validity and page count. Changes have also been made to the rules regarding passport fees. This means you must take the new fee structure into account when applying for a child's passport. Passport fees can vary depending on the type of passport and the specific application.

Therefore, before applying, please check the current fee details on the official passport portal to avoid any issues during the application process.