The Workers Rights 
Your wallet just took a hit if you’re thinking about working in another country or obtaining your first passport. The Indian government has announced a 67% increase in the cost of a new 36-page ordinary passport, which will go up from ₹1,500 to ₹2,500 from July 1, 2026. This is a huge out-of-pocket hike for lakhs of workers, daily-wage earners and first-time job seekers who are aspiring to work abroad, and it came without any fanfare.
Quick Facts: Passport Fee Hike 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
| Effective Date | July 1, 2026 |
| The older version of the passport (36-page) | ₹1,500 |
| New Fees (36-page fresh passport) | ₹2,500 |
| Percentage Increase | 67% |
| Prior to this revision, the following version was in effect: | 2012 (14 years ago) |
| Governing Rule | Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026 |
| Authority | Minister of External Affairs (MEA) |
Why Did the Fees Go Up?
The government told Parliament the increase in the passport fee was overdue. The last revision was in 2012, which is 14 years since workers have had the same rates. The Ministry of External Affairs said that the hikes were due to various factors such as operational upgrades, implementation of large-scale technology-driven projects like the upgraded Passport Seva Programme (PSP) Version 2.0 and the new e-Passport.
For comparison, previous increases have been much higher:
| Year | Gap Since Last Hike | Increase |
| 1971 | 4 years | 67% |
| 1980 | 9 years | 100% |
| 1993 | 13 years | 500% |
| 2002 | 9 years | 233% |
| 2012 | 10 years | 50% |
| 2026 | 14 years | 67% |
This passport fee hike, at 67%, is quite modest in terms of past hikes, and still hurts lower-income families with first-time applicants the most.
What It Means for Job Seekers and Workers
What does it mean for those seeking jobs and those who have jobs?
If you are a person who is applying for a new passport before your job offer in the Gulf, a visa to work in the country, or a skilled worker contract, you will find that the cost of a passport keeps rising and soon becomes as expensive as bus fare, agent fees and document charges.
The increase in the passport fee affects the most:
- New applicants who have never had a passport from their respective rural locations and semi-urban towns.
- Domestic workers, hospitality workers, health workers, and other sectors that are the most popular for overseas foreign workers.
- Workers who are in a time urgency and will require an additional fee for Tatkal service (Tatkal service is in addition to the workers’ fees)
The new application fee for the passport isn’t the sole cost of becoming ready for employment abroad; it is also a part of a larger expense of employment abroad.
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Fresh vs. Renewal: What You’ll Now Pay
The government has officially updated the fresh passport fee, but the latest details of fees for renewal and Tatkal, as well as the details for a 60-page booklet, have been changed under the 2026 amendment; multiple passport services fee categories have changed.
FAQs:
When did the new passport fee come into existence?
These new fees were brought into existence since July 1, 2026, according to the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026.
How much will a new passport cost?
A normal 36-page new passport costs ₹2,500 as compared to ₹1,500 previously.
Is this a historic revision in passport fees?
No. There was a 500% increase in the year 1993. A 67% rise in the last 14 years is nothing extraordinary historically.
Is the hike for renewals also?
Multiple passport services are covered by the amendment. Official Passport Seva Portal provides the complete updated fee structure, including renewals.
Why are the government hiking fees now?
The hike in the cost of a passport is essential as the passport has not been revised for the last 14 years, there are increased operational costs, and the rollout of E-Passport, the Ministry of External Affairs said.
