Last updated: 16 September 2026
Quick Answer: Indian passport validity is 10 years for adults and 5 years, or until age 18, for minors. Passport Seva advises at least six months of validity for travel abroad; embassies may want up to a year. You can apply for re-issue up to 10 years before expiry, and Passport Seva advises applying a year ahead.
Validity runs from the date of issue printed on your passport. When it runs out, you apply for a re-issue and get a new passport with fresh validity.
Overview
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Adult passport (36 or 60 pages) | Valid for 10 years from the date of issue |
| Minor passport (under 18) | 5 years or until the child turns 18, whichever is earlier |
| Applicants aged 15 to 18 | Choice of a minor passport or a full 10-year passport |
| 6-month rule | Passport Seva advises at least 6 months' validity for travel abroad; embassies may want up to one year |
| When you can apply for re-issue | Up to 10 years before expiry, or any time after it |
| Expired more than 3 years ago | Re-issue with a fresh police verification |
| Re-issue fee (36 pages, 10 years) | ₹2,500, plus ₹2,500 more under Tatkaal |
| Issued by | Passport Seva, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) |
What is the passport validity period in India?
An adult's ordinary Indian passport is generally valid for 10 years from the date of issue, whether it has 36 or 60 pages. Passport Seva's FAQ on passport services confirms the 10-year period and says the passport can then be re-issued.
Some passports run shorter. If a criminal case is pending and the court allows travel, Passport Seva normally issues a one-year short validity passport.
How long is a minor's passport valid?
A minor's passport is valid for 5 years or until the child turns 18, whichever is earlier. So a passport issued to a 15-year-old stops being valid on their 18th birthday, three years later.
Children aged 15 to 18 can instead apply for a full 10-year passport. It costs the adult fee of ₹2,500 rather than the minor fee of ₹1,750, and our guide to getting a passport for a minor covers the application itself.
What is the passport 6-month validity rule?
The six-month rule comes from the country you're visiting, not Indian law. Passport Seva advises at least six months of validity to travel abroad, and notes that most foreign embassies insist on six months to one year before they consider a visa. One Indian check does apply to ECR passports. If yours is marked ECR (Emigration Check Required) and you're going abroad for work in one of the 18 ECR countries, the Ministry of External Affairs needs six months' validity before it grants emigration clearance.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who sets it? | The destination country and its embassy; Passport Seva advises following it |
| How much validity to keep | At least six months, and up to one year for some visas |
| What if you fall short? | Apply for re-issue before you book tickets or apply for a visa |
Rules differ by destination, so read the embassy's page first. Our checklist of documents for international travel covers the other papers you'll need.
How do you check when your passport expires?
Open your passport to the photo page, where the date of expiry is printed next to the date of issue. You don't need a third-party website to check it. If you've lost it and don't have its details, Passport Seva asks you to visit your nearest Passport Office.
How early can you apply for passport re-issue?
You can apply for re-issue up to 10 years before your passport expires, so you don't have to wait for its final year. Passport Seva lists a passport that "is due to expire within next 10 years" as a valid reason for re-issue.
Passport Seva still advises applying a year before expiry, so an embassy's six-month-to-one-year check never catches you short.
What should you do after passport expiry?
Apply for "Re-issue of Passport", not a fresh passport, however long ago it expired. Passport Seva's fee schedule has no separate late fee: re-issue costs ₹2,500 for 36 pages or ₹3,500 for 60 pages, both with 10-year validity.
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Expired within the last 3 years | Re-issue under the usual rules |
| Expired more than 3 years ago | Re-issue with a fresh police verification |
| Passport issued when you were a minor | Re-issue as an adult |
Check the documents Passport Seva asks for on re-issue for your case. If yours needs fresh verification, see how long passport police verification takes.
What mistakes should you avoid with passport expiry?
The costliest one is booking travel before checking the expiry date against the six-month mark. Also avoid:
- Leaving it too late. Passport Seva lets you apply up to 10 years before expiry and advises applying a year ahead.
- Trusting a "validity check" website. The expiry date is on your photo page, so don't hand your passport number to a third-party site.
- Assuming a teenager's passport lasts five years. A minor's passport ends at 18 if that comes sooner.
- Applying as "fresh". If you've held an Indian passport before, choose re-issue.
How do you apply for passport re-issue online?
You fill in the re-issue form on the Passport Seva portal, pay the fee and book an appointment. Then visit a Passport Seva Kendra or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra for biometrics and document checks. If time is short, Tatkaal adds ₹2,500 to the application fee, subject to eligibility.
Every category is priced on the 2026 passport fee chart. If you'd rather not fill in the form alone, Jaagruk Bharat offers help with your passport re-issue application on Passport Seva. The appointment, verification and the passport itself still come from Passport Seva.
