The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has announced revisions to its passport regulations, particularly affecting minors. According to the newly released guidelines, passports issued to children under the age of 15 will now have a validity of five years, down from the previous duration.

This change is part of broader amendments to passport rules that aim to streamline the application process for families and ensure that documents remain valid in line with the frequent changes young travelers experience as they grow. Additionally, these updates apply to new 36-page passports designed specifically for minors under 15 years of age.

The MEA has outlined that the current fee structure for minor passports will also be updated following these amendments. Parents are encouraged to review the new Schedule IV fee guidelines for minors, which will be published along with the updated rules, to better understand the forthcoming regulations.

With these changes, passports might remain valid until the minor turns 18 years old, given they are issued up to that age. The MEAs move is expected to benefit many families traveling both domestically and internationally, simplifying the renewal process for childrens passports as they grow.

Authorities advise parents to keep abreast of these updates and prepare for any necessary paperwork that may be affected by this policy change. The new regulations will come into effect immediately as part of the MEAs ongoing efforts to modernize and adapt its passport services in response to both national and international travel trends.