Quick answer
Renewing an Indian passport is called reissue. Apply on the Passport Seva portal, pay ₹2,500 for 36 pages or ₹3,500 for 60 pages, book a PSK or Post Office PSK slot and bring the old passport with self-attested copies. If your address hasn't changed, police verification is usually not needed first, and the passport often arrives within one to two weeks. Renew when about a year remains.
Key takeaways
- Renew when about 12 months of validity remain; many countries want six months left on arrival, and long Schengen visas are capped by passport validity.
- Reissue costs ₹2,500 for 36 pages or ₹3,500 for 60 pages at the normal fee, per the current Passport Seva fee list.
- Bring the old passport plus self-attested copies of its first two and last two pages, including the ECR and observation pages.
- A change of address can trigger police verification before issue, which adds weeks.
- US and UK visas in an old passport usually stay usable if you carry both passports; Schengen visas generally do not survive the old passport's cancellation.
When should you renew your passport?
An adult Indian passport is valid for 10 years, but its useful life for travel is shorter:
- Most Asian and Gulf destinations, including the UAE, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia, want at least six months of validity on arrival. Airlines enforce this at check-in in India. See six-month passport validity.
- Schengen countries want a passport issued within the last 10 years and valid three months beyond your departure from Europe.
- Long visas are capped by your passport. A two- or five-year Schengen visa under the EU cascade needs the passport to stay valid three months beyond the visa's end date.
The practical rule: renew when about 12 months remain, when you are down to the last few blank pages, or before applying for a long Schengen, UK or US visa. You can apply for reissue at any time before expiry, and up to three years after expiry with the standard documents.
How much does renewal cost?
| Booklet | Normal | Tatkal |
|---|---|---|
| 36 pages, 10 years | ₹2,500 | ₹5,000 |
| 60 pages, 10 years | ₹3,500 | ₹6,000 |
| Minor, 36 pages, 5 years or until 18 | ₹1,750 | ₹4,250 |
The 60-page booklet suits frequent travellers who collect visas and stamps. The 10% rebate for seniors and young children applies to fresh passports only, according to the official booklet. Older articles quoting ₹1,500 are using the previous fee list.
What documents do you need?
For a straightforward reissue on expiry or exhausted pages:
- The old passport in original
- Self-attested photocopies of its first two and last two pages, including the ECR or non-ECR page and any page of observations
- Proof of present address, only if it differs from the old passport
- Non-ECR proof, such as a Class 10 pass certificate, if you want an ECR endorsement removed
Changes need extra papers. Adding a spouse's name needs a marriage certificate or a joint declaration signed by both spouses. A married woman changing her surname needs the marriage certificate. Major name changes need gazette notification or newspaper clippings and cannot go through Tatkal.
How do you renew, step by step?
- Log in to the Passport Seva portal or the mPassport Seva app, or register if you never created an account.
- Choose re-issue of passport and the reason: validity expiring or expired, pages exhausted, change in particulars, or damage.
- Fill in the form. Check your ECR status, emergency contact and present address carefully.
- Pay online and book a slot at the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office PSK covering your present address.
- Attend with originals and copies. The PSK takes your photo and fingerprints, so you don't bring photographs.
- Collect your old passport back, cancelled, and track the new one's dispatch on the portal.
How long does renewal take?
The Passport Seva booklet expects a normal reissue to be dispatched on the third working day after submission when no police verification is needed, or when it happens after issue. With Speed Post, most applicants in the metros receive it within one to two weeks.
It takes longer when:
- your present address differs from the old passport, which can trigger verification before issue;
- the old passport expired more than three years ago;
- the case is complex, such as a major name change or a lost passport, where the booklet estimates about 30 days.
What if the passport is lost or damaged?
A passport that is lost, stolen or damaged beyond recognition is replaced, not simply reissued. File a police report first and bring it to the PSK with an affidavit explaining how the passport was lost, proof of address and date of birth, and a copy of the old passport if you have one. The fee is higher, ₹5,000 for a 36-page booklet, and police verification usually comes before issue. If the damage is minor, such as a wet cover, and the number, name and photo are still legible, it can usually be handled as an ordinary reissue with an affidavit about the damage.
What if you live abroad?
Indians living overseas renew through the Indian embassy or consulate in their country of residence, usually through an outsourced centre that collects documents and biometrics. Processing abroad takes longer than in India, often several weeks, because the mission may refer the file to the passport office that issued the old one. Start well before your residence permit or visa needs the new passport number.
Do you need a new e-passport?
Since 2025, all newly issued Indian passports are e-passports with an embedded chip. Older passports without a chip remain valid until they expire, so there is no need to renew early just to get the chip. Your renewed passport will be an e-passport automatically.
What happens to visas in the old passport?
The PSK cancels the old passport, usually by clipping a corner, and returns it. What that means for visas inside it:
| Visa | Usually still usable? |
|---|---|
| US B1/B2 | Yes, if valid; travel with both passports |
| UK visitor | Yes, if valid; travel with both passports |
| Schengen | Generally no; a Schengen visa is tied to the passport it is in |
| e-visas and ETAs | No; they are linked to the passport number, so reapply |
Names and dates of birth must match across both passports. If your name changes at renewal, ask the relevant embassy before you travel on the old visa.
The best time to renew is before a big visa application, not after it. A new passport makes you eligible for the longest visa a consulate will give, and saves you from carrying two passports for years.
Renewing a child's passport follows similar steps with extra parental paperwork; see passports for newborns and minors.
Frequently asked questions
How early can I renew my Indian passport?
Is police verification needed for passport renewal?
What is the passport renewal fee in 2026?
Can I travel on a passport with less than six months' validity?
Will my US visa in the old passport still be valid?
Can I renew my passport if my address has changed?
How we checked this page
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Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
