The tweak in passport rules Indian parents must know (Credit: The Passport Agents) There's nothing better than seeing your passport stamped in colours of different shapes and sizes. But one can't help but imagine that the closer one inches to the end of the booklet, or even just the identifier document's date of expiry, the anxieties around the long process of getting it renewed begin feeling burdensome. One can't help but deny that the entire process of getting your passport renewed, or a new one made, feels significantly simpler due to the updated, digital systems of the Passport Seva Kendra network. Still, given the weight of the document, the process does run appropriately long, enough to have you reschedule your day's duties and engagements. While every adult is of course supposed to do it for themselves, the stakes are slightly different with a child in the house - especially if they happen to be transitioning into their teenage years. But moving on, Indian parents have been relieved off the burden of an entire cycle of passport renewal that could have been best avoided in the first place. The issues over a whole cycle of passport renewal being made necessary as soon as one's child turns 15 has been a recurring issue making the process feel cumbersome for several Indian families, right since 1997. This simply means that even if parents got a passport issued for their 14-year-old child this year, it would be deemed invalid by next year, leading them to start yet another cycle of paperwork and verifications. A typical Indian passport's validity lasts 5 years, though it is common practice to get the document renewed as soon as it expires or even slightly before, given how important of a personal document it is, adding more to the plate of Indian parents with teenagers. The reason behind this was also not unfounded: children's facial features change quickly as they grow from infancy to adolescence, making photo identification unreliable over long periods. Inside a Passport Seva Kendra (Credit: Passport Query) Also Read: Inside West Bengal's Himalayan Forest Where Red Pandas Still Roam Wild and Free That being said, the Ministry of External Affairs, recognising the logistical issues with this practice, has recently amended Rule 12 of the Passport Rules, 1980, ensuring a 36-page passport for children under 15 remains valid for five years or until they turn 18 - this is not an either/or situation, whichever happens first, applies. Also Read: Bhutan Beckons: What Makes the Himalayan Kingdom a Traveller Favourite for Fall Yes. The Ministry of External Affairs' amendment came into effect on September 15, as soon as the news was published in the Official Gazette. The one thing to keep in mind is that the child's passport's validity will still depend on their age at the time of issuance, though the unnecessary renewal at 15 years of age stands scrapped. The changes made reflected the Ministry of External Affairs' continued commitment to easing the burderns of the layman. For instance, earlier in the year, starting July 1, the passport service fees stood revised: an ordinary 36-page passport now costs ?2,500 while the 60-page passport costs ?3,500; for minors this stands at ?1,750 while tatkaal charges stand between ?5,000, ?6,000 and ?3,000 respectively. Travel News - Find latest news and tips based on Indian and World travel including top 10 travel destination, tourism information, how to reach visit and more at Times Now. Aalokitaa Basu is a writer and Senior Copy Editor whose work explores the intersection of lifestyle, culture, beauty, wellness, and self-possession. H... View More