Indian Embassy raises passport renewal and consular fees
Passport, OCI, visa and other consular services to cost more under revised MEA schedule
Indian nationals in Kuwait will have to pay higher fees for a wide range of passport and consular services from July 1, 2026, following a revision announced by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The revised fee structure applies to Indian diplomatic missions and consulates worldwide, including the Embassy of India in Kuwait, and affects services such as passport issuance and renewal, Tatkaal applications, Police Clearance Certificates (PCC), travel documents, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) services, and several miscellaneous consular services.
The fee revision marks the first comprehensive restructuring of overseas passport and consular charges in several years and reflects the rising administrative, operational and technology costs associated with delivering secure and efficient consular services to millions of Indians living abroad.
For Kuwait, where nearly one million Indian nationals reside, the revised charges will directly impact expatriates seeking routine passport renewals, emergency travel documents, attestation services, and other embassy-related documentation.
Passport services become more expensive
Among the most significant changes are the revised passport charges. The cost of obtaining or renewing a standard 36-page passport has increased substantially, while applicants opting for Tatkaal (urgent) services will also pay considerably more. Similar increases apply to 60-page jumbo passports, passports issued in lieu of lost or damaged passports, and passports for minors.
Officials have clarified that the revised fee schedule applies to all applications submitted on or after July 1, 2026, irrespective of when appointments were booked.
Wide range of services affected
Besides passports, the revised schedule covers numerous consular services, including:
- Police Clearance Certificates (PCC)
- Emergency Certificates
- Identity Certificates
- Surrender Certificates
- Miscellaneous passport services
- OCI card services
- Attestation and notarization services
- Various visa-related services where applicable
The revision is expected to have the greatest impact on expatriate workers and families who periodically renew passports, obtain Police Clearance Certificates for employment or immigration, or apply for OCI and other documentation.
While the increase raises the cost of accessing consular services, MEA officials note that the revised fees support continued modernization of passport issuance, enhanced document security features, digital processing, cybersecurity upgrades, and improved overseas consular infrastructure.
The Embassy and its authorized service centers will publish the updated fee schedule for all passport and consular services effective July 1 to help applicants calculate the exact amount payable before their appointments.
