Passport application fee will go up in both Ordinary and Tatkal categories from October 1, the first hike in a decade, said Foreign Office officials.
The application fee is being increased by Rs. 500 to Rs.1,500 for normal applications and by Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 3,500 for the Tatkal category.
For citizens living abroad, the revised fee would be $75 from $40 and Euro 60 from Euro 48 for normal applications. The current regime of Passport fees had come into force in 1993, fixing the application fee on the basis of actual cost incurred. The last revision took place in 2002. Since then, the Government has argued that costs relating to establishment, reimbursement to the police etc. have gone up considerably.
Keywords: passport application fee, more fees
Saravanan, People who wants to travel with in India does not need passport. Person who is ready to buy the ticket to foreign country is capable of paying more to get passport. Where is the income plays role here?
Police are doubly or triply reimbursed by the passport applicants directly, which is euphemistically called bribe. When passport fee is increased, it would be advisable for those in office to look into the rampant lawless bribery that has pervaded the Passport application/verification exercise. Mere increase in fee will not curb the problem of corruption.
Instead of raising passport application for everyone, why cant increase the application cost based on the income of people.
Good decision from Government
Rs 1000 hike in the price is too much for a passport. This is another discouraging news from Central Government. This should be taken back or reduced immediately.
This is where we make mistakes again and again. Hike should be moderate
and it should be done then and there. There is no point in arguing that
the last hike was done during 2002. Why the govt has not done it step by
step during the last 10 years. Now a jump of almost three times??
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