Increase in passport fees denied

The Directorate of Immigration and Passport has rejected the rumors that the government has increased passport fees. A spokesperson on Saturday issued a statement that said that passport fees were increased in March this year and there is no new raise in charges for various types of passports.

According to the spokesperson, the fee for a 36-page passport valid for 5 years in the normal category is Rs4,500.

For the urgent category, the fee is Rs7,500, and for fast track, it is Rs12,500.

The fee for a 72-page, 5-year passport in the normal category is Rs8,200. For urgent processing, it is Rs13,500, and for fast track, Rs18,500.

In case of a first-time loss, the normal category fee is Rs9,000, with the fee doubling or tripling for a second or third loss.

He said passport fees are determined based on the category and validity period, with separate fees for 36-page, 72-page, and 100-page passports. The spokesperson advised citizens to ignore news of any increase in passport fees.