Passport & Consular Services

Difference Between a 36-Page and 60-Page Passport

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By Vipul Jain
Updated on: 28 Apr, 2026 | Editorial Standard | 7 min read |

Difference Between a 36-Page and 60-Page Passport

When you apply for a new Indian passport, you need to choose whether it is a 36-page passport or a 60-page passport. Both passport booklets are used for international travel, but they have different prices and sizes. 

In this blog, we will show you which passport is best for you and the major differences between a 36-page and a 60-page passport. 

Quick Overview: 36-Page and 60-Page Passport

  • A 36-page booklet is called the standard booklet.
  • A 60-page passport booklet is called a jumbo booklet.
  • The processing time for the normal passport application is 30-45 working days, and for the Tatkaal application, you need to wait for 1-3 working days.
  • You can apply for a passport reissue application from the Passport Seva Kendra.

What is a 36-Page Passport?

A 36-page passport is a booklet containing 36 pages of information. It is the most commonly used passport booklet by applicants.

This booklet is best for the individual who travels less, for the first time, and for the person who plans their vacation in a foreign country.

Key Features of the 36-Page Passport

  • It is a cost-effective option that is less expensive than the 60-page passport.
  • For people who used to travel occasionally, it is the best option.
  • The most common passport booklet option, which is chosen by many.

What is a 60-Page Passport?

A 60-page passport booklet is also known as a jumbo booklet. It is the best option for the people who:

  • For business travelers to attend meetings or deals in foreign countries.
  • For Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) who love to travel abroad.
  • People with the most visa applications.

Key Features of 60-page Passport

  • It includes many pages for the visa stamps used in international travel.
  • It reduces the need for frequent passport renewals.
  • Best option for people who love to travel internationally.

Major Difference Between a 36-page and 60-Page Passport

A 36-page passport has fewer pages and has a low price, whereas a 60-page passport has more pages for visa stamps but costs a higher price.

Check out the table given below to see the difference between a 36-page and a 60-page passport.

Features  36-Page Passport  60-Page Passport
Number of Passport pages 

36-Pages 

60-Pages 

Validity 

10-Years 

10-Years 

Passport Cost (Normal) 

INR 1500/- 

INR 2000/-

Passport Cost (Tatkaal)

INR 3500/-

INR 4000/-

Usage 

Mostly Occasional Travelers 

Frequent business or international travelers

Renewals period

Need to re-issue the passport earlier due to fewer pages 

Less frequent renewals are needed 

Booklet Size

Standard Passport booklet

Large and thick passport booklet

Best for Tourists and Students Business and NRI Travellers

When You Should Choose a 36-Page Passport?

Applicants who travel occasionally for employment, work, or education purposes can apply for a 36-page passport. It helps to get a passport at a low cost. 

Here are some reasons why you should select a 30-page passport. 

  • If you travel less, such as 1-2 times per year.
  • If you apply for fewer visa applications.
  • Families applying for multiple passports.
  • Students who are applying for a study visa for education purposes.
  • If you are looking for a passport at a lower price, then you should apply for a 36-page passport.
  • Applicants who go to visa-free countries mostly don't need a passport with 60 pages. They can select a 36-page passport.
  • An individual who loves to travel on short-term trips, for them, a 36-page passport is the perfect option. 
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When You Should Choose a 60-Page Passport? 

You should choose a 60-page passport booklet if you have work or business in a foreign country.

Here are some points to consider when choosing a 60-page passport.

  • If you travel internationally multiple times in a year.
  • Apply for many visa applications.
  • Business individuals who frequently need to travel to other countries to conduct business and attend meetings. You should choose a 60-page booklet.
  • An NRI who had to travel frequently abroad for work, family, and investment purposes.
  • For the students who are going abroad to get more education qualifications, they need to apply for a passport with 60 pages.
  • People who work in foreign countries need to choose a passport with 60 pages for frequent travel to their home country.

Understand with a Real-Life Scenario

Rahul is an NRI (Non-Resident Indian) who is working or doing a job in countries like the USA, UK, or UAE, and is in need of frequent travel. So, for that reason, Rahul should apply for the 60-page passport booklet. It helps you to record your travel for a long period of time, as your passport may fill up faster due to visa and immigration stamps.

On the other hand, if Reena is a student and she is occasional travel to foreign countries, that's why she needs to choose a 36-page passport booklet, which is an efficient option for you.

Validity and Renewal Rules for 36 and 60-Page Passports

The validity of a 36-page passport and a 60-page passport is the same. Both are valid for 10 years from the date of issuance.

For the minor passport application, the validity is 5 years or until the minor turns 18, whichever comes first.

You need to reissue your Indian passport before it expires and submit a passport reissue application.

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What are the Application Procedures for Applying for a Passport?

 To apply for an Indian passport with 36 or 60 pages, follow the steps below.

  1. Go to the official Passport Seva website.
  2. Register or log in using your credentials, and fill out the online application form.
  3. Choose your booklet pages depending on your travel requirements.
  4. Provide all the supporting documents.
  5. Pay the required fees.
  6. Book an appointment with the PSK.
  7. Go to the appointment centre with the documents for biometric verification.
  8. Submit your Passport application.
  9. Wait for approval. After a few weeks, you will get your passport.

The processing time for the normal passport application is 30-60 working days. For the Tatkaal passport application, you need to wait for 1-3 weeks.

However, the processing time also depends on the number of applications, the verification of documents, and the approval of the passport.

Fees for 36-Page and 60-Page Passports

The Fees for the 36-page passport are as follows: 

  • For a Normal passport, you need to pay INR 1500/-. 
  • For a Tatkaal passport, you need to pay INR 3500/-. 

The Fees for the 60-page passport are: 

  • For a Normal passport, you need to pay INR 2000/-. 
  • For a Tatkaal passport application, you need to pay INR 4000/-for a passport. 

The Fees for passport applications also vary depending on the type of application and the number of passport pages.

Important Points to Know Before Applying for a Passport with 36 and 60 Pages? 

If you choose a 36-page passport or a 60-page passport. The following points will apply to both passport categories.

  • Both passports have the same validity: 10 years for adults and 5 years or 18 years, whichever comes first, for minors.
  • You cannot upgrade your Passport in the middle of its validity. For this, you need to apply for a re-issue of your passport.
  • Keep this thing in mind that a visa stamp and an immigration stamp consume your passport pages rapidly. So, if you are a frequent traveler, then always choose a 60-page passport.
  • For some of the countries, you will need to submit a blank page of the passport for visa approval.

Conclusion

A passport is a vital travel document and also serves as identification. However, choosing the right number of passport pages depends on your needs. If you are a frequent traveler, you need to choose a 60-page passport booklet, as it will use more pages for immigration and visa stamps. On the other side, you can choose a 36-page passport booklet, which is a better option for the less frequent and occasional travelers. 

For passport applications, you can use the Visament website, where we offer a hassle-free, simple application process with easy documentation. We have a team of skilled, qualified experts who are available 24/7 to help applicants submit error-free applications. 

For more details, you can visit our website and contact the agents, who will provide you with an instant solution to your passport application queries and issues. 

Frequently Asked Questions

No, you cannot upgrade your 36-page passport to a 60-page passport directly. If you want a 60-page passport, then you need to apply for a passport reissue, select the 60-page option, fill out the online application and pay the fees online for passport reissue.

No, there is no major difference between a 36-pages passport and 60 pages passport and a 60-page passport. The minor difference is that it contains 36 pages, and the other one contains 60 pages, but both have the same validity.

Yes, you can use both 36-pages passport and 60-pages passport for your international travel. There is no boundary to the passport in all countries.

Yes, minors who are between the ages of 15-18 years old are allowed to get an 60-pages passport for which they need to pay a fee of INR 1500/-. However, a child who is below the age of 15 years can only apply for a 36-page passport.

If your passport pages are full due to immigration stamps, visa stamps and frequent travel, then you need to apply for a reissue of the passport. Here, you will get an option to get a 36-page passport or a 60-page passport. Make sure to reissue a new passport early before getting out of pages on your existing passport.

If you apply for a passport, then you need to choose one of two options. First is the normal passport processing, in which you need to wait for about 30-45 days for the processing of your passport. On the other hand, you can apply for a Tatkaal passport, which takes about 1-3 working days for the processing of your passport.

No, both the passport with 36-pages and 60 pages comes with the same validity. You only see the difference in the price and the number of pages of both passports.

There is no certain rule that for the frequent traveller, a 60-page passport is mandatory. However, it is advised by the authorities that frequent travellers should choose a 60-page passport because it consumes more stamp pages, blank pages for some visa applications in countries, etc.

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Vipul Jain
Consular & OCI Services Expert

Vipul Jain is the Co-Founder of Visament, a trusted platform dedicated to simplifying Indian immigration, consular, and NRI services for applicants across the globe. With extensive expertise in OCI cards, Indian passport services, visa assistance, apostille and document legalization,... See Full Bio

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