[REVISION HISTORY]

Pakistan e-passport system transition

Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-16 13:30 UTC → 2026-10-23 18:42 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Pakistan is transitioning its travel document system from machine-readable passports to electronic passports (e-passports) containing biometric microchips. Initially announced as a transition starting October 15, 2026, the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports confirmed that while existing machine-readable passports remain valid until their expiration, only the new electronic versions will be issued moving forward. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhary informed the National Assembly that the new system is intended to enhance security, strengthen identity verification, and prevent forgery. This transition includes a significant increase in costs; for example, the standard fee for a five-year, 36-page passport is set to rise from Rs. 4,500 to Rs. 9,000, and urgent processing fees will double from Rs. 7,500 to Rs. 15,000. As of late October 2026, the issuance of e-passports has officially launched both domestically and through diplomatic missions worldwide. The initiative aims to align Pakistan’s travel documents with international security standards. In the United Arab Emirates, Pakistani residents face a revised fee schedule. Fees for five-year e-passports range from AED 145 to AED 425, while ten-year machine-readable passports range from AED 215 to AED 635, depending on page count and urgency. Additionally, applicants replacing lost passports will incur penalties of double or quadruple the standard fees, depending on the frequency of loss.

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