Pakistan passport office has stopped issuing machine-readable passports (MRPs) from October 15, 2026, which means anyone applying for a new passport is now issued an e-passport. The decision by the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGI&P) applies at passport offices in Pakistan and at Pakistani embassies and consulates abroad. Existing machine-readable passports remain valid until the expiry dates printed on them.
- Effective date: October 15, 2026; October 14 was the last day to apply for an MRP.
- Scope: passport offices across Pakistan and Pakistani diplomatic missions abroad.
- Existing MRPs stay valid until their stated expiry date.
- Once an MRP expires, the holder must apply for an e-passport.
- E-passport fee at offices in Pakistan starts at Rs9,000 (36 pages, five years, normal).
- Until October 14, the same MRP cost Rs4,500 (normal).
- Normal passport delivery takes 14 days, down from 21 since April 30, 2026.
What Changed on October 15 for Machine-Readable Passports in Pakistan
According to a public notice issued by the Consulate General of Pakistan in New York on September 25, the DGI&P decided that applicants seeking new passports on or after October 15 will be issued e-passports only. Reports said passport offices were told to stop processing new MRP applications from that date, which made October 14 the final day to apply for the older document.
The decision follows a meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi at the Passport and Immigration Headquarters in Islamabad in June 2026, where the government agreed to phase out machine-readable passports and move fully to e-passports. Pakistan began issuing MRPs in 2004, and the October 15 cutoff ends that two-decade run for new applications.
Some missions had already moved ahead of the national date. Pakistan’s embassy in Abu Dhabi and consulate in Dubai have issued only e-passports since July 20, 2026, according to Khaleej Times, so the October 14 deadline did not apply to applicants there.
Do Existing Machine-Readable Passports Stay Valid?
Yes. Officials have said MRPs issued before October 15 will not become invalid immediately and remain usable until the expiry date printed on the passport. Holders do not need to replace a valid MRP simply because the policy has changed.
The change matters at renewal. Once an existing MRP expires, it will not be renewed as a machine-readable document, and the holder will be required to apply for a new e-passport instead.
Travellers should still check the validity rules of the country they plan to visit, since many destinations require a passport to be valid for several months beyond the trip. The Pakistan embassy in Abu Dhabi has advised MRP holders with more than six months of validity to renew only when the passport is six months from expiry.
Why Pakistan Is Moving to E-Passports
Government statements have linked the transition to security. Reports on the June meeting said the complete switch to e-passports would help eliminate fraud and forgery.
An e-passport contains a contactless chip. According to the DGI&P, the chip stores the holder’s facial image, personal details, a unique identification number and a digital signature, in line with International Civil Aviation Organization standards. Pakistan Observer reported that e-passport holders will be able to use e-gate facilities at airports, which is intended to reduce immigration queues.
Pakistan had already been introducing e-passports gradually before the cutoff, and October 15 marks the point at which the older machine-readable version stops being issued.
How to Apply: Payment, Processing Times and Delivery
Passport offices in Pakistan now operate on a cashless system. Applicants pay by scanning the Raast QR code on their token with a banking or wallet app such as JazzCash or EasyPaisa, and the DGI&P no longer accepts IBFT or PSID payments.
Processing has also been shortened. Normal passports are now delivered in 14 days, down from 21, since April 30, 2026, while a Fast Track service in dozens of cities processes urgent applications within two working days, Gulf News reported.
The DGI&P and courier company TCS launched a nationwide home delivery service in July 2026, according to The Express Tribune. Overseas Pakistanis can apply for renewals and pay fees through the DGI&P e-services portal. Adults need a CNIC, or a NICOP if they live abroad, and their old passport when renewing. For children, applicants must bring the Child Registration Certificate (B-Form) and both parents’ CNICs
The end of new machine-readable passport issuance completes a transition that Pakistan announced in June. Holders of valid MRPs face no immediate action, but anyone applying for a first passport or renewing from now on will receive an e-passport, at a higher fee than the old document. Applicants should check current rates and requirements with the DGI&P or their nearest mission before applying.
