Pakistan e-passport 2026 becomes the standard for new applicants on October 23, when passport offices across the country will stop issuing machine-readable passports (MRPs) and issue only e-passports, the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGIP) has said. The revised timetable allows MRPs to be issued and renewed until October 22, and it replaces an earlier plan to begin the switch on October 15.
The directorate says the change is meant to modernise passport services and bring the security and efficiency of Pakistani travel documents in line with international standards. For most travellers, though, the practical questions are simpler: who has to act, who does not, and how much the new document will cost.
Pakistan e-passport 2026: Who Is Affected and Who Is Not
Anyone applying for a new passport, or renewing an expiring one, at a passport office in Pakistan on or after October 23 should expect to receive an e-passport. There will no longer be a choice between the two formats for new applications inside the country, because MRP issuance and renewal end on October 22.
People who already hold a valid machine-readable passport are not affected in the same way. Every MRP issued before October 23 remains valid until its printed expiry date, and holders are not required to replace it early simply because the format is changing. There is no need to queue for a new document while your current passport still has valid time on it, although travellers should still check the passport validity rules of their destination, as some countries require a passport to remain valid for a set period beyond the trip. In short, Pakistan e-passport 2026 affects new applications, not passports already in hand.
What Is Different About an e-Passport?
An e-passport looks like a familiar green passport booklet, but it carries an electronic chip embedded in one of its pages. According to the DGIP e-passport page, the chip stores the holder’s biometric information, the personal data found on the data page, a unique identification number and a digital signature. The chip is contactless, using NFC technology, so border systems can read it electronically.
Pakistan’s e-passports comply with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and DGIP lists chip based data storage with laser engraving, infrared and ultraviolet security features, and an e-gate facility for immigration among their features. The documents are not new in themselves. E-passport issuance has been available at all field offices across the country since August 16, 2023, after an earlier soft launch for diplomatic and official categories in 2022. What changes this month is that the e-passport stops being an option and becomes the standard document for new applications, which is the real shift behind Pakistan e-passport 2026. Holders should note that an e-passport does not by itself guarantee visa free entry or faster clearance at every airport, since those depend on each destination’s own rules and systems.
Pakistan e-passport 2026 Fees: What New Applicants Will Pay
The new document costs more than the one it replaces. Under Pakistan e-passport 2026, the DGIP fee for the most common booklet, a 36 page passport valid for five years, is Rs9,000 for normal processing and Rs15,000 for urgent processing. The equivalent MRP cost Rs4,500 normal and Rs7,500 urgent, so the e-passport fee is double at both speeds. For a 36 page passport valid for ten years, the e-passport fee is Rs13,500 normal and Rs22,500 urgent. Larger 72 page e-passports cost Rs16,500 normal and Rs27,000 urgent for five years, and Rs24,750 normal and Rs40,500 urgent for ten years.
One point deserves care before paying. DGIP states clearly that fast track service is not available for e-passport delivery, so the Rs12,500 fast track figure that many applicants know belongs to the outgoing MRP category. Budget on the normal or urgent e-passport fee instead, and confirm the exact amount for your category before you pay, as fees can be paid online through the Passport Fee Asaan app or the e-payment web portal.
Pakistan e-passport 2026 Abroad: Check Your Own Mission Date
The October 23 date is the timetable for passport offices in Pakistan, and the Pakistan e-passport 2026 transition abroad does not follow a single date for every mission. The Embassy of Pakistan in Doha, for example, has announced that it will start issuing e-passports on October 25, while continuing to issue machine-readable passports until October 22. Other embassies and consulates have issued their own public notices, including a revised timetable notice from the Consulate General of Pakistan in New York.
Overseas applicants should therefore check the latest notice from their own embassy or consulate before booking an appointment or paying a fee, and confirm the documents, processing arrangements and fee category that apply there. Official DGIP and mission notices should take priority over older reports and social media posts.
What to Do Before You Apply
A short checklist can make the Pakistan e-passport 2026 switch straightforward. First, check the expiry date on your current passport, and do nothing if it remains valid for your travel plans. Second, if you do need a new passport, confirm the start date at the office or mission where you will apply. Third, gather the documents DGIP asks for, including proof of fee payment, your original valid CNIC or NICOP with a photocopy, and your previous passport in original with a photocopy if one was issued. Finally, confirm the current fee and processing time for your category before submitting anything.
Readers preparing for travel may also find our coverage of NADRA’s Ijazat Aap Ki service for identity documents useful, along with our story on Italy announcing 15,000 visas for Pakistanis and our report on Pakistan ranking among the top five for digital government services, which shows the wider push to move public services online.
For most applicants, Pakistan e-passport 2026 will simply mean receiving a more secure version of a document they already know, with a chip inside it and a higher fee at the counter. The important part is timing: apply with the right date, the right fee and the right office in mind, and keep using a valid existing passport until it actually expires.
Photo: Zakir350 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sources
- TechJuice: Passport Directorate Revises E-Passport Transition Deadline
- The Asian Mirror: Pakistan E-Passport Rollout Set for October 23, 2026
- Directorate General of Immigration and Passports: e-Passport
- Directorate General of Immigration and Passports: General Requirements for Passport, Including MRP and e-Passport Fees
Umar is an engineer by profession and a passionate writer by passion. He has a deep interest in sharing good news related to Pakistan and has been working hard to promote the positive image of his homeland. Umar has written numerous articles on various topics related to Pakistan, such as technology, sports, culture, and economy.