Pakistan to Stop Issuing New Machine-Readable Passports from October 15
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided to discontinue the issuance of new Machine-Readable Passports (MRPs), with the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGI&P) set to accept only e-Passport applications from October 15, 2026.
According to the DGI&P, citizens will be able to submit applications for new Machine-Readable Passports only until October 14. From October 15 onward, applications will be processed exclusively for e-Passports. The DGI&P’s website currently lists both MRP and e-Passport categories, while its latest homepage update dated July 1, 2026, is titled “E-Passport Replace Ordinary Passport.”
Existing Machine-Readable Passports will remain valid until their expiry dates. However, once they expire, they will not be renewed as MRPs and applicants will instead be issued e-Passports.
The policy instructions have reportedly been conveyed to passport offices across Pakistan as well as Pakistani missions abroad.
The decision is aimed at moving completely towards e-Passports and strengthening passport security and efforts against fraudulent documents. Pakistan’s e-Passport contains a contactless NFC chip that stores biometric and personal information, including the holder’s photograph-related data, identification information and digital signature. The document complies with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
e-Passport Fees
According to the DGI&P’s published fee schedule:
36-page, 5-year: Rs9,000 normal; Rs15,000 urgent
36-page, 10-year: Rs13,500 normal; Rs22,500 urgent
72-page, 5-year: Rs16,500 normal; Rs27,000 urgent
72-page, 10-year: Rs24,750 normal; Rs40,500 urgent
The e-Passport facility has been available at passport offices across Pakistan since August 2023.
The DGI&P says the electronic chip in an e-Passport enables electronic verification of the holder’s identity and is designed in accordance with ICAO standards, supporting automated immigration processing where e-gates are available.
