Pakistan to issue only electronic passports

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan is going to slowly switch to issuance of e-passports only and cash will no longer be accepted in payment for passport fees from July 1 as part of an ongoing initiative of the government to modernize and facilitate the process of passport issuance.

The decisions were made at a high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of Director General Immigration and Passports Muhammad Ali Randhawa at the Directorate General headquarters in Islamabad.

Conducted under the directions of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the meeting was attended by all zonal heads and officials to discuss the roadmap of the reforms, their implementation and ways to make the process of passport services more convenient for people.

In the meeting, DG also asked suggestions from the zonal heads for improvement in the process of passport services. The officials were told that with effect from July 1, 2026, there would be no acceptance of cash in passport fees and payment through QR code would be the only mode of fee payment in all passport offices across Pakistan.

The meeting was informed that the Directorate General Immigration and Passports would soon launch a dedicated a passport mobile app, enabling Pakistani citizens both at home and abroad to apply for passports online from their homes.

Applicants will also be able to receive their passports at their doorstep, with TCS and DHL engaged to provide delivery services.

Officials said the initiative would significantly reduce congestion at passport offices.

The meeting further decided that the Directorate General Immigration and Passports would, in future, issue only e-passports as part of a phased transition from Machine Readable Passports (MRPs) in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidelines.