Pakistan revises E-Passport launch date
E-passport rollout delayed by eight days
The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGIP) has revised the e-passport launch date as part of the transition to a new passport system.
Under the updated schedule, passport offices across Pakistan and Pakistani diplomatic missions abroad will issue only e-passports to people applying for new passports from October 23.
The change was confirmed through public notices issued by Pakistani diplomatic missions. The Consulate General of Pakistan in New York announced the revised date on October 14.
The new e-passport launch date gives applicants and passport offices additional time before the nationwide transition begins.
Pakistani missions abroad issue updated dates
Pakistan’s diplomatic missions have also announced changes to their local schedules.
The Embassy of Pakistan in Doha has stated that it will begin issuing e-passports on October 25. It will continue issuing machine-readable passports (MRPs) until October 22.
This means the e-passport launch date may differ slightly at individual diplomatic missions. Pakistanis living abroad should check the latest instructions from their relevant embassy or consulate before applying.
What happens to existing machine-readable passports?
People who already hold machine-readable passports do not need to replace them immediately.
According to the announced policy, MRPs issued before October 23 will remain valid until their expiry dates.
This means travellers with valid existing passports can continue using them until they expire, subject to the usual travel and destination-country requirements.
The revised schedule mainly affects people applying for new passports after the transition begins.
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Why is Pakistan moving to e-passports?
The Pakistan e-passport system is part of the country’s efforts to modernize passport services and improve the management of travel documents.
E-passports contain an electronic chip that stores identity information and can support automated identity checks at equipped border-control systems.
The technology is used in many countries to strengthen document verification and make international travel procedures more efficient. However, travellers must still follow the entry and visa rules of their destination countries.
What applicants should know
People planning to apply for a new passport should check the latest instructions from the DGIP or their relevant Pakistani diplomatic mission.
Applicants living abroad should pay particular attention to local schedules, as the Doha mission has announced October 25 as its starting date.
Existing MRP holders do not need to rush to replace valid passports solely because of the new rollout.
