Pakistan is preparing for a major change to its passport system, with the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGI&P) set to stop issuing new Machine-Readable Passports and transition to e-Passports.
According to the latest reported directive, new Machine-Readable Passports (MRPs) will be available only until October 14, 2026.
From October 15, 2026, new passports will be issued as e-Passports under the government’s broader plan to modernise Pakistan’s passport and immigration infrastructure.
The change does not mean existing MRPs suddenly become invalid. People who already hold valid passports should continue to follow the validity period printed on their travel documents unless authorities issue separate instructions.
What Is Changing From October 15?
The biggest change concerns the type of passport issued to Pakistani citizens.
Until now, applicants have been able to obtain conventional Machine-Readable Passports as well as the newer e-Passports.
Under the reported new policy:
Up to October 14, 2026: Applicants can still obtain new MRPs.
From October 15, 2026: New passports will be issued as e-Passports.
DGI&P has reportedly circulated instructions to passport offices across Pakistan regarding implementation of the transition.
Relevant staff at Pakistani missions abroad have also been directed to implement the policy.
What Happens to Existing Machine-Readable Passports?
The transition should not be confused with cancellation of every existing MRP.
A Pakistani passport normally carries its own expiry date.
The reported policy specifically concerns new issuance and future renewal, rather than declaring currently valid MRPs immediately invalid.
This means people should not assume they need to replace a valid passport simply because the e-Passport transition begins on October 15.
Travellers should continue checking official DGI&P guidance, particularly if their passport is approaching expiry.
Will MRPs Be Renewed After They Expire?
The reported policy indicates that authorities will not renew MRPs once they expire.
Instead, applicants requiring a new passport after the transition will move to the e-Passport system.
This effectively creates a gradual migration.
Existing MRPs can disappear naturally as passports expire, while newly issued documents increasingly use the electronic format.
What Is a Pakistani e-Passport?
An e-Passport is an electronic passport containing an embedded contactless chip.
Unlike a conventional Machine-Readable Passport, the chip can securely store information used to verify the passport holder’s identity.
According to DGI&P, Pakistan’s e-Passport contains:
- Biometric information
- Personal information from the passport data page
- A unique identification number
- Digital signature
- Contactless NFC chip
The passport is designed according to International Civil Aviation Organization standards.
Pakistan’s e-Passport system also incorporates additional security technologies intended to make fraudulent alteration and counterfeiting more difficult.
Pakistan’s e-Passport Has Around 29 Security Features
Pakistan introduced the e-Passport as a significant security upgrade over conventional travel documents.
DGI&P says approximately 29 new security features were introduced with the electronic passport.
These include chip-based information storage as well as security elements involving technologies such as infrared and ultraviolet verification.
The passport also uses laser engraving.
These features are intended to strengthen identity verification and make fraudulent reproduction more difficult.
e-Passports Can Work With Airport e-Gates
One of the most practical advantages is compatibility with electronic immigration systems.
DGI&P lists e-Gate immigration capability among the major features of Pakistan’s electronic passport.
At compatible international airports, an e-Passport can be electronically scanned and its chip used during identity verification.
This can reduce dependence on completely manual passport inspection.
However, possession of an e-Passport does not guarantee that every airport will provide automated entry.
Actual e-Gate access depends on the immigration rules and infrastructure of the destination country.
Does an e-Passport Give Pakistanis Visa-Free Travel?
No.
An e-Passport improves the security and electronic verification of a travel document, but it does not automatically change visa requirements.
Pakistani citizens remain subject to the immigration and visa policies of their destination countries.
The passport’s electronic chip should therefore not be confused with a visa or travel authorisation.
Its primary advantages concern security, identity verification and compatibility with modern border-control systems.
Pakistan Introduced e-Passports in 2022
Pakistan’s transition has been developing for several years.
The country’s e-Passport was formally inaugurated on March 30, 2022.
Initially, availability was limited.
The programme first covered diplomatic and official passport categories before being expanded.
On August 16, 2023, e-Passport issuance became available through field offices across Pakistan.
The October 2026 transition therefore represents the next stage: moving from offering e-Passports alongside conventional MRPs toward making the electronic version the standard document.
Government Approved Full e-Passport Transition Earlier This Year
The latest development is not an isolated decision.
In June 2026, the federal government announced major reforms to Pakistan’s passport system during a meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
Officials agreed in principle to completely shift passport issuance to the e-Passport system.
The government said the transition was intended to reduce passport fraud and forgery while modernising the country’s travel-document infrastructure.
The September development provides a reported implementation date for that broader policy.
Other Passport Reforms Are Also Underway
The government has introduced several changes alongside the e-Passport transition.
These include moves towards:
- Cashless passport offices
- Digital passport applications
- Home delivery of passports
- Improved document verification
- Reduced human interaction
- Electronic verification mechanisms
- Integration with PakID
- Faster services for overseas Pakistanis
The objective appears to be broader than simply replacing the physical passport booklet.
Pakistan is gradually digitising much of the application, verification, payment and delivery process surrounding passports.
Online Applications Are Becoming More Important
Pakistan already provides several passport services online.
DGI&P’s online system supports different application categories, particularly for overseas Pakistanis.
Online services include categories involving passport renewal and certain reprint or modification cases.
The government has also announced plans to move passport applications toward the PakID application ecosystem.
Further integration could eventually reduce the number of applicants who need to complete every stage of the process physically at a passport office.
Passport Verification Is Also Being Digitised
The government is separately working on reforms to document verification.
At a Passport Rules Committee meeting in September, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar directed officials to develop an integrated electronic mechanism for verifying passports and other essential documents.
The proposed system is particularly intended to help overseas Pakistanis.
Authorities were also directed to explore a one-window verification portal and minimise unnecessary human interaction.
Together with the e-Passport transition, these measures indicate a broader shift toward digital passport administration.
What Is the Difference Between MRP and e-Passport?
| Feature | Machine-Readable Passport | e-Passport |
|---|---|---|
| Machine-readable data | Yes | Yes |
| Electronic chip | No | Yes |
| Biometric data stored electronically | No embedded chip | Yes |
| Contactless/NFC reading | No | Yes |
| Digital signature | No embedded passport chip | Yes |
| e-Gate compatibility | Limited | Designed for electronic processing |
| Enhanced electronic security | Limited | Yes |
| New issuance after reported Oct. 15 transition | Being phased out | Standard format |
An e-Passport is therefore still machine readable, but it adds an electronic identity-verification layer through its embedded chip.
What Should People Applying Before October 15 Know?
Anyone applying for a passport before the transition should check the latest official options available through DGI&P.
Applicants may still have access to the conventional MRP before the reported cutoff.
However, people who travel frequently or expect to keep their passport for several years may want to compare the available passport types, validity periods and official fees before submitting an application.
The decision should be based on individual travel needs rather than assuming an existing MRP will suddenly stop working.
What Should Overseas Pakistanis Know?
The transition is also expected to apply through Pakistani missions abroad.
DGI&P has reportedly instructed relevant staff at foreign missions to implement the new policy and inform applicants about the changes.
Overseas Pakistanis whose passports are approaching expiry should therefore check with their relevant Pakistani embassy or consulate before applying.
Implementation procedures may differ depending on the availability of passport facilities at individual missions.
Will e-Passports Cost More?
Pakistan’s e-Passports have historically had a different fee structure from conventional MRPs.
Applicants should therefore check the latest official DGI&P fee schedule before applying rather than relying on older passport-fee tables circulating online.
Fees can depend on factors including:
- Passport validity
- Number of pages
- Normal or urgent processing category
- Passport type
Applicants should also use only officially approved payment channels.
Why Pakistan Is Moving Away From MRPs
Machine-Readable Passports represented a major improvement when Pakistan introduced them in the 2000s.
But international travel-document technology has continued to evolve.
Modern e-Passports provide stronger electronic identity verification and are widely used internationally.
DGI&P says e-Passports are already used in more than 150 countries.
Moving to a chip-based document therefore brings Pakistan closer to the travel-document infrastructure already used across much of the world.
What Passport Holders Should Do Now
There is no reason for holders of valid MRPs to panic or immediately apply for replacements solely because of the October transition.
Instead, passport holders should:
- Check their passport’s expiry date
- Monitor official DGI&P announcements
- Verify requirements before renewal
- Use official payment channels
- Check the latest e-Passport fee structure
- Avoid relying on unofficial social-media claims
- Ensure sufficient passport validity before international travel
People whose passports expire soon should pay particular attention to the transition because their next document may need to be an e-Passport.
Pakistan’s Passport System Is Entering a New Phase
The reported October 15, 2026 cutoff represents an important milestone in Pakistan’s gradual transition from conventional Machine-Readable Passports to electronic passports.
Pakistan did not introduce e-Passports overnight.
The technology arrived in 2022, expanded nationwide in 2023 and became part of a broader passport-modernisation programme in 2026.
Now, the government is moving towards making the electronic passport the standard travel document.
For existing passport holders, the most important distinction is simple: the change concerns future issuance and renewal; it should not be interpreted as an automatic cancellation of every valid MRP already held by Pakistani citizens.