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The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports has revised the deadline for the transition to electronic passports (e-passport) in Pakistan. Under the updated schedule, authorities will continue issuing and renewing machine-readable passports (MRPs) until October 22, 2026.
Pakistan Revises Deadline for Mandatory E-Passport Transition
From October 23, 2026, all passport offices across Pakistan and Pakistani diplomatic missions abroad will issue only e-passports to new applicants. The authorities had initially planned to complete the transition by mid-October but have now extended the deadline.
Existing Machine-Readable Passports Will Remain Valid
The revised schedule does not require citizens with valid machine-readable passports to replace their documents before their expiry dates.
According to the directorate, all MRPs issued before October 23, 2026, will remain valid until their respective expiry dates. Citizens can continue using their existing passports without applying for an e-passport solely because of the new policy.
The extension provides additional time for applicants who need to obtain or renew a traditional machine-readable passport before the transition takes effect.
E-Passports to Become the Standard
After the deadline, passport offices in Pakistan and Pakistani diplomatic missions abroad will issue e-passports as the standard option for new applicants.
E-passports contain an electronic chip that stores the passport holder’s personal and biometric information. This technology helps authorities verify a traveller’s identity and strengthens document security.
The move is part of the government’s efforts to modernize passport services and bring Pakistan’s travel documents in line with international security standards.
What Applicants Need to Know
Citizens who want to obtain or renew a machine-readable passport should complete the process by October 22, 2026, under the revised schedule.
Those who already hold valid MRPs do not need to apply for new passports before their current documents expire. However, applicants seeking passports from October 23 onward should prepare for the mandatory e-passport system.
The transition is expected to support more secure travel documents and improve passport verification procedures. By extending the deadline, the directorate has provided applicants with additional time before the new system becomes mandatory.
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