Pakistan to Stop Issuing Machine-Readable Passports From October 15
All new applications after the deadline will receive e-passports only, though existing machine-readable passports remain valid until their expiry date.
Pakistan will stop issuing machine-readable passports from October 15, transitioning fully to e-passports at home and through missions abroad.
Pakistan's Directorate General of Immigration and Passports has decided to discontinue the issuance of machine-readable passports nationwide from October 15, after which applicants seeking new passports will receive only e-passports. The new system will apply across passport offices in Pakistan, with instructions for implementation also issued to Pakistani diplomatic missions abroad.
What Happens to Existing Passports
Machine-readable passports issued before October 15 will not become invalid immediately and will remain valid until their stated expiration dates. However, once these passports expire, they will not be renewed as machine-readable passports — holders will instead be required to apply for a new e-passport.
Rollout Extends to Missions Abroad
The Directorate General has also communicated implementation instructions to Pakistani missions abroad, allowing the transition to be implemented both domestically and through diplomatic missions serving citizens overseas.
Why the Switch
Officials said the transition to e-passports is expected to make the immigration process faster and more efficient, marking a nationwide shift toward electronic travel documents.
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