Pakistan has reportedly shifted to e-passports for all new passport applications, ending the issuance of traditional machine-readable passports across the country, including Lahore.
The change comes with a significant increase in passport fees, with the normal fee for a five-year passport containing 36 pages rising from Rs. 4,500 to Rs. 9,000. The urgent processing fee for the same passport category has also doubled, increasing from Rs. 7,500 to Rs. 15,000.
E-passports contain an electronic chip that stores the holder’s personal and biometric information, helping support identity verification and security checks during international travel.
Despite the change in the application process, existing machine-readable passports will remain valid until their expiry dates. Holders of these passports will not need to replace them immediately solely because of the transition to e-passports.
The shift marks a change in Pakistan’s passport issuance system, with new applicants expected to receive the electronic version instead of the older machine-readable document.
The higher fees mean applicants will need to account for increased costs when applying for a new passport. The final amount may vary depending on the passport category, number of pages and selected processing time.
Applicants are advised to check the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports’ official guidance for the latest requirements, fee structure and application procedures before submitting their applications.
