Pakistan will begin issuing only e-Passports to its citizens living in UAE from July 20, 2026, according to an announcement by the Embassy of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.
The embassy said that all passport applications submitted through the Embassy of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of Pakistan in Dubai will now be processed only as e-Passports. The new system has been introduced in line with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Officials said the move is aimed at improving passport security and modernizing travel documents. The e-Passport contains an electronic chip that stores the holder’s personal and biometric information, making it more secure and easier to verify during international travel.
The embassy also clarified that existing machine-readable passports will remain valid until their expiry date. Citizens who already have a valid machine-readable passport do not need to replace it immediately.
Passport holders with more than six months of validity have been advised to renew their passports only when they are close to expiring. This is expected to make the transition to the new e-Passport system smoother and help avoid unnecessary renewals.
The Embassy of Pakistan has also announced updated fees for the issuance and renewal of e-Passports. Applicants are encouraged to review the latest fee schedule before submitting their applications.
The new policy will apply to all passport applications submitted through Pakistan’s diplomatic missions in the UAE from July 20, 2026. Pakistani citizens living in the UAE are advised to follow the updated guidelines and complete the required documents before applying for a new passport or renewing an existing one.
