Pakistan will introduce mandatory electronic passport issuance from October 23, 2026, following a revision to the implementation schedule. The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports announced the new date for the Pakistan e-passport policy, replacing the earlier deadline of October 15. Under the revised plan, new passport applicants will receive electronic passports instead of machine-readable passports.
The policy will apply to passport offices across Pakistan and Pakistani diplomatic missions operating abroad. From October 23, authorities will issue e-passports to applicants seeking new passports or renewals under the new system. The change marks another step in the government’s efforts to modernise passport services and align travel documentation with international standards.
According to the revised schedule, machine-readable passports will remain available for issuance and renewal until October 22. Applicants who need a machine-readable passport must therefore follow the existing system before the new deadline. After the transition takes effect, electronic passports will become the standard document issued to new applicants.
Officials have clarified that existing machine-readable passports will remain valid until their expiry dates. People holding unexpired passports will not need to replace them immediately because of the new policy. This clarification means the transition will affect the issuance of new documents rather than automatically cancelling passports already held by citizens.
An e-passport contains an electronic chip that stores identity and biometric information, subject to the document’s specifications. Such passports are designed to support secure identity verification and facilitate modern border-control procedures. Their introduction is intended to strengthen document security and improve the efficiency of passport and immigration services.
The revised deadline gives applicants and passport offices additional time to prepare for the change. People planning to apply for or renew their passports should check the latest requirements and availability with the relevant passport office before submitting their applications. Applicants travelling internationally should also ensure their documents remain valid for their intended journeys.
Pakistan’s transition to an e-passport-only issuance system will begin on October 23, while machine-readable passports can be issued until October 22. Existing machine-readable passports will continue to serve as valid travel documents until expiry. The new policy is intended to modernise passport administration and improve the security of travel documentation across Pakistan and its diplomatic missions overseas.
