Pakistan will discontinue the issuance of machine-readable passports nationwide from October 15, 2026.
The decision marks another step toward a fully electronic passport system in the country.
According to a public notice, new passport applicants will receive e-passports from the deadline.
The notice was issued by the Consulate General of Pakistan in New York on September 25.
It stated that the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports has approved the change.
The new policy will apply to passport offices across Pakistan. It will also cover Pakistani diplomatic missions operating abroad.
Under the new system, applicants seeking a new passport on or after October 15 will receive an e-passport.
The government plans to discontinue the older machine-readable passport system as part of this transition.
However, existing machine-readable passports will not become invalid immediately. They will remain valid until their printed expiry dates.
Passport holders can continue using their existing documents until those dates. They will then need to apply for an e-passport.
This means current passport holders do not need to replace valid machine-readable passports immediately.
The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports has directed relevant offices to implement the new system.
Pakistani diplomatic missions abroad have also been instructed to facilitate applicants during the transition.
The government aims to modernise passport services through the shift to electronic documents.
The change is also expected to bring Pakistan closer to a fully electronic passport system.
What is an e-passport?
An e-passport is a travel document containing an electronic chip.
The chip stores important passport and identity information. Compatible immigration systems can electronically read and verify this information.
This technology can support faster and more secure identity verification at immigration points.
Pakistan has already been issuing e-passports alongside machine-readable passports.
The October 15 deadline will mark a major change in the issuance process.
After the deadline, new passport applicants will no longer receive the older machine-readable version.
The decision to discontinue machine-readable passports applies to new applications. It does not cancel existing passports before their expiry.
Citizens living abroad will also be affected by the new policy. Pakistani diplomatic missions will issue e-passports under the updated system.
Applicants are expected to follow the relevant requirements when applying for their new travel documents.
The transition is part of broader efforts to modernise Pakistan’s passport services.
The government has been expanding electronic passport facilities in recent years.
With the latest decision, the older passport issuance process will gradually come to an end.
Citizens should therefore keep the October 15 date in mind when planning new passport applications.
Existing machine-readable passports will continue to remain usable until their expiry dates.
In other news read more about: DG Passports Announces Mandatory E-passports in Pakistan by 2027
