Pakistan will shift to an exclusive electronic passport (e-passport) system and mandate digital-only fee payments by July 1, 2026, as part of a national effort to modernize immigration services. Announced following a high-level meeting in Islamabad, the changes aim to reduce physical congestion at passport offices and align the country with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidelines.
Modernizing Passport Services
Director General Immigration and Passports Muhammad Ali Randhawa chaired the meeting at the Directorate General headquarters to finalize the roadmap for these reforms. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi instructed the department to prioritize measures that make passport applications faster and more efficient for the public. As part of this transition, the government will phase out Machine Readable Passports (MRPs) in favor of e-passports, which provide enhanced security features consistent with global standards.
Did You Know? The transition to e-passports is a direct move to comply with international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), ensuring that Pakistani travel documents remain consistent with global security protocols.
Digital Payments and Home Delivery
Starting July 1, 2026, cash payments will be entirely abolished for passport services across Pakistan. The Directorate General will transition to a QR code-based digital payment system to streamline the collection process. Additionally, a new dedicated mobile app is under development, which will allow citizens in Pakistan and abroad to complete their applications online from their residences.
To further reduce the need for physical visits, the department has engaged courier services TCS and DHL to facilitate doorstep delivery of passports. Officials stated that these combined digital initiatives are expected to significantly lower the volume of applicants visiting offices in person, thereby alleviating long-standing congestion issues.
Expert Insight: The move to digitize fee collection and introduce doorstep delivery marks a significant shift in the bureaucratic experience for Pakistani citizens. By removing cash-based transactions and physical application requirements, the government is likely attempting to eliminate middleman interference and modernize the administrative footprint of the passport office.
What Happens Next
The Directorate General Immigration and Passports is expected to launch the dedicated mobile app in the coming months, marking the first phase of the digital rollout. As the July 2026 deadline for the digital-only payment system approaches, passport offices across the country will likely undergo technical upgrades to support QR code processing. Following the transition to e-passports, citizens may see a shift in how travel documents are verified at border crossings as the country moves away from the older MRP format.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will cash payments for passport fees be discontinued?
Cash payments will be abolished across all passport offices in the country starting July 1, 2026.
Will citizens still need to visit passport offices in person?
The government is launching a mobile app to enable online applications, and courier services like TCS and DHL have been engaged to provide doorstep delivery, which officials expect will reduce the need for physical visits.
What kind of passports will be issued in the future?
The Directorate General Immigration and Passports will transition to issuing only e-passports to align with ICAO guidelines, eventually replacing the current Machine Readable Passports.
How do you think the shift to doorstep delivery will impact the processing time for your travel documents?
