The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports adjusted the schedule for the country's move to e-passports, moving the nationwide launch to October 23 instead of October 15, 2026.
According to the updated guidelines, all domestic passport branches and international diplomatic missions will exclusively provide e-passports to new applicants starting October 23.
Official statements from overseas diplomatic posts, such as the Consulate General of Pakistan in New York, verified the adjustment on October 14.
The Embassy of Pakistan in Doha published a modified timeline as well, indicating that e-passport issuance starts October 25, while machine-readable passports remain available through October 22.
Current machine-readable passports produced prior to October 23 stay valid until their expiration dates. Citizens possessing valid machine-readable passports do not require replacements ahead of expiration. The shift to e-passports forms part of Pakistan's initiatives to update passport operations and enhance travel document efficiency.
