In a major procedural overhaul aimed at upgrading national border security and aligning travel documents with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports (DGI&P) has ceased issuing traditional Machine Readable Passports (MRPs) for new applicants, switching exclusively to electronic biometric passports (e-Passports) across regional passport offices nationwide.
With this technological transition, passport issuance charges have doubled for entry-level booklets. Under the revised fee schedule, the baseline fee for an ordinary 5-year, 36-page e-Passport under normal processing is now Rs. 9,000 (up from the previous MRP rate of Rs. 4,500), while urgent processing has climbed to Rs. 15,000 (up from Rs. 7,500).
At Mansory Consultants, our international travel, study abroad, and visa advisory desk keeps global travelers, overseas workers, and business executives informed on regulatory travel updates. Below is the full breakdown of revised e-Passport fees, validity rules for existing booklets, and technological improvements.
Pakistan E-Passport Fee Schedule at a Glance
Official DGI&P fee structure for Ordinary E-Passports:
| Validity Period | Booklet Size | Normal Delivery Fee | Urgent Delivery Fee |
| 5 Years | 36 Pages | Rs. 9,000 | Rs. 15,000 |
| 5 Years | 72 Pages | Rs. 16,500 | Rs. 27,000 |
| 10 Years | 36 Pages | Rs. 13,500 | Rs. 22,500 |
| 10 Years | 72 Pages | Rs. 24,750 | Rs. 40,500 |
Note: In accordance with statutory passport regulations, applicants under 15 years of age are eligible for 5-year validity booklets only. Fast-Track processing categories are adjusted based on regional printing priority desks.
1. What Happens to Your Existing Machine Readable Passport (MRP)?
The transition to e-Passports does not invalidate valid travel documents currently held by citizens:
- Validity Protection: If you currently hold a standard Machine Readable Passport (MRP) that has not yet expired, it remains 100% legally valid for international travel and visa processing until the exact expiry date printed on your bio-data page.
- No Mandatory Early Swap: Citizens are not required to prematurely surrender or replace active MRPs.
- When You Must Upgrade: You will transition to the new e-Passport structure when your existing passport enters its final 6-month validity window, when pages are exhausted, or in the event of loss or damage.
2. Why Has the Fee Doubled?
Passport authorities have justified the fee adjustment by citing the substantial cost difference between legacy paper-printed booklets and secure electronic documents:
- Embedded RFID Contactless Microchip: Every e-Passport features an electronic microchip embedded within the document layers, storing the holder’s encrypted facial biometrics, fingerprint data, and digital signature.
- Laser-Engraved Polycarbonate Data Page: Replacing traditional laminated paper data sheets, the e-Passport employs multi-layered polycarbonate fused with high-definition laser engraving, rendering physical tampering, photo swapping, or forgery virtually impossible.
- Advanced Optical & UV Security: Includes nearly 29 integrated security features—such as infrared (IR) response markers, ultraviolet (UV) fluorescent inks, and micro-text alignments.
- Automated Airport E-Gate Compatibility: E-passports enable automated self-service border clearance through electronic gates (e-Gates) at major international transit hubs across Europe, the Middle East, East Asia, and North America.
3. How to Apply & Pay for the New E-Passport
The application workflow mirrors the familiar passport issuance route while offering streamlined digital payment options:
[Generate Digital PSID via 'Passport Fee Asaan' Mobile App / Web Portal]
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[Pay Applicable Fee via 1Link, ATM, Internet Banking or Mobile Wallets]
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[Visit Regional Passport Office (RPO) / Executive Passport Center (EPC)]
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[Biometric Enrollment: Digital Fingerprints, Iris Scan & Polycarbonate Photo]
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[Security Clearance & Automated Central Production at DGI&P Headquarters]
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[Passport Collection at Counter / Track Delivery via 9988 SMS Service]
- Digital Payment: DGI&P accepts payments generated through the Passport Fee Asaan mobile app or official web portal. Applicants can clear payment challans via mobile wallets (Easypaisa/JazzCash), debit/credit cards, ATM networks, or commercial bank counters.
- Mandatory Documents: Original valid CNIC/NICOP (or Child Registration Certificate/B-Form for minors under 18), previous original passport (if renewing), and the verified payment PSID receipt.
4. Impact on International Visa Applications
For students, skilled professionals, and tourists applying for foreign visas through Mansory Consultants, the rollout of the e-Passport provides notable advantages:
- Lower Consular Scrutiny: Embassies for Schengen states, the UK, the United States, Canada, Japan, and the GCC place higher trust in biometric e-Passports due to strict identity verification standards.
- Faster e-Visa Processing: Many international digital visa platforms require an ICAO-compliant digital travel document to issue rapid electronic tourist authorizations (e-Visas).
Navigate International Travel & Visas with Mansory Consultants
Whether renewing your travel documents, planning international tourism, or pursuing overseas higher education and work permits, keeping your paperwork aligned with international standards is vital.
At Mansory Consultants, our visa advisory desk provides end-to-end guidance:
- Auditing travel documentation and passport validity ahead of European, GCC, and Asian visa submissions.
- Advising on student visa filings for Hungary, Bosnia, Italy, Qatar, and Japan.
- Managing official document verifications through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and relevant diplomatic missions.
- Structuring personal bank solvency portfolios and travel itineraries for seamless consular approvals.
Contact Mansory Consultants today for comprehensive travel, visa, and immigration advisory.
