Pakistan will begin issuing e passports to its citizens residing in the United Arab Emirates from July 20, 2026, marking another step in the modernization of passport services for overseas Pakistanis. According to a public notice issued by the Consulate General of Pakistan in Dubai, all passport applications submitted through the Pakistan Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai will be processed exclusively under the e passport category from the announced date. The initiative is intended to provide Pakistani nationals living in the UAE with access to more secure and internationally compatible travel documents that meet modern global standards.
The newly introduced e passports comply with the standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization, incorporating enhanced security features designed to improve document protection and international recognition. Despite the introduction of the new passport system, authorities have clarified that existing machine readable passports will remain valid until their expiry dates. Pakistani citizens whose current passports still have more than six months of validity have been advised to wait before applying for renewal, helping avoid unnecessary replacement requests. Overseas Pakistanis will also continue to have access to the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports online passport application service, providing an additional digital option for eligible applicants who prefer to submit their applications remotely.
The updated fee structure for e passports has also been announced for applicants in the UAE. For passports with a five year validity, the fee for a 36 page passport has been set at AED 145 under the normal category and AED 235 for urgent processing. A 72 page passport will cost AED 260 for normal applications and AED 425 for urgent applications. Applicants choosing a ten year validity period will pay AED 215 for a normal 36 page passport and AED 355 for urgent processing. The fee for a 72 page passport with ten year validity has been fixed at AED 390 under the normal category and AED 635 for urgent applications. Authorities have also confirmed that higher charges will apply for replacing lost passports, including both first loss and second loss cases, in accordance with existing passport regulations.
The Consulate General of Pakistan in Dubai has advised Pakistani nationals residing in the UAE to stay informed through the official communication channels of the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports for the latest updates related to passport services. The transition to e passports is expected to standardize passport processing for overseas applicants while providing travel documents that comply with internationally recognized security requirements. By introducing the new system through diplomatic missions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and continuing support through the online application platform, the government is expanding access to modern passport services for the Pakistani community living in the UAE.
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