The Office of DGI&P is an attached department of the Ministry of Interior, responsible to deal with matters concerning the issuance of passports.

Recently, the department launched e-passport facility across the country to facilitate the citizens.

What is the e-Passport?

The e-Passport is a highly secure travel document. It has an electronic chip embedded in one of the passport pages, which will be used to store biometric information about the holder. The chip contains data that will verify the passport holder’s identity and will include the biometrics of the passport holder, the personal data found on the data page of the passport, a unique identification number and a digital signature. An e-passport has a contactless (NFC) chip on it which means that those passports can be read electronically. The newly launched e-Passports in Pakistan are in compliance with the United Nations’ ICAO standards.

e-Passport Features

Chip based data storage with laser engraving

Multiple security feature including IR & UV

e-Gate facility for immigration

Real time match of personalized data at airports

Pakistan e-Passport application process

The application process for the Pakistan e-Passport will be similar to acquiring a traditional passport. Initially, the e-passport facility will only be available for diplomatic and government officials of Pakistan. Applicants will receive the e-Passports after the manufacturing process is complete. The documents required for an e-Passport will be similar to that of a Machine Readable Passport (MRP).

Normal Fee for New e-Passport

The normal fee for e-Passport with 36 pages and five year validity has been fixed at Rs9,000 while normal fee for 36-page e-Passport with ten years validity has been set as Rs13,000.

The normal fee for 72-page e-Passport with five-year validity has been fixed at Rs15,000 while the normal fee for same pages passport with ten years validity has been set as Rs24.