Pakistan goes e-passport only: the machine-readable era ends — what changes for new applicants?

A long chapter in Pakistan’s travel documents has closed. From 23 October 2026, passport offices across the country and Pakistani diplomatic missions abroad are issuing only e-passports. The 22-year-old machine-readable passport (MRP) system has been phased out entirely.
If you already hold an old passport
First, the reassurance: citizens who already hold a valid machine-readable passport can keep using it until its expiry date. There is no need to replace it simply because the system has changed. But once it expires, renewal will only be possible as an e-passport — the old route is closed.
This did not happen overnight
The e-passport arrived in stages. It was introduced in March 2022, initially for diplomats and residents of Islamabad. In August 2023 it was extended to all citizens, who could then choose between an MRP and an e-passport. Now that dual system is over. Even the final date moved once: implementation was first set for 15 October, then shifted to 23 October, with MRP issuance and renewal continuing until 22 October.
What makes an e-passport different?
An e-passport carries an electronic chip that stores the holder’s personal and biometric information. According to the authorities, the technology is meant to improve identity verification and reduce the chances of forgery — the reason biometric passports have become the standard around the world, and the standard Pakistan has now fully adopted.
The practical point
For new applicants, the key step is simple: confirm the fees and procedure with the relevant passport office or Pakistani mission before applying, because every fresh application — inside Pakistan or abroad — now goes through the e-passport system alone. Holders of old passports can rest easy until expiry; new applicants should know their next passport will be a chipped, more secure document.