Pakistan to shift passport system fully online, introduce home delivery

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided to transition its entire passport system to an online model, including the introduction of a home delivery mechanism and a complete migration to digital e-passports, the interior ministry announced.

The overhaul was approved during a meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi at the Passports and Immigration Headquarters as part of a broader push to eliminate identity fraud.

Under the new mechanism, the country’s passport offices will also switch entirely to a cashless payment system starting July 1, 2026.

The reform involves transitioning all future passport issuances to the electronic e-passport standard.

Officials told the meeting that the embedded biometric technology will effectively eliminate the risk of forgery and document tampering.

To streamline the user experience, the government will integrate all online passport applications into the existing “Pak-ID” digital platform, a centralised portal managed by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

“Leveraging modern technology will not only enhance transparency but also significantly improve the delivery of public services to citizens,” Naqvi said during the briefing.

The meeting was told that logistical groundwork has been completed to offer door-to-door passport delivery for both domestic citizens and overseas Pakistanis.

The restructuring also introduces a tiered, cost-recovery pricing model for premium processing services, while setting a firm deadline for ending over-the-counter cash transactions at regional passport offices.

Under the new system, cashless operations will become mandatory across all domestic passport offices from July 1, 2026, with all applications migrated to the unified Pak-ID digital platform.

Authorities have also finalised arrangements for home delivery of passports for both domestic and overseas applicants, while premium service fees will be linked directly to real-time operational and delivery costs.

The initiative will also target corporate travel documentation. Naqvi directed immigration authorities to finalize a new “Business Passport” policy in swift consultation with the country’s apex tax body, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

Director General of Passports and Immigration Mustafa Ali Randhawa provided a comprehensive technical briefing to the minister, outlining the rollout schedule for the infrastructure upgrades.