Pakistan begins e-passport issuance in UAE: Fees, renewal rules and application process
New e-passport system explained
The facility is available at the embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of Pakistan in Dubai. The embassy has issued detailed guidelines for applicants.
New applications: All new passport applications are being processed as e-passports from 23 October.
Existing passports: Valid Machine Readable Passports (MRPs) remain valid until their expiry dates. Holders do not need to replace them immediately.
When to renew: Applicants are advised to apply for renewal only when their existing passport has less than six months of validity remaining.
Name requirements: Both the first name and last name are mandatory for e-passport issuance.
Before booking: Applicants should check their passport’s validity and ensure their personal details meet the naming requirements.
Fee structure for e-passports
Fees depend on the passport’s validity period, number of pages, processing speed and whether it replaces a previously lost passport. Below are the applicable fees in UAE dirhams (Dh).
Five-year validity (36 pages)
- Normal processing: Dh145
- Urgent processing: Dh235
- First lost passport — normal: Dh290
- First lost passport — urgent: Dh470
- Second lost passport — normal: Dh580
- Second lost passport — urgent: Dh940
10-year validity (36 pages)
- Normal processing: Dh215
- Urgent processing: Dh355
- First lost passport — normal: Dh430
- First lost passport — urgent: Dh710
- Second lost passport — normal: Dh860
- Second lost passport — urgent: Dh1,420
Five-year validity (72 pages)
- Normal processing: Dh260
- Urgent processing: Dh425
- First lost passport — normal: Dh520
- First lost passport — urgent: Dh850
- Second lost passport — normal: Dh1,040
- Second lost passport — urgent: Dh1,700
10-year validity (72 pages)
- Normal processing: Dh390
- Urgent processing: Dh635
- First lost passport — normal: Dh780
- First lost passport — urgent: Dh1,270
- Second lost passport — normal: Dh1,560
- Second lost passport — urgent: Dh2,540
Pakistani nationals in the UAE should check their passport’s expiry date before arranging a renewal. Those with valid MRPs can continue using them until expiry, while applicants for new passports must follow the e-passport system’s requirements.
The announcement was issued on 23 October by the Embassy of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of Pakistan in Dubai.
