The Directorate General of Immigrations and Passports has begun issuing e-passports, a highly secure travel document, to Pakistani nationals.
The e-passport contains an electronic chip placed in one of the passport pages, which will be used to store biometric information about the user. The chip carries data that will validate the passport holder’s identity, including the passport holder’s biometrics, personal data from the passport’s data page, a unique identification number, and a digital signature.
E-Passports are presently used in over 150 countries globally. Several nations have transitioned to the e-Passport due to the growing need for efficient and improved border security.
Pakistani e-Passport holders can use the e-gate feature at any airport in the globe. It would also assist eliminate all of the obstacles in the current manual procedure, allowing Pakistani candidates to file online applications more easily.
How to Get an E-Passport?
The application process for the e-Passport is similar to acquiring a Machine Readable Passport (MRP).
The following conditions are mandatory for applying the e-Passport at RPOs :
First Name and Last Name are Required
First Name allowed up to 50 characters
Last Name allowed up to 40 characters
Relative (Father/Husband/Guardian) Name allowed: up to 40 characters
Pakistan’s new e-passport fee
The fee for the newly introduced Ordinary e-Passport is given below :
| Sno. | Category | Period | Normal Fee | Urgent Fee |
| 1 | 36 Pages | 5 Years | Rs.9,000/- | Rs.15,000/- |
| 10 Years | Rs.13,500/- | Rs.22,500/- | ||
| 2 | 72 Pages | 5 Years | Rs.16,500/- | Rs.27,000/- |
| 10 Years | Rs.24,750/- | Rs.40,500/- |
Maria Ghanchi