The Pakistani Embassy in the UAE has officially announced a delay in the rollout of its new e-Passport services. Originally slated to begin on July 20, 2026, the transition has been put on hold due to unforeseen technical and administrative challenges. During this pause, the embassy will stop accepting or processing any e-Passport applications, though officials have reassured citizens that standard Machine-Readable Passport (MRP) services remain fully operational. Applicants can continue to submit requests for new or renewed MRPs as usual while awaiting a new launch date for the electronic version.

The shift toward e-Passports is part of a larger initiative to modernize Pakistan’s travel documentation by incorporating an embedded microchip that stores biometric and personal data. This upgrade is designed to improve security and streamline border crossings, enabling travelers to utilize automated e-gates more efficiently. While the embassy previously outlined a tiered fee structure for various passport lengths and validity periods—ranging from five to ten years—those plans are currently sidelined. Citizens are encouraged to monitor the embassy’s official website and social media platforms for updates on when these advanced digital travel documents will finally become available.