Starting October 23, 2026, the Pakistani diplomatic missions in the UAE have officially transitioned to an e-Passport system for all new applications. While this marks a significant technological upgrade, current holders of Machine Readable Passports (MRPs) do not need to rush for a replacement. Your existing passport remains fully valid until its printed expiry date, and authorities have recommended waiting until you have less than six months of validity remaining before applying for an e-Passport.

When you are ready to apply, keep in mind that the system now mandates both a first and a last name, so those with single-name passports should be prepared to update their documentation. The fee structure is tiered based on the document's validity period, page count, and processing speed. Standard applications start at Dh145 for a five-year, 36-page passport, while those requiring urgent service or seeking replacements for lost documents will face higher costs, reaching up to Dh2,540 for expedited, high-capacity replacements.