Pakistan's diplomatic missions in the UAE began issuing e-passports to Pakistani nationals from October 23, with the Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai confirming that all new passport applications are now processed exclusively in the new electronic format.
Officials said holders of valid machine-readable passports do not need to rush to replace them; those documents remain valid and usable until their existing expiry date. Applicants have been advised to apply for a new passport only once their current one has less than six months of validity remaining, to avoid unnecessary early renewals.
A key requirement highlighted in the announcement is that both first and last names must be entered in full on e-passport application forms, as incomplete name fields can delay or complicate processing.
For a standard 36-page passport valid for five years, normal processing costs Dh145 and urgent processing Dh235. Applicants reporting a passport lost for the first time face a fee of Dh290 for normal processing and Dh470 for urgent processing. Separate, higher fee tiers apply to 72-page passports and ten-year validity options, with additional surcharges for replacement documents.
Before booking an appointment, applicants are urged to check the remaining validity of their current passport and ensure their personal details match the naming requirements for the new system. The service is available through the Embassy of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of Pakistan in Dubai.