The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports has announced that all passport offices across the country will discontinue cash-based fee collection from July 1, 2026, replacing it with a fully digital payment system. The decision was announced during a briefing chaired by Director General Immigration and Passports Muhammad Ali Randhawa with zonal heads, where officials were informed that passport fees will only be accepted through QR code-based digital payments after the deadline.
Digital Payment System to Enhance Transparency
According to the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, the move is aimed at streamlining services, improving transparency and promoting the digitalisation of public services. The shift to digital payments is expected to reduce corruption and inefficiencies associated with cash handling.
Passport Mobile Application and E-Passports
Officials also revealed that a dedicated passport mobile application will be launched soon, enabling Pakistani citizens residing both within the country and abroad to submit passport applications online. The application will also facilitate doorstep delivery of passports, reducing the need for applicants to visit passport offices. The Directorate further announced that it will gradually transition to issuing only e-passports in the future. However, authorities clarified that all existing machine-readable passports will remain valid until their respective expiry dates and will continue to be accepted for travel.
Broader Digital Reforms
The reforms form part of broader government efforts to modernise the passport issuance system and enhance the delivery of public services through digital technologies. The transition to cashless payments and e-passports aligns with the government's Digital Pakistan vision.
