Most of the confusion around applying for an e-passport comes from one simple thing: there isn’t just one way to do it. Depending on your situation, you might walk into a passport office and finish everything in one visit, or you might do most of it from your laptop before ever stepping inside an office. This guide walks through both paths, using the actual process DGIP has published.
Two Ways to Apply
In-person applications are the most common route, especially for first-time applicants, lost or damaged passports, or anyone who’d rather just get it done in one visit to a Regional Passport Office (RPO).
Online applications through the DGIP e-Services Portal are mainly built for renewals, both for people living in Pakistan and overseas Pakistanis. If your old passport is still around and your details haven’t changed much, this route saves you a trip.
Either way, you’ll be choosing e-passport as your category instead of MRP, so the underlying steps are nearly identical.
Who Can Apply
Any Pakistani citizen with a valid CNIC or NICOP can apply, first-timers, renewals, replacements for lost or damaged passports, or anyone whose old booklet is full. Children can apply too, through a parent or legal guardian.
Documents You’ll Need
If you’re 18 or older:
- Proof of fee payment (bank receipt or e-payment confirmation with your PSID number)
- Original CNIC or NICOP, plus a photocopy
- Your old passport, if you’ve had one before
- NOC (No Objection Certificate), only if you work for the government
- Foreign passport copy, only if you hold dual nationality
- Police report, only if your old passport was lost
If you’re applying for a child:
- Child Registration Certificate (CRC) or Form B
- For kids 10 and older: an updated CRC with fingerprints, or a Juvenile Card
- Original CNICs of both parents
- A parent or legal guardian present with the child in person
- Court custody papers, if parents are separated or divorced
Applying In Person: Step by Step
- Get a token at the office. Walk in, take a token, and wait for your number to be called.
- Document check. An officer at the counter checks your CNIC, photos, and paperwork.
- Pay the fee. If you haven’t already paid online through the Passport Fee Asaan app, you’ll get a bank voucher here to pay on the spot.
- Photo and fingerprints. Your digital photo gets taken, and your fingerprints are captured for the chip.
- Data entry. Your details are entered and cross-checked against your NADRA record.
- A short interview. An MRP Officer reviews your file to confirm everything is correct.
- Collection date. You’re given a date for when your passport will be ready, or it gets dispatched to your chosen delivery option.
Paying your fee in advance through the Passport Fee Asaan app before you visit can skip a step and shorten your time at the counter.
Applying Online: Step by Step
This route is mostly for renewals, both inland and overseas, through the e-Services Portal at onlinemrp.dgip.gov.pk.
- Click “Get Started” on the portal homepage to begin registration.
- Verify your account. If you’re inside Pakistan, you’ll get a code by SMS and email. If you’re abroad, it comes by email only.
- Fill in your application. Your details need to match what’s on file with NADRA, especially for renewals.
- Add your delivery address, where your passport will be sent once it’s ready.
- Fill out the fingerprint form. Download it, print it, and use a black stamp pad to capture your four fingerprints, taking care not to smudge the ink.
- Scan the form correctly. Set your scanner to 600 DPI, grayscale, and JPEG/JPG or PNG format. Keep the file under roughly 3MB. This step trips up a lot of applicants, more on that below.
- Upload your photo and documents along with the fingerprint form.
- Pay the fee. Online payment only accepts Visa or Mastercard debit/credit cards.
- Review everything, sign the declaration, and submit.
- Wait for processing. You may still be asked to visit your chosen passport office for a short interview, if DGIP needs to verify something in person.
A Newer Option: Verifying Fingerprints Through the NADRA Pak-ID App
DGIP recently added a way to verify your fingerprints directly through the NADRA Pak-ID mobile app, instead of the older method of printing the form, inking your fingers, and scanning it. If your version of the online portal offers this option at the fingerprint step, it’s worth using, since it skips the scanning headache entirely.
Why Applications Get Rejected
A handful of small mistakes cause most rejections:
- Bad fingerprint scans. The form has to be scanned directly at 600 DPI, not resized afterward in software like Photoshop. DGIP can usually tell the difference, and it leads to rejection.
- Smudged or unclear fingerprints. Too much ink, or not enough pressure, blurs the print.
- Photo doesn’t meet spec. Wrong background, glasses, or an old photo.
- Details don’t match NADRA records. Even small spelling differences can cause a hold-up.
- Missing NOC. Government employees who skip this step often get sent back.
- Incomplete fingerprint form fields. If you’re missing a finger or can’t provide a print for any reason, note it clearly on the form instead of leaving it blank.
Converting Your Regular Passport (MRP) to an E-Passport
There’s no separate process for this. Whether you’re applying in person or online, you simply select e-passport instead of MRP as your passport category when filling out the form. Everything else, the documents, the steps, stays the same; only the fee and the final booklet are different.
How Long Until You Actually Get It
| Service | Processing Time |
|---|---|
| Normal | 21 working days |
| Urgent | 5 working days |
Fast Track (2-day) service isn’t available for e-passports, only for the regular MRP. For the full fee breakdown by page count and validity, see our complete e-passport fee guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an e-passport in Pakistan? Apply either in person at a Regional Passport Office or online through the e-Services Portal if you’re renewing. Choose e-passport as your category, submit your documents and fingerprints, pay the fee, and wait for processing.
Which documents are required for an e-passport? Your CNIC or NICOP, proof of fee payment, and your old passport if you’ve had one. Children need a CRC or Form B along with their parents’ CNICs. The full list is above.
How to convert a regular passport to an e-passport? Apply for renewal (or a new passport, if needed) and choose e-passport instead of MRP as your category. No separate form or process is required.
Can I apply for an e-passport from outside Pakistan? Yes, overseas Pakistanis can apply through the online portal for renewal, or through their nearest Pakistani embassy or mission.
What happens if my fingerprint form gets rejected? You’ll usually get an automated email asking you to resubmit. If it’s rejected three times in a row, the online system holds your application, and you’ll need to visit your nearest passport office or foreign mission instead to complete it in person.
This guide is part of our complete series on e-passports in Pakistan. For fee details, see our full e-passport fee breakdown, and for the bigger picture, check out our complete e-passport guide.
