Apply for a Pakistani Passport at Any Passport Office, Whatever Your CNIC Address

Short answer: You can apply for a Pakistani passport at any passport office in the country, whatever address your CNIC shows. DGI&P cites Rule 6 of the Passport Rules 2021 for this. It covers CNIC, NICOP and CRC holders. Pick the office with the shortest queue or the longest hours.

For years people travelled back to their home district to apply, because the passport office was tied to the address on the CNIC. A worker in Karachi with a Multan address could lose a day of pay. That tie is gone on paper, and many people have not heard.

We read the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGI&P) page on ordinary passports on 14 October 2026. Its jurisdiction section quotes the rule in full, and we repeat it below.

The rule lets you choose any passport office

DGI&P quotes the revised provisions of Passport Rule 6, 2021: every citizen of Pakistan may apply for passport services from any passport office, irrespective of the address recorded on the CNIC, NICOP or CRC. So your home district no longer decides where you apply.

The rule covers passport services, not only new passports. DGI&P does not list any exception on its page. We did not test whether every service is offered at every office, so confirm the service you need when you arrive.

This matters for students, workers and families who live far from their permanent address. It also helps in a big city, where one office may be crowded and another near it is quiet.

Opening hours and night shifts help you choose

Most passport offices open Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm, with a break from 1 pm to 1:30 pm. DGI&P also lists 16 offices and centres with round-the-clock shifts, so a worker on a day job can apply in the evening or at night.

Our full list is in the guide to passport office timings and 24 hour offices. The shifts on the DGI&P page run 8 am to 4 pm, 4 pm to midnight, and midnight to 8 am.

Carry the same papers wherever you apply

The documents do not change with the office. An adult brings an original valid CNIC or NICOP with a photocopy, and the old passport with a photocopy if there is one. Government employees add an NOC, and dual nationals bring the foreign passport.

Your CNIC address does not have to match the city, but your CNIC must be valid. If it is close to expiry, our note on renewing an expired CNIC helps. Government employees should read how to get the employee NOC first.

1. Choose an office close to where you work or live, with hours that suit you.
2. Check its opening hours and any token timings before you go.
3. Bring your original CNIC or NICOP, the old passport, and photocopies.
4. Give your photograph and fingerprints at the counter.
5. Pay the fee by QR code, and note how the passport will be delivered.

The counter flow is shown in our guide to a passport application counter by counter.

Collect it where you applied or choose home delivery

The passport goes to the Regional Passport Office where you applied, unless you choose home delivery. Do not apply in a far city and expect to collect it near home without planning, because the office that took your application is the one that releases the passport.

Home delivery avoids that problem. See how to get your passport delivered home through TCS. We could not find on the DGI&P page whether you may switch the collection office after you apply, so ask at the counter.

Plan around queues and tokens

Pick your day with care. DGI&P tells applicants to follow the token issuance and public dealing timings, and says its offices are closed on public holidays. A big city office may be busy early in the week, so go on a quieter day if your schedule allows.

Bring someone only if you need help. DGI&P says only the applicant should enter the regional passport office, and companions may wait outside to avoid crowding. Phones and cameras are not allowed inside.

Common questions

Do I have to apply in the city on my CNIC?

No. DGI&P quotes Rule 6 of the Passport Rules 2021, which lets any citizen apply at any passport office irrespective of the CNIC address.

Does the rule cover children?

Yes. DGI&P names CRC holders alongside CNIC and NICOP holders.

Can I apply for urgent service at any office?

The rule covers passport services. Urgent and normal categories are on DGI&P's fee tables, but we did not check each office. Ask on arrival.

Which offices are open at night?

DGI&P lists offices in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi with night shifts, and others with morning and evening shifts.

Can someone else collect my passport?

Only you or a blood relative, on the given date, according to DGI&P's guidelines.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked on 14 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read DGI&P's ordinary passport page, last modified by DGI&P on 9 September 2026. We did not read the Passport Rules 2021 in full and did not test the rule at a counter. If an office turns you away, quote Rule 6 and ask for the officer in charge.