5 or 10 Years: Which Pakistani e-Passport Validity Costs Less in Pakistan

Short answer: On DGI&P's e-Passport fee table, a 36-page passport costs Rs 9,000 for five years and Rs 13,500 for ten years at the normal rate. That works out at Rs 1,800 a year against Rs 1,350 a year. Children under 15 can only get five years.

At the passport counter, one question comes up before you pay: five years or ten? Many people pick five because the number is smaller. Over a decade, that choice can cost you more.

We read the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGI&P) pages on ordinary passports on 14 October 2026. The yearly figures below are our own division of DGI&P's listed fees, not numbers DGI&P publishes.

Ten years costs less per year, but more up front

DGI&P's e-Passport table lists the fee for each validity. At the normal rate, 36 pages cost Rs 9,000 for five years and Rs 13,500 for ten. Divide by the years and the ten-year passport is Rs 450 a year cheaper, as long as you keep it the full term.

The urgent rate follows the same pattern. A 36-page urgent passport is Rs 15,000 for five years and Rs 22,500 for ten, so Rs 3,000 against Rs 2,250 a year.

Children under 15 cannot choose ten years

DGI&P says children under 15 are issued a passport with five years' validity only. If you are applying for a child, the choice is already made, and the fee is the five-year figure. The child also needs a current NADRA document.

Our guide to a child's passport when parents are divorced or separated lists the extra papers, and the general case is in how to get a passport for a child.

An adult can choose either. If you plan to move abroad for good and will hold a second passport soon, a five-year book may be enough. If you travel often, ten years saves a visit to the counter.

Page count changes the price more than validity does

A 72-page passport costs Rs 16,500 for five years, which is Rs 7,500 more than the 36-page book. DGI&P says frequent travellers whose pages run out can apply for a fresh passport, and the 72-page option costs extra.

Count your stamps. A person who travels twice a year may fill 36 pages in a few years once visas are added. A person who flies once every few years will not. Our note on replacing a damaged or full passport shows what a full book costs you.

The earlier table on DGI&P's page also listed a 100-page option for the machine-readable passport. The e-Passport table we read lists 36 and 72 pages only.

Follow these steps to pick the right option

Decide how often you travel, check how many pages you need, then pick the validity. Both validities are issued at the same counter, so you can decide on the day.

1. Count how many trips you expect in the next ten years.
2. Choose 36 pages unless you travel often, and 72 pages if you do.
3. Pick ten years if you are an adult who wants the lower yearly cost.
4. Choose normal or urgent. Fast Track is not offered for the e-Passport, according to DGI&P.
5. Pay the fee by QR code at the office, with the NADRA service charge where it applies.

If your current passport is still valid, you can apply early. DGI&P says there is no restriction on renewing before expiry, and our guide to renewing a passport before it expires explains how. After 15 October, reports say new applications are e-Passports only, as covered in the end of machine-readable passports.

Match the choice to your plans

Choose five years if you expect to move abroad soon, if your name or appearance may change, or if you want a smaller bill today. Choose ten years if you expect to stay in Pakistan and travel on the same passport. The saving only counts if you keep the passport the full term.

Think about the photo too. A photo that is ten years old may not look like you at the end. If you worry about that, remember that a change of photo means a new passport and a fresh fee, as set out in our guide to changing the photo on a Pakistani passport.

Lastly, check the rule of the country you plan to visit. Many countries ask that a passport still has some months of validity left when you arrive. DGI&P does not set that rule, so read the embassy page for your destination before you decide.

Common questions

Is a ten-year passport always cheaper?

Per year, yes, on the fees we read. Up front it costs Rs 4,500 more for 36 pages at the normal rate. If you lose or fill it early, you lose that saving.

Can a child get a ten-year passport?

No. DGI&P says children under 15 get five years only.

Does the NADRA fee add to the price?

DGI&P says executive passport offices and processing counters charge an extra NADRA service fee, paid separately. Ask the office for the amount.

Which is better for a student going abroad?

A ten-year passport avoids a renewal while you study, if you are an adult. Check the destination's own rules on remaining validity before you travel.

Where is the fee listed?

On DGI&P's ordinary passport page, in the e-Passport fee section. Confirm it at the office, because fees can change.

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. The yearly costs are our own arithmetic. We did not confirm whether any NADRA service charge applies at your office, or whether the fee table changes after 15 October.