How to Enter Pakistan With a Lost or Expired Passport: FIA Entry Rules
Lost or expired Pakistani passport? FIA says citizens can enter Pakistan with proof of identity. See which documents it accepts and what to do if refused.
A Pakistani citizen can enter Pakistan with a valid or an expired Pakistani passport. If the passport was lost abroad, show an emergency passport or travel document from a Pakistani mission, plus a copy of the lost passport or your CNIC. FIA says the immigration officer must then allow you in.
Picture a man at a foreign airport with a passport that ran out two years ago, or no passport at all because it was stolen on the train. He wants to know one thing: will Pakistan let him in? FIA's Travel Guide answers this in a short section. We opened the FIA Travel Guide page and its PDF at fia.gov.pk on 15 October 2026 and read the section called "Upon Arrival in Pakistan". This page turns it into steps.
Pakistan lets its own citizens in if they can prove who they are
FIA's guide says a Pakistani national must offer evidence of citizenship on arrival. After that, the immigration officer on duty is obliged by law to allow entry. So the test is proof of identity, not a valid passport. The guide lists what counts as proof.
| Your situation | What FIA's guide accepts |
|---|---|
| Passport is valid or expired | The Pakistani passport itself |
| Passport lost in a foreign country | Emergency passport or travel document from the Pakistani mission there, plus a copy of the lost passport |
| Passport lost, no copy | Your original CNIC or a copy, or another document that lets staff verify your details |
| Dual national | Pakistani passport, or foreign passport with a Pakistan visa, or NICOP |
The word "expired" matters. Many families throw away old passports. FIA's own text says an expired Pakistani passport is still accepted as evidence on arrival.
A passport lost abroad needs an emergency document from the mission
If your passport was lost in another country, go to the nearest Pakistani embassy or consulate first. The mission issues an emergency passport or travel document and authenticates it. FIA asks you to show that document together with a copy of the lost passport, or your CNIC.
This is why the old advice to keep two photocopies of your passport still works. One copy stays at home and one travels with you. If you did not, the CNIC route is the fallback. The step by step process for pilgrims is in the guide to getting a Pakistani emergency travel document in Jeddah, and the same logic holds in other countries.
- Report the loss to local police if the country requires it, and get the report number.
- Contact the nearest Pakistani mission and apply for an emergency passport or travel document.
- Keep a photo of the lost passport page, or a scan, on your phone.
- Carry your original CNIC or a copy.
- Show the mission document and the copy to the immigration officer in Pakistan.
Dual nationals have three ways in
A Pakistani who also holds another nationality may enter with the Pakistani passport, or with the foreign passport plus a visa to enter Pakistan, or with a NICOP, the identity card for overseas Pakistanis. FIA lists all three. You do not need all of them.
If your second nationality is on the official list, you are allowed to hold both. The list of countries Pakistan allows for dual nationality is a separate matter from entry, and it is worth checking once. For the card itself, read NICOP and POC for overseas Pakistanis.
A person of Pakistani origin who enters on a foreign passport without a visa gets something different. FIA says such a passenger receives only a 72 hours emergency landing permit after identity checks. For more time, that person must go to the nearest passport office for a visa.
A document refusal is a reason to call the supervisor
FIA says that if a returning passenger offers one of these documents and the officer still refuses entry, or creates difficulty without a good reason, the matter should go to the supervisory staff at the point of entry. FIA promises strict action against the official.
Stay calm and ask for the shift in charge. Each international airport's Immigration Wing is headed by a Deputy Director FIA, according to the guide's complaints section. Keep your boarding pass, the mission document and any copy in your hand. If you need to write a complaint later, the FIA headquarters email on its site is complaints@fia.gov.pk, and its phone lines are 051-111-345-786 and 1991.
| Step | Who |
|---|---|
| First | Officer on the immigration counter |
| Second | Supervisory staff or shift in charge at that airport |
| Third | Officer in charge of the airport, headed by a Deputy Director FIA |
| Later | FIA headquarters complaint email or phone line |
Some travellers need no passport at all
FIA's guide lists a few passport exemptions on arrival. They include a UN laissez-passer on duty, a seaman's book on duty, and a travel document for stateless persons. For Pakistanis, the exemption covers a holder of an emergency passport who also has a letter of approval from the Interior Ministry.
The guide credits the IATA Travel Information Manual, 2019 edition, for this list. It is a narrow list. An ordinary traveller should not count on it. If you are Pakistani and your passport is gone, the mission route above is the safe one.
Before any trip, it also helps to know the rules for leaving. The FIA document checklist to avoid being offloaded covers the departure side.
Common questions about entering Pakistan without a valid passport
Can I enter Pakistan with an expired Pakistani passport?
Yes. FIA's Travel Guide says a Pakistani passport, whether valid or expired, is accepted as evidence of citizenship on arrival.
What if my passport was stolen abroad?
Get an emergency passport or travel document from the Pakistani mission. Show it with a copy of the lost passport or your CNIC.
Can I use only my CNIC?
FIA lists the original CNIC or a copy as one of the documents to show with the mission document. The guide does not say a CNIC alone is enough if no mission document exists.
Does a dual national need a Pakistan visa?
Not if they enter on the Pakistani passport or a NICOP. A visa is needed only when entering on the foreign passport.
What if the officer still refuses me?
Ask for the supervisory staff at the airport. FIA says unjustified refusal should be reported to them for action.
Is the FIA guide dated?
No. The PDF carries no issue date, so confirm with the airport immigration office if your case is unusual.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 15 October 2026. Every rule above comes from the FIA Travel Guide page and its "New Travel Guide" PDF at fia.gov.pk/travel, which we opened and read on that date. The PDF has no issue date. The complaint email and phone lines are from the FIA home page. We did not test the process at an airport, so treat timing and local practice as unconfirmed.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
