How to Renew a Pakistani Passport Before It Expires: No Waiting Rule, E-Passport Fees
Renew a Pakistani passport before expiry: DGIP has no waiting rule, online renewal needs under a year left, and the 36 page e-passport costs Rs 9,000 to 22,500.
Short answer: You can renew a Pakistani passport before it expires. The DGI&P page says the Passport and Visa Manual 2006 has no restriction on early renewal. You get a fresh 5 or 10 year passport, you may be asked for a written reason, and your old passport is returned to you.
Many travellers wait until the last month, then find that a visa, a flight or a job needs a passport with six months of validity. Early renewal solves that, and the rule allows it.
We read the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGI&P) passport page and its FAQ on 13 October 2026. This guide repeats what they say and marks what they leave out.
Early renewal is allowed with no waiting period
DGI&P says there is no restriction on renewing a passport before its expiry date. A passport with the full validity of 5 or 10 years can be issued even if the existing passport has not finished its validity.
The page adds that the office may take a statement from you giving the reason for a new passport before expiry. Keep this short and honest. A common reason is a visa that needs more months of validity.
What you take to the passport office
You visit the relevant passport office with the required documents. DGI&P says the existing passport is returned to you after necessary action. The page links its document list, so check it before you go.
- Take your original CNIC or NICOP, and make sure its details match your passport.
- Take your existing passport.
- Prepare a short written reason for early renewal.
- Pay the fee for the type and validity you want.
- Collect a token and finish the biometric steps at the counter.
The page does not say how the returned old passport is marked. Ask the counter what stamp or cancellation it will carry, because this affects any visa pasted inside.
Online renewal has a one year test
DGI&P offers online renewal for people in Pakistan and overseas. The FAQ says you apply in the renewal category if your particulars match your previous passport and NADRA record, you still hold the old passport, and its validity is up to one year or it has expired.
That means a passport with two years left may not fit the online route. In that case, visit an office instead. Overseas applicants can use the online portal or the nearest embassy, according to the same FAQ.
| Your situation | Where the page points you |
|---|---|
| Passport expires within one year, details unchanged | Online renewal is possible |
| Passport already expired, details unchanged | Online renewal is possible |
| More than one year left | Visit the passport office with a written reason |
| Name or date of birth changed | Fix your CNIC first, then apply |
| Overseas Pakistani | Online portal or the nearest embassy |
The fee list on the DGI&P page is for the e-passport
The page lists the ordinary e-passport fee for 36 pages at Rs 9,000 for 5 years and Rs 13,500 for 10 years on the normal service. The urgent fee is Rs 15,000 and Rs 22,500. DGI&P says fast track is not available for the e-passport.
| E-passport, 36 pages | 5 years | 10 years |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | Rs 9,000 | Rs 13,500 |
| Urgent | Rs 15,000 | Rs 22,500 |
A 72 page e-passport costs Rs 16,500 and Rs 24,750 on the normal service, and Rs 27,000 and Rs 40,500 on urgent. Children under 15 get a 5 year passport only. The page does not say that fee is reduced for the time left on your old passport, so assume you pay in full.
The FAQ says a passport fee, once paid, is not refundable and cannot be moved to another person. You may use it again yourself later, after the bank record is checked. See also the official passport fees.
Machine readable passports are being replaced
DGI&P has been reported to stop issuing machine readable passports to new applicants from 15 October 2026, so a renewal after that date is expected to be an e-passport. We have not found that date on the passport page itself, so treat it as reported.
Our report on the end of the machine readable passport explains the change. An e-passport has name length limits, so read the e-passport name rules before you apply. The page requires both a first name and a last name.
Plan the timing around your trip
DGI&P lists delivery as 5 working days for urgent and 21 working days for normal, with courier time extra for remote areas. If you need the passport quickly, apply early and pick urgent.
Renew at a NADRA centre if one near you offers it. Read passport renewal at NADRA centres and the passport office timings before you go.
Common questions
Can I renew my passport 2 years before it expires?
Yes. DGI&P says there is no restriction on early renewal. Expect to give a written reason.
Do I lose the remaining validity of my old passport?
The page says the old passport is returned after necessary action, and it does not mention a fee credit for time left.
Can I renew my Pakistani passport online?
Yes, if the old passport has up to one year left or has expired, and your details match your NADRA record.
What is the e-passport fee for 10 years?
The page lists Rs 13,500 normal and Rs 22,500 urgent for 36 pages.
Can a child get a 10 year passport?
No. DGI&P says children under 15 get a passport with 5 years validity only.
Can I get my passport fee back if I change my mind?
No. The FAQ says the fee is not refundable and cannot be transferred, but you can use it yourself later.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 13 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read the DGI&P ordinary passport page and its FAQ page. We did not apply for a passport. The 15 October machine readable passport date is reported and was not found on the DGI&P page.
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.
