Government Passport Pakistan

A government passport Pakistan issues is better known as the official passport. It has a blue cover and is meant for office holders and officers travelling abroad on state work. Many readers use the same phrase for a different task: how a government employee applies for a normal passport, which needs an NOC. This guide covers both, with clear steps, the documents you need and the current fee table.

What Is a Government Passport in Pakistan?

The government passport is the official passport. It is issued under Schedule III of the Passport Rules 2021, as amended by SRO 1139(1)/2023. Holders include senators, members of the National Assembly, provincial ministers, judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, and government officers proceeding abroad on official assignments. A separate category makes the purpose of the trip clear to officials abroad.

Official, Ordinary and Diplomatic Passports

The blue official passport sits between the green ordinary passport and the red diplomatic one. Our diplomatic passport guide covers the red type in detail. The table shows how the three differ.

Two Different Needs

Readers usually want one of two things. Some need an official passport for a state assignment. Others are government employees who want an ordinary passport for personal travel and need to know about the NOC. Knowing which one you need saves you from reading the wrong rules.

Government Passport Pakistan Eligibility

Eligibility depends on your role and on a confirmed official assignment. The department’s recommendation states the purpose of the visit, how long it lasts and which countries you will visit, so a clear assignment makes the request easy to process. The category is built around that work, not around grade alone.

Who Should Use an Ordinary Passport Instead

A holiday, a family visit or a private business trip is not an official assignment. Government employees travelling for those reasons apply for an ordinary passport. The ordinary route is open to every citizen, and it carries one extra requirement for government staff, covered below.

Government Passport Pakistan Application: Step by Step

The process starts with your department, not at a counter. Each step has a named authority, which makes it easy to see where a file is stuck.

Step 1: Your Department Sends a Recommendation

A designated officer of your ministry, division or department forwards a recommendation letter. The letter states the purpose of the visit abroad, the duration and the countries to be visited.

Step 2: The DGI&P Gives Authorisation

The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports sends an authorisation to the RPO or foreign mission that matches your location. It also informs the department that recommended you. Authorisation goes straight to the office that will meet you.

Step 3: Visit the RPO or Mission

Go to the passport office or mission to have your data and photograph captured. Bring the authorisation letter, your original CNIC, and your last passport with copies.

Step 4: Collect Your Passport

The DGI&P’s published process says official passports are delivered after four working days. Timelines can change, so confirm the current period when you visit and avoid booking tickets too early.

Documents Listed in the Official Process

The DGI&P’s official passport procedure lists the following:

• Recommendation letter from the designated officer, stating purpose, duration and countries
• CNIC and official pass or card of the applicant and of the authorised officer
• Attested copy of the final selection letter for the course, training, posting, deputation or secondment
• Your last passport, if you hold one

Keep spare photocopies. Complete papers move faster at the counter.

NOC for Government Employees Applying for an Ordinary Passport

This is the question many readers actually have. The DGI&P requires an NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the concerned department for government, semi-government and autonomous-body employees. It is not required from every citizen, so private-sector applicants skip this step. The department can verify the NOC with the issuing office.

For the full list of other papers, read our passport requirements in Pakistan page. Missions abroad may ask for a recently issued NOC, so check with your mission before you apply.

How to Get the NOC

Ask your department’s establishment or administration section how it issues NOCs, since formats differ between offices. In most cases you write a short request, and the department issues a signed letter stating it has no objection to your passport application. Asking early gives you time for corrections.

Government Passport Pakistan Fee and Cost

I could not find a published fee schedule for official passports, so ask your department or the DGI&P before you budget for one. Government employees who apply for an ordinary passport pay the standard rates. The table lists the current e-passport fees, and our passport fee guide keeps the wider list in one place. No 2027 revision had been announced at the time of writing.

Cash is no longer taken at passport offices, and fees are paid online. This means you can pay from your phone and keep the confirmation as proof.