The ordinary passport in Pakistan is the standard travel booklet issued to citizens, and most people who hold a Pakistani passport hold this one. It is the passport you use for tourism, study, work trips and family visits abroad. This page explains what it is, how long it lasts, what it costs, how it differs from official and diplomatic passports, and what changes as e-passports take over. Reading it before you apply saves you from choosing the wrong booklet. For the wider picture, open our main Pakistan passport guide.
What Is an Ordinary Passport in Pakistan?
An ordinary passport is issued to all citizens of Pakistan for travel abroad, once every formality is complete. It is often called the green passport, because ordinary passports carry that colour. One booklet covers all your personal and business travel, so you do not need a separate document for each trip.
Every traveller needs a personal passport, children included. Names of children cannot be added to a parent's machine-readable passport, so each family member travels on their own booklet.
Types of passport you may hear about
DGI&P groups passports into two major types, and each type is split into four subtypes. The table shows both, which helps you place your own passport quickly.
| Major type | What it is |
|---|---|
| Machine-readable passport (MRP) | The older booklet with a machine-readable data page |
| E-passport | The newer booklet with an electronic chip |
| Subtype | Who it is for |
|---|---|
| Ordinary | All citizens of Pakistan |
| Official | Officers and officials travelling on government work |
| Diplomatic | Dignitaries of the State and diplomats |
| Emergency Travel Document | Pakistanis abroad who need a single trip back to Pakistan |
Ordinary Passport Validity and Page Options
An ordinary passport is issued for five or ten years. Children under 15 receive a five-year passport only, so there is no validity choice to make for a child. You also pick a page count. The e-passport fee list shows 36 and 72 pages, and a 72-page booklet gives frequent flyers more room for stamps and visas before a new application is needed.
You do not have to wait for expiry to renew. DGI&P rules allow a full-validity passport even if your current one has time left, and you may be asked for a short statement on why you want it early. That means you can renew when it suits you rather than in a rush before a trip.
Ordinary Passport Fee in Pakistan
The fee depends on validity, page count and delivery speed. The table shows the current e-passport rates for the ordinary passport, so you know the exact amount before you apply.
| Validity | Pages | Normal fee (PKR) | Urgent fee (PKR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 years | 36 | 9,000 | 15,000 |
| 10 years | 36 | 13,500 | 22,500 |
| 5 years | 72 | 16,500 | 27,000 |
| 10 years | 72 | 24,750 | 40,500 |
Fast-track delivery is not offered for e-passports. Passport offices no longer take cash, and the fee is paid by scanning the token's QR code with a payment app or through online banking. A lost passport costs more to replace: double the normal fee for a first loss and four times for a second.
Ordinary Passport as an E-Passport: What Changes
Reports say new machine-readable passport applications close after 14 October, and from 15 October offices process only e-passports. An e-passport looks like the booklet you know, but it holds your details on a chip that follows international ICAO standards. You can read the full details on the page about the e-passport in Pakistan. The chip gives you a more secure document and may let you use e-gates where airports offer them.
If you already hold an ordinary machine-readable passport, nothing forces an early swap. It stays valid until its expiry date, so you can keep travelling on it as normal. When it expires, or when you choose to renew sooner, the new booklet will be an e-passport.
Ordinary, Official and Diplomatic Passports: Key Differences
People often mix up the three, so the table sets out who each one is for. This helps you apply for the right category the first time.
| Passport | Issued under | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary | Passport Rules 2021 | Any citizen travelling abroad |
| Official | Schedule III of the Passport Rules 2021 | Government officers on official duty |
| Diplomatic | Schedule IV of the Passport Rules 2021 | Dignitaries of the State and diplomats |
DGI&P's pages do not list the steps or fees for official and diplomatic passports. If you think you qualify, call the helpline on 051-111-344-777 before you visit an office, which saves you a wasted trip.
Renewal, Lost, Damaged and Exhausted Passports
The ordinary passport is not only for first-time holders. A damaged passport is replaced when you submit the fee and the required documents. If your pages are used up, you can apply for a fresh passport and pick a higher page count, which ends the wait for blank pages. A lost passport needs a police report that quotes the old passport number.
To change a name, father's name or date of birth, update your CNIC or NICOP first, then apply at a passport office. The e-passport form also needs a first name and a last name, so check the spelling at data entry to save a correction later.
How to Get an Ordinary Passport
You can apply at any passport office, whatever address is on your CNIC. Adults bring an original CNIC, NICOP or Smart Card with a photocopy, and the previous passport if they hold one. Government employees add an NOC, dual nationals bring the foreign passport, and a lost passport needs a police report. For minors, bring the CRC or Juvenile Card plus the parents' originals. A complete folder keeps the visit to one trip.
The photograph and fingerprints are taken at the counter, then you attend an interview and pay. Our guide to the step-by-step passport application walks through each stage in order. Offices take applications from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday, with a break from 1:00 to 1:30 pm, and selected offices in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi run round the clock, so you can pick a time that fits your work day. DGI&P lists 21 working days for normal delivery and 5 for urgent delivery on machine-readable passports, so ask the office for the e-passport timeline, which lets you match your travel date to your pickup date.
Ordinary Passport in 2027: What to Expect
No change to ordinary passport fees for 2027 has been announced in the sources checked, so the rates above are the current ones. Fees can change, so check with DGI&P before you pay. Some points are already settled and will matter next year:
Existing machine-readable passports stay valid until expiry, and anyone renewing in 2027 should expect an e-passport. Cash stays out of passport offices, so keep a payment app ready. A home application through a mobile app linked to NADRA's Pak ID has been announced, with online interviews, payment through banking apps and wallets, and doorstep delivery, but no launch date has been given. Registration with ICAO is also under way, and once it finishes, Pakistani e-passports should work with e-gates worldwide. Knowing these points now keeps you ahead of the queue.
Get Your Ordinary Passport, Then Book Your Trip
Apply for your ordinary passport early, so an expiry date never holds back a trip you want to take. When the booklet is in your hands, start your trip on Trips.pk and find flights, hotels, tours and visa services in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an ordinary passport?
It is the standard passport issued to all citizens of Pakistan for travel abroad. It is one of four subtypes, along with official, diplomatic and emergency travel documents. One booklet covers your regular travel.
What colour is the ordinary passport in Pakistan?
Ordinary passports are green, and DGI&P refers to them as ordinary green passports. Knowing the colour helps you tell it apart from official and diplomatic booklets.
How long is an ordinary passport valid?
It is issued for five or ten years. Children under 15 receive five years only. A ten-year booklet saves you a repeat application if you are an adult who wants fewer renewals.
How much is an ordinary passport fee in Pakistan?
For a 36-page e-passport, the fee is Rs 9,000 normal and Rs 15,000 urgent for five years, or Rs 13,500 normal and Rs 22,500 urgent for ten years. A 72-page e-passport costs Rs 16,500 normal and Rs 27,000 urgent for five years, and Rs 24,750 normal and Rs 40,500 urgent for ten years. Knowing the exact amount means you pay once.
Do I need to replace my machine-readable ordinary passport now?
No. A machine-readable passport stays valid until its expiry date. You can keep using it and renew when it expires, at which point you will receive an e-passport.