How to Renew Your Passport in Pakistan (Without Losing Your Mind)

If your passport’s about to expire, or it already has, welcome to the club. Been there. It’s stressful for a bit, but honestly, renewing it in Pakistan isn’t as horrible as you might think. Annoying? Yes. Complicated? Not really. Just be ready for waiting, tea breaks, and a lot of staring at the token screen.

Here’s how the whole thing works.

Documents First (Don’t Skip This)

Please don’t walk in empty-handed. I’ve seen people do that and literally waste a whole day. You’ll need:

• CNIC or NICOP (original + photocopy)
• Old passport (again original + copy)
• Paid bank challan (the fee slip)
• If you work for the government, they might also ask for an NOC

At the Passport Office

So you grab a token. Then you sit. And you wait. And wait some more. Eventually, they’ll call your number. Here’s what happens next:

• They take your photo (don’t stress about it, it’s always bad).
• Fingerprints, signature, the usual drill.
• You confirm all your info — double-check this part because fixing mistakes later is pure pain.
• They hand you a slip with the date you can pick up your new passport.

Time it takes:

• Normal: about 10 working days
• Urgent: 4–5 days
• Fast track: 2 days (only in bigger cities)

Online Renewal (The Lazy/Smart Way)

If you’re abroad or just don’t want to queue, the online portal is a lifesaver.

1. Go to passport.gov.pk
2. Make an account, log in
3. Fill in your info, upload photo + scans
4. Pay with your card
5. Hit submit and then refresh the portal like crazy until it updates

Honestly, if you’re outside Pakistan, this option makes way more sense. Inside Pakistan, people still prefer going to the office, but it works both ways.

How to Track Your Passport

Two easy ways:

• SMS: send your tracking number (it’s on your slip) to 9988
• Website: go to dgip.gov.pk and check with your tracking ID

Fees in 2025 (Brace Yourself)

This part hurts a little. Prices depend on how many pages you need and whether you go normal, urgent, or fast track.

Type	5 Years	10 Years
36 Pages (Normal)	Rs. 3,000	Rs. 4,500
36 Pages (Urgent)	Rs. 5,000	Rs. 7,500
72 Pages (Normal)	Rs. 5,500	Rs. 8,250
72 Pages (Urgent)	Rs. 9,000	Rs. 13,500
100 Pages (Normal)	Rs. 6,000	Rs. 9,000
100 Pages (Urgent)	Rs. 12,000	Rs. 18,000
Fast Track (36 pages)	Rs. 10,000	Rs. 13,500

(Check DGIP’s site before paying, because these rates love to change.)

Bottom Line

It’s not rocket science. If you don’t mind sitting in a waiting hall with fifty other tired faces, just do it the old-school way. If you’d rather avoid the hassle, apply online. Either way, keep an eye on the SMS or website, and in a few days, you’ll have your new passport in hand.

Pro tip: take a snack. And water. And patience. Lots of patience.

While you’re keeping your documents safe, check out our guide on Car Token Scams in Pakistan: How to Spot and Avoid Fraud to stay alert against scams.