You Can Now Apply for a Passport From Anywhere, Regardless of the City on Your ID Card

The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports has announced a major policy change, allowing Pakistani citizens to apply for passports at any passport office nationwide, regardless of their registered address.

This amendment to Rule 6 of the Passport Rules 2021 aims to streamline the process for applicants, particularly those who may need services outside their home jurisdictions.

A proposal for this amendment was initially submitted to the Ministry of Interior, after being vetted by the Law Division. The updated rule, endorsed by the Federal Cabinet, mandates all passport-issuing authorities to facilitate applications from citizens nationwide, thus removing the restriction based on address.

According to the official directive, every citizen of Pakistan can now apply for passport services at any passport office, irrespective of the address on their Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC), National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP), or Child Registration Certificate (CRC). Zonal heads have been instructed to implement this revised rule to ensure accessibility for all citizens.

In light of this policy shift, no passport services should be denied solely on the basis of address or jurisdiction. This change is expected to ease the application process and provide greater convenience to the public, especially for those residing or working in areas outside their permanent residence.