Pakistan’s passport services at embassies and consulates around the world have been suspended since April 29, 2026. The reason is a major technical fault at the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGI&P) headquarters in Islamabad.
The disruption has affected Pakistani missions in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, the UK, the US, and many other countries. Thousands of overseas Pakistanis now face delays in getting new passports, renewals, or other important documents needed for travel, jobs, visas, and family matters.
Embassies have issued official notices on social media asking people not to visit consular offices until services resume. Officials say the problem is in the central system used for processing applications and biometric data. There is still no clear timeline for when services will return to normal.
Many expats have expressed frustration as the suspension comes at a difficult time. Some are stuck with expired passports or urgent travel plans. Authorities have advised using online portals where possible, but most services require in-person visits.
Technical teams are working to fix the glitch at headquarters. Pakistani missions continue to update citizens through their official Facebook pages and websites. The government is expected to restore services as soon as the issue is resolved.
