Pak Passport Renewal Process

This blog lists down the steps required to renew a green (Pakistani) passport. Please note

1. The process applies to a holder of computerized passport
2. The passport is within 6 months of expiry
3. The passport office is Karachi (preferably Saddar Office)

Following are the steps

1. You must submit the passport renewal fee in the bank within the premise of passport office
2. Get the Bank Chalan from the entrance of the passport office. It is free of charge
3. Check the fee for the passport renewal. There are two (as on 5th August 2011) processing fee options. Urgent and Normal. Urgent is supposed to get the passport renewed in a week or 10 days. Normal takes 4 weeks as per the documented time
4. Once the fee is submitted (note that Bank Processing Fee is on top of the passport renewal fee), get into the line for photo snap
5. Make sure you have your original CNIC and passport (along with a couple of photocopies) with you.
6. Once you get the photograph taken, you will be provided with a token so that you can proceed to the next step
7. Next step is applicant details amendment/verification. If its a simple renewal with nothing changed, then same form will come up and you just need to acknowledge it. Otherwise make sure you check for the changes whether made correctly or not. You will be provided with a copy of the details in a form
8. Next step is Bio metric impression.
9. Each of these steps are prioritized according to the token number given to you. Follow that number to avoid confusion and chaos
10. Last is that your form is signed and verified by the commissioner present on-site. They may ask for Photographs, Matric/Intermediate certificates, CNIC Copy, Domicile, Parent's CNIC/Deadth Certificate (in case deceased) for verification and submission and may ask your name or chat you up for a couple of minutes
11. This completes your process.
12. Next step is to pick up your passport from Saddar Passport Office. There is a separate line for each division in Karachi (east, west, north, south) as present on your CNIC

For me, I applied for renewal in early June 2011 and was supposed to get it end of June but when I went there on the stipulated date, I was told that its running late and I will get it after 20 days. So effectively it took 50 days to get it renewed

Some tips and recommendations for passport renewal

1. If you are in a hurry like 3-4 or even 5 weeks for passport renewal, go for urgent renewal to be safe
2. The lines for both, Bank Chalan submission and Photograph/Token is pretty long. Its recommended to first get the Bank Chalan submitted and come very early (8:30am or so) and get in the line for token. This will considerably speed up the whole process and dodge the waiting bit
3. Keep photocopies of some of your original documents with you like CNIC, All previous passports, Matric Certificate, Intermediate Certificate, Parent's CNIC, Photographs. It is advisable to keep more than one copies of each

And of course ... Good Luck with the whole process :)