The Embassy of Pakistan in Doha has issued a new advisory for Pakistani citizens applying for passports in Qatar, warning that individuals whose Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) contain only a single name will not be eligible to apply for an e-passport under the revised requirements.
According to the embassy, Pakistan discontinued its Machine Readable Passport (MRP) service on October 23, 2026. All new passport applications are now being processed through the e-passport system.
Under the updated requirements, applicants must have two separate name components registered on their CNICs: a Given Name and a Surname (family name). Pakistani citizens whose identity cards contain only one name must first update their personal information through the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) before submitting an e-passport application.
The requirement follows the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGI&P) guidelines, which make both first and last names mandatory for e-passport applications. The guidelines also set a maximum limit of 50 characters for the first name and 40 characters for the last name.
The embassy has advised Pakistani citizens in Qatar to check their CNIC details and complete any necessary corrections through NADRA before visiting the embassy for passport services.
For further information and assistance, applicants can contact the Embassy of Pakistan in Doha at 44832525.
