Pakistan/Canada/United States: Procedure for the issuance of Pakistani passports to Pakistani nationals by the High Commission of Pakistan in Ottawa; the documents required for obtaining a passport; the manner by which the applicant's identity and documents are verified; whether the same procedure for the issuance of a Pakistani passport is employed by the Pakistani embassy in Washington, DC, and the Pakistani consulates in New York and Montreal

The procedure for issuing a Pakistani passport to Pakistani nationals is the same in all Pakistani embassies, consulates and High Commissions around the world (Pakistan 14 May 2003; ibid. 15 May 2003a; ibid. 15 May 2003b).

To obtain a passport from a Pakistani mission, an application (please see attachment) must be completed and submitted with the following documents: four passport-size photographs; the original National Identity Card (NIC) with a photocopy; the expired passport (if applicable); and, in the case of a married female, the presentation of an identification card mentioning the husband's name (Pakistan 30 July 2002). In the United States (US), proof of residency in the US is required (a notarized copy of a green card or driver's license) in addition to these documents (ibid. n.d.a), but only to determine whether the individual is within the "consular jurisdiction" of the embassy or consulate (Pakistan 15 May 2003a). However, this, according to the Consular/Administration Attaché at the Pakistan embassy in Washington, is not mandatory because some applicants do not have residency status, but are only visiting (ibid.). An "ordinary passport" is issued in seven days, "depending on the workload at the Consular Office, with [a] normal fee," and an "urgent passport" can be issued "in 24 hours after depositing [an] urgent fee" (Pakistan 30 July 2002).

To replace a lost or stolen Pakistani passport, the applicant must complete passport application forms, provide a statement indicating the circumstances under which the passport was lost, provide four passport-size photographs, produce a police report stating that the passport was lost, sign an affidavit swearing that the passport was lost and produce the original NIC (Pakistan 13 May 2003). In the case of the Pakistan embassy in Washington, six passport-size photographs are required, not four (ibid. n.d.b). The mission will then contact the "last issuing authority" in Pakistan, or Pakistani mission anywhere in the world, to confirm that the passport was issued from that office to the individual who claims that it has been lost (ibid. 13 May 2003). To obtain such confirmation, personal information about the applicant (e.g. address in Pakistan, mother and father's names, etc.) and other particulars such as the applicant's original passport identification number, a copy of the applicant's NIC and photographs of the applicant are forwarded to the issuing authority for verification (Pakistan 15 May 2003b; ibid. 15 May 2003a). The Consular/Administration Attaché at the Pakistan embassy in Washington also added that one of the forms that an applicant must complete is entitled "Report of Loss of Passport," which requires the aforementioned information (ibid.). The completed form is then forwarded to the last issuing authority for verification, which is required to indicate whether it has any objection to the issuance of a passport by the Pakistan mission requesting the verification (ibid.). Once this confirmation and verification is obtained, the embassy proceeds to issue a new passport (ibid.; Pakistan 15 May 2003b).

In cases where the applicant does not have either a or both NIC and a passport, he or she is required to produce other documents issued in Pakistan such as educational documents, birth certificate, etc. (ibid.). In addition, the applicant should contact records offices in Pakistan and request information concerning his or her NIC and passport identification number, if either has been previously issued (ibid.). Information that is gathered is then referred to the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and if necessary, the relevant police department for verification (ibid.). Upon referral, the police physically verify the particulars provided on the application, such as the applicant's address in Pakistan, and conducts a criminal record check on the individual (ibid.). This information is then forwarded to the relevant Pakistani mission (ibid.).

According to the High Commission of Pakistan in Ottawa, sometimes there are exceptional or unusual circumstances surrounding an application for a passport (Pakistan 15 May 2003b). Such cases are referred to the Pakistani government for clarification on the action to be taken (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the additional source consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Pakistan. n.d.a. Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Washington, DC. "Consular Services: Renewal of Expired Passport." [Accessed 14 May 2003]

_____. n.d.b. Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Washington, DC. "Consular Services: Issuance of Passport in Lieu of Lost Passport." [Accessed 14 May 2003]

_____. 15 May 2003a. Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Washington, DC. Telephone interview with the Consular/Administration Attaché.

_____. 15 May 2003b. High Commission of Pakistan, Ottawa. Telephone interview with a Consular Assistant.

_____. 14 May 2003. Consulate General of Pakistan, New York, NY. Telephone interview with a Consular Assistant.

_____. 13 May 2003. High Commission of Pakistan, Ottawa. Telephone interview with a Consular Assistant.

_____. 30 July 2002. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "Procedure for Issuance of Pakistani Passport." [Accessed 14 May 2003]

Attachment

Pakistan. n.d. High Commission of Pakistan, Ottawa. "Passport Application Form with Instructions." [Accessed 15 May 2003]

Additional Source Consulted

Unsuccessful attempts to contact the Consulate General of Pakistan in Montreal.