The Embassy of Pakistan in Muscat has announced a major update for Pakistani passport applicants, changed the schedule for passport collection services through a public notice shared on social media.
According to the announcement, the new timings will come into effect from May 1, 2026, to improve service delivery and better manage the growing number of applicants from the Pakistani community residing in Oman.
Under the updated schedule, the passport delivery counter will operate on split timings during weekdays. From Sunday to Thursday, applicants can collect their passports between 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, and again from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. On Fridays, services will be available from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
Officials have advised applicants to strictly follow the designated time slots to avoid inconvenience and ensure a smooth collection process. The revised schedule applies only to passport collection services.
The embassy has also reminded citizens that they must bring their original token and old passport when arriving to collect their new travel document.
In addition, updated fee details have been shared. A standard 36-page passport with five-year validity is priced at 12 Omani Riyals for normal processing and 19 Omani Riyals for urgent requests. For a 10-year validity passport, fees start at 17 Omani Riyals.
The embassy also said strict penalties for lost passports. A first-time loss will result in double the standard fee, while a second-time loss will lead to charges up to four times higher. For example, replacing a 100-page passport on an urgent basis after a second loss can cost as much as 208 Omani Riyals.
Why are passport applications declining?
It is important to mention here that the number of people applying for passports at the passport offices has decreased by 50 per cent.
According to the reports by a private media channel, across Sindh including Karachi the number of people applying for passports has dropped by 50 per cent.
This decline is not just in the number of new passports but the decline has also been seen in passport renewals. Due to this the revenue has been strictly affected.
According to the sources the reason why passport applications are being reduced is linked to the reduced issuance of work visas as well as tourist visas.
In Karachi only, the number of visa applicants have dropped from 2000 applications a day to 800-900 applications a day.
The decrease has also been seen in other cities of the Sindh province. The decrease is from 3000 applicants daily to 1200 to 1500 applicants in a day.
It is important to mention that the purpose of issuance of a Pakistani passport is so that the citizens of Pakistan can travel internationally. The document is able to verify Pakistani nationality and an individual’s identity.
The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, a branch of the Ministry of Interior, is responsible for issuing passports. Generally, ordinary and official passports are issued.
The validity of a passport is 5 or 10 years, and for children under 15 years of age, a 5-year passport is issued.
Machine-readable passports are more secure and modern. Passport applications can be submitted online or at a consulate. Without a passport, international travel is impossible.
Also read: Pakistani passport holders to get big relief, details here
