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UAE, Pakistan Agree on Pre-Immigration Clearance for Pakistani Travelers
Pakistan and the UAE have agreed to sign a pre-immigration clearance agreement, allowing Pakistani travelers to complete immigration formalities before departure and bypass long queues on arrival.
ND
by News Desk
2026-01-13
UAE, Pakistan Agree on Pre-Immigration Clearance for Pakistani Travelers

Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday agreed to sign a formal agreement on pre-immigration clearance for Pakistani nationals travelling to the Gulf country, the Ministry of Interior said in a statement.

Once implemented, the agreement will allow Pakistani passengers to complete immigration formalities before departure from Pakistan, enabling them to bypass lengthy immigration procedures upon arrival in the UAE.

The decision was taken during a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and a UAE delegation led by Director General of Customs and Port Security Ahmed Bin Lahij Al Falasi, according to the press release.

“The immigration process for the passengers will be completed in Pakistan before travel,” Naqvi was quoted as saying. He added that under the new system, Pakistani nationals would be able to exit UAE airports directly like domestic passengers.

The interior minister said the initiative would be launched as a pilot project, with the first phase starting in Karachi, though no timeline for its commencement was announced. He expressed optimism that the system would significantly facilitate travel and improve the overall passenger experience.

The UAE delegation assured full cooperation in implementing the initiative, describing it as mutually beneficial for both countries. “Relevant authorities will coordinate with each other to finalise the administrative and technical aspects of the pilot project,” the statement said. Following the Karachi pilot, the system is expected to be expanded to other cities across Pakistan.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry and Federal Secretary for Interior Khurram Agha were also present at the meeting.

Background: UAE Visa Restrictions

The development comes amid reports of increased difficulties faced by Pakistanis in obtaining UAE visas over the past year. In November 2025, Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry informed a Senate committee that the UAE had stopped issuing visas to Pakistanis, while Saudi Arabia and the UAE had “stopped short of imposing a ban on the Pakistani passport”.

Earlier visa rejections prompted Interior Minister Naqvi to raise the issue with UAE authorities in July last year. Subsequently, UAE Lt Gen Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan assured Pakistan of full support in expediting visas.

In April, UAE Ambassador to Pakistan Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi announced that visa issues had been resolved and that Pakistani nationals could now apply for a five-year UAE visa. The announcement followed concerns raised in the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis regarding unofficial visa closures.

Officials later clarified that while visit visas had faced scrutiny, no restrictions were placed on work visas for Pakistani nationals.
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