Pakistan-UAE Deal on Pre-Immigration Clearance Set to Ease Travel Process

Pakistan and UAE to Launch Pre-Immigration Clearance to Ease Travel for Nationals

Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to sign a formal agreement on pre-immigration clearance for Pakistani nationals visiting the Gulf country, the Ministry of Interior announced on Tuesday. The agreement is expected to allow travelers to bypass lengthy immigration procedures upon arrival in the UAE, streamlining entry and improving the overall travel experience.

The decision was reached during a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and a UAE delegation led by Ahmed Bin Lahij Al Falasi, Director General of Customs and Port Security. “The immigration process for passengers will be completed in Pakistan before travel,” Naqvi said, adding that travelers would be able to exit UAE airports directly, just like domestic passengers.

The system will initially be launched as a pilot project in Karachi, with plans to expand to other major cities after successful implementation. The Interior Minister expressed optimism that the new process would facilitate travel and enhance efficiency. The UAE delegation described the initiative as “beneficial” for both countries and pledged full cooperation during its implementation. “Relevant authorities will coordinate to finalize administrative and technical aspects of the pilot project,” the official statement said.

The move comes amid growing travel challenges for Pakistani nationals. In November 2025, Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry revealed that the UAE had limited visa issuance for Pakistanis, although no formal ban was imposed. The pre-immigration clearance agreement is being seen as a practical solution to ease travel and strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

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

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