Pakistan and UAE to sign pre-immigration clearance agreement for Pakistani travelers

Passengers will complete immigration in Pakistan and exit UAE airports as domestic arrivals

Pakistan and the UAE have agreed to sign a pre-immigration clearance agreement that will allow Pakistani travelers to complete immigration procedures before departing for the UAE. Once implemented, passengers will be able to exit UAE airports directly without going through immigration queues.

According to Dawn, widely considered the country's newspaper of record, the announcement followed a meeting between Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and a UAE delegation led by Director General of Customs Ahmed Abdullah Bin Lahej Al Falasi.

"After its implementation, passengers arriving in the UAE will not be required to undergo lengthy immigration procedures and will be able to exit the airport directly as domestic passengers," the Pakistani interior ministry stated.

The system will launch as a pilot program in Karachi before expanding to other locations.

How pre-immigration clearance works

Under the new system, Pakistani nationals traveling to the UAE will complete all immigration and security checks at their departure airport in Pakistan. Upon arrival in the UAE, they will bypass immigration entirely and proceed directly to exits, similar to domestic passengers.

Interior Minister Naqvi said the initiative will make travel easier, save time, and improve the overall passenger experience.

Timeline and next steps

The interior ministry did not confirm a signing date. Both sides agreed that the relevant authorities will continue to coordinate to finalize the administrative and technical framework for the pilot project. If successful, the system will gradually expand to additional destinations.

A similar system already exists with Saudi Arabia

Pakistan operates a comparable arrangement with Saudi Arabia under the Makkah Route Initiative. That program allows Hajj pilgrims to complete immigration formalities at Pakistani airports before departure, saving several hours upon arrival in the Kingdom.

What this means for Pakistani travelers

Over 1.7 million Pakistani nationals live and work in the UAE, with many more visiting as tourists each year. Once the pre-immigration clearance system is operational, travelers departing from Karachi will benefit from faster arrivals and shorter wait times at UAE airports.

The agreement does not change visa requirements for Pakistani nationals traveling to the UAE. Travelers will still need to obtain the appropriate visa before departure.

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