ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to sign a formal agreement introducing a “pre-immigration clearance” system for Pakistani nationals travelling to the Gulf country, aimed at simplifying and speeding up the immigration process.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Interior on Tuesday, the decision was taken 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.
Under the proposed system, immigration procedures for Pakistani passengers will be completed before departure from Pakistan, allowing travellers to bypass lengthy immigration checks upon arrival in the UAE. Minister Naqvi said that once the system is implemented, Pakistani nationals will be able to exit UAE airports directly, similar to domestic passengers.
The initiative will be launched as a pilot project, with the first phase set to begin in Karachi. No specific timeline for the launch was announced. Following the pilot phase, the system will be expanded to other cities across Pakistan.Naqvi expressed optimism that the new arrangement would significantly improve the travel experience and facilitate smoother movement between the two countries.
The UAE delegation assured full cooperation in implementing the initiative, describing it as mutually beneficial.The statement added that relevant authorities from both sides will work closely to finalise the administrative and technical details of the pilot project. Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry and Federal Secretary for Interior Khurram Agha were also present at the meeting.
The development comes amid longstanding concerns over visa restrictions faced by Pakistani nationals travelling to the UAE. In November 2025, Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry informed the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights that the UAE had significantly reduced visa issuance for Pakistanis, though it had stopped short of imposing an official ban.Visa rejections had also surged in mid-2025, prompting Interior Minister Naqvi to raise the issue with UAE authorities.
During a meeting last year, UAE Interior Minister Lt Gen Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan assured Pakistan of full support in expediting visas and easing restrictions. In April 2025, UAE Ambassador to Pakistan Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi announced that visa issues had been resolved, stating that Pakistani citizens could apply for five-year visas. This followed disclosures to the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis that some UAE visas had been “unofficially closed.”
Overseas Employment Promoter Aisam Baig had attributed UAE concerns to cases of Pakistani visitors misusing visit visas, including involvement in begging. However, the committee chairman, Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, clarified that there were no restrictions on work visas for Pakistanis travelling to the UAE.
