DGIP Mandates Raast QR Code for Passport Fee Payments, Discontinues IBFT and PSID

Pakistan’s Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGIP) has mandated that all passport fee payments must now be completed strictly by scanning the official Raast QR code. Traditional channels—including IBFT via IBAN and PSID via Passport Fee Asaan—are phased out to eliminate payment errors, speed up processing, and integrate verification systems.

PAKISTAN NEWS

Aagahi Hub

9/13/20262 min read

Official DGIP passport fee payment notice displaying a Raast QR code scanner for applicants on Aagah
Official DGIP passport fee payment notice displaying a Raast QR code scanner for applicants on Aagah

The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGIP) has introduced a major change to how citizens pay for passport applications across Pakistan. In an official public advisory, the department announced that passport fee payments will now be accepted exclusively through scanning the designated Raast QR code.

Under these updated guidelines, older online payment methods—including Interbank Fund Transfer (IBFT) via International Bank Account Numbers (IBAN) and Payment Slip Identification (PSID) generated through the Passport Fee Asaan app—have been completely phased out. Payments submitted using these legacy channels will no longer be processed or accepted by the system.

What Has Changed in the Passport Payment System?

To ensure your application is processed smoothly and without delays, it is vital to understand which payment methods are active and which have been cancelled:

Under the new DGIP guidelines, scanning the designated Raast QR code through supported banking apps is now the single active and mandatory payment method for passport applications. All legacy payment channels—including Interbank Fund Transfer (IBFT) using IBAN, Payment Slip Identification (PSID) via the Passport Fee Asaan app, and traditional over-the-counter manual bank transfers—have been completely discontinued and will be rejected by the system.

Understanding the Change: How Raast QR Simplifies the Process

Raast is Pakistan’s instant digital payment system developed by the State Bank of Pakistan. By moving to a dedicated Raast QR code setup, the DGIP aims to solve several long-standing problems:

  • Instant Transaction Settlement: Manual bank transfers (IBFT) often suffered verification delays, leading to stuck applications. Raast QR offers real-time payment confirmation directly to the DGIP database.

  • Elimination of Verification Errors: Previously, applicants entering 17-digit PSID numbers or long IBAN strings frequently made typos, leading to unverified payments. Scanning a direct QR code removes human entry errors entirely.

  • Safer and Cashless: The move promotes digital transactions, making passport fee settlement faster at regional offices and online portals.

Broader Government Effort to Streamline Overseas & Local Verification

This digital payment transition aligns with broader policy changes instructed by Federal Law and Justice Minister Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar. During a meeting of the Committee on Passport Rules, the minister directed relevant authorities—including the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Passport Department—to simplify and speed up document verification processes, particularly for overseas Pakistanis.

Establishing unified payment channels like Raast QR forms the structural foundation for an integrated verification system, ensuring faster turnaround times for passport issuing, renewals, and travel document checks.

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