Valid NICOP or visa now mandatory for Pakistani dual nationals entering country

Islamabad (Web Desk): The government has decided to enforce fresh entry requirements for Pakistani dual nationals, making it compulsory for them to possess either a valid National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) or a Pakistani visa before travelling to the country.

Under the revised immigration policy, dual citizens will no longer be allowed to enter Pakistan if they are carrying an expired or cancelled NICOP.

The new regulations are applicable to passengers arriving from every destination worldwide, including the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US).

According to sources, quoting the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) authorities, travellers using foreign passports must produce a valid NICOP or an approved Pakistani visa before they are permitted to board flights bound for Pakistan.

Airlines have been officially informed of the updated directives and instructed to prevent passengers lacking the required documents from boarding.

Officials further warned that anyone arriving in Pakistan with an invalid or expired NICOP will not be granted entry and will instead be placed on the next available return flight.

The FIA said the stricter enforcement follows repeated instances of airlines transporting passengers whose identity cards had already expired or been cancelled.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior has circulated the revised travel instructions to immigration authorities across the country, and the new entry regulations have now been implemented at airports nationwide.