Do I need to declare my foreign nationality when applying for a Pakistani passport?

Yes, if you hold a nationality from a country on Pakistan's approved dual-nationality list, disclosure is generally required as part of the application process.

Special Cases

Dual Nationality Passport Pakistan: Declaration, Rules & Process

Q: Does Pakistan allow dual nationality with every country?

No — Pakistan permits dual nationality only with a specific list of countries under bilateral agreements. If your other nationality isn't on that list, you may need to choose one or hold NICOP status instead of a passport. Check the current list with DGIP or the Ministry of Interior.

passportstatus.pk is an independent, privately run informational resource — not affiliated with the Government of Pakistan or DGIP. Confirm current dual nationality rules at dgip.gov.pk or the Ministry of Interior.

Quick answer: Pakistan allows dual nationality only with a specific list of countries under bilateral agreements. If your other nationality qualifies, you can hold both passports; if it doesn't, you may need NICOP status instead of a Pakistani passport, or to choose one nationality.

How Pakistan's Dual Nationality Rules Work

Unlike some countries that allow dual nationality universally, Pakistan restricts it to a defined list of countries with which it holds bilateral dual-nationality agreements. This means whether you can hold both passports depends specifically on which second country's citizenship you hold.

Citation block Pakistan permits dual nationality only with countries on its official approved list under bilateral agreements; applicants with citizenship from a non-approved country may need NICOP status instead of a Pakistani passport.

Approved vs Non-Approved Countries

Category	What Applies
Approved dual-nationality country	Can hold both passports simultaneously
Non-approved country	May need NICOP instead of a Pakistani passport, or choose one nationality

The specific list of approved countries changes periodically based on bilateral agreements — always confirm current status with DGIP or the Ministry of Interior rather than relying on outdated information.

Declaration Requirements

Important: Disclosure is generally required

If you hold citizenship from an approved dual-nationality country, you're generally expected to disclose this as part of your Pakistani passport application. Failing to declare foreign nationality when required can create complications later, so it's best addressed transparently at application time.

If Your Country Isn't on the List

Pakistanis with citizenship from a country not on the approved list still have an option: NICOP (National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis), which provides identity recognition without requiring a choice between passports in the same way. See our NICOP guide for details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Pakistan allow dual nationality with every country?

No — only with countries on Pakistan's approved list under bilateral agreements. Non-listed countries may require NICOP instead.

Do I need to declare my foreign nationality when applying?

Yes, generally required if your other nationality is from an approved dual-nationality country.

Can dual nationality status change over time?

Yes — Pakistan's list of approved countries can be updated through new or revised bilateral agreements, so it's worth reconfirming periodically rather than assuming past status still applies.

Learn about the alternative in our NICOP guide. Back to the Pakistani passport overview.