Processing of CONSULAR SERVICES will take place as per following time frame:-

1.URGENT AND ORDINARY MRP PASSPORT: PL CLICK ON MRP BUTTON, URGENT MANUAL PASSPORT WILL BE ISSUED FOR EMERGENCY ONLY.: ISSUANCE OF MANUAL PASSPORT DISCONTINUED

2. VISA SERVICES:- [7 working days] [FOR AUSTRALIAN PASSPORT HOLDERS]
3.ATTESTATION OF LICENSE: 10 DAYS
4.ALL OTHER CONSULAR SERVICES:-3 WORKING DAYS (URGENT) AND 10 WORKING DAYS (ORDINARY)

It is therefore advised to kindly apply accordingly keeping in view the above time frame.

WHILE APPLYING FOR CONSULAR SERVICES PLEASE ALWAYS WRITE YOUR TEL No. & EMAIL ADDRESS IN ALL APPLICATION FORMS.

IN CASE DELIVERY IS DESIRED BY MAIL, IT IS ADVISED NOT TO USE ORDINARY PLAIN ENVELOPS WITH STAMP FOR RETURN MAIL AS THEY CANNOT BE TRACKED AND ALSO NOT SAFE. THEREFORE FOR THE SAFETY OF YOUR DOCUMENTS ALWAYS USE REGISTERED OR EXPRESS PLATINUM ENVELOPS { High Commission/Consulate accepts no responsibility for any documents so despatched by it nor obiviously, it assumes any responsibity for documents sent by post. Applicants sending thier documents by post, may please include a self addressed & stamped envelope, in addition to the registered/express envelopes, if they wish to get acknowledgment and receipt , which will also indicate due delivery date.)

RESIDENTS OF NSW MAY PL APPLY FOR ALL CONSULAR SERVICES ( EXCEPT NICOP and MRP) TO SYDNEY CONSULATE AND RESIDENTS OF ALL OTHER STATES & ACT MAY APPLY TO HC CANBERRA. BUSINESS ATTESTATION DOCUMENTS MAY BE SENT TO EITHER MISSION

For Canberra: You may ask to meet the DHC or email him

For Sydney: You may ask to meet the Consul or email the Consul General Sydney at enquiry@pakistan.org.au

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

1. What should I do in emergency if High Commission or Consulate is closed?

   Ans:For emergency during public/Pakistan holidays , pl call (02) 62901676 and press 1 for emergencies pertaining to missions in Canberra or Sydney; all genuine emergencies would be promptly attended to..

2. Where should I submit my application for consular services such as renewal of passport or visa?

   Ans:Residents of NSW should apply (except for NICOP and MRP) to Consulate General of Pakistan in Sydney and residents of all other states including ACT should apply to High Commission in Canberra.

3. At which address can I post my application?

   Ans:The consular service requests can be sent either to physical or postal address of: High Commission for Pakistan Physical Address: 4-Timbarra Crescent, O'Malley ACT 2606 Postal Address: PO Box 684, Mawson ACT 2607 (Australia) or Consulate General of Pakistan Physical Address: Level 7, 32 Martin Place, Sydney, NSW 2000 Postal Address: GPO Box 5256 , NSW 2000

4. Besides signatures, is it necessary to put thumb impression on the manual passport application?

   Ans:Yes it is mandatory to sign as well as affix thumb impression on the first page of the application form and relevant declarations on the second page.

5. Is it necessary to attach original CNIC/NICOP with the passport application?

   Ans:Yes, production of original CNIC/NICOP and attaching a copy with the application for manual passport on urgent basis is a must. The original CNIC/NICOP will be returned with the passport. For MRP , applicant must bring the CNIC/NICOP, without which MRP process can not be initiated.In the absence of CNIC/NICOP, issuance of limited maximum one year validity manual passport on urgent fee for emergencies would be considered.

6. Why the time taken for issuance of passports in lieu of lost passport is so long?

   Ans:Because the case of lost passport has to be referred to the issuing authority for verification/confirmation of the lost passport. A fresh passport is issued only when the confirmation is received.

7. Why is it necessary to submit a declaration regarding first loss or second loss of passport?

   Ans:It is required due to difference in fee in case of first and second loss of passport. It may please be noted that if the passport is lost for the third time, then instead of new passport, the applicant will be issued a single page emergency travel document to return to Pakistan.

8. Why the Mission demands current visa status for renewal/issuance of passport?

   Ans:It is required to confirm the legal status of the applicant and ensure that there is no violation of local laws.

9. What is the requirement concerning photograph for issuance of manual passport?

   Ans:Three (3) recent 2x2 size photographs in matte finish (not more than 6 months old) with name of the applicant on the back.

10. How can I pay the Consular fees?

    Ans:Consular fee can be paid in the form POSTAL MONEY ORDER / CERTIFIED BANK CHEQUE / BANK DRAFT in favour of High Commission for Pakistan Canberra. Payments to Consulate General of Pakistan, Sydney may be made by Money Order, Certified bank Cheque/Bank draft . For Consulate in Sydney Payments can also be made online through Citilink Finance). They also accept Credit Cards, EFTPOS and Cash over the counter)It is located on same floor as the Consulate. To further facilitate payments, the matter is being discussed with a major bank for accepting eftpos for High Commission and Consulate’s fees.

11. In whose name should be the Bank/Postal Chq or Money Order should be made?

    Ans:In case of High Commission in Canberra, the POSTAL MONEY ORDER / CERTIFIED BANK CHEQUE / BANK DRAFT should be in the name of “High Commission for Pakistan, Canberra”. In case of the Consulate, it should be in favour of “Consulate General of Pakistan, Sydney”.

12. Can I get my Power of Attorney (POA) attested without visiting the High Commission or Consulate General?

    Ans:For attestation of Power of Attorney, the applicant has to physically turn up at the High Commission in Canberra or the Consulate General in Sydney and sign the POA in front of the Consular staff concerned. In exceptional cases, where applicant cannot personally visit the High Commission or the Consulate General, the POA must be first attested by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra or by its regional offices in every state capital and the sent to the High Commission or Consulate General to counter attest the DFAT's seal/signature.

13. Can I make my POA on a plain paper instead of stamp/legal paper?

    Ans:The applicants living abroad are not required to present their POA on stamp/legal paper and, therefore, can prepare it is on plain paper.

14. How long it takes to get renewal of passport?

    Ans: For MRP , pl see click MRP button.Issuance of ordinary manual passport has been stopped. Manual passport will only be issued for emergency on urgent fee basis

15. Can I get visa earlier by paying urgent fee?

    Ans:There is no urgent fee for visa, however all efforts are made to keep the processing time to minimum.

16. Can I get the visa without providing my travel itinerary or confirmed booking?

    Ans:Travel itinerary should be attached with the visa application form, to avoid delay in processing or refusal.

17. Should I send NICOP/POC to Consulate in Sydney or High Commission in Canberra?

    Ans:The NICOP/POC applications should be sent to High Commission in Canberra only. Remaining all consular service requests by residents of NSW should be made to Consulate General in Sydney and residents of all other states/territories should be sent to the High Commission in Canberra.

18. How does the Mission process NICOP/POC applications?

    Ans:Earlier NICOP/POC applications were received in the High Commission, on behalf of NADRA. These applications were complied and then forwarded to NADRA Headquarters in Islamabad on weekly basis by diplomatic pouch. The applications were processed by NADRA in Islamabad for production of NICOP/POC. The High Commission would then forwards the NICOP/CNIC to the applicant as and when received from NADRA. However, since the installation of Form Scan & Tracking System (FSTS) in November 2012, applications are now converted into electronic data and sent to NADRA production line directly, cutting down the time considerably.

19. When the Mission will start issuance of Machine Readable Passport (MPR) in Australia?

    Ans:The MRP service has already started in the High Commission for Pakistan since 22 November 2012. MRP service is expected to start in CG Sydney by may 2013.

20. What is the time limit for registration of Pakistani children born outside Pakistan?

    Ans:Under the Pakistan Citizenship Act of 1952, all Pakistani Citizens are required to register their children, who are born abroad, with the nearest Pakistani Embassy / High Commission / Consulate General, within six months of their birth. The Birth Registration Cases (BRC) for more than six months only children must be accompanied by a statement of reasons for delay in submitting their case to the Mission. Beyond one year, the child can be registered by the Mission only after obtaining NOC from the Ministry of Interior, Islamabad.

21. Why the issuance of character certificate takes so long?

    Ans:Since the character certificate can be issued by the relevant police authorities only, the cases are sent to respective DPO by the Mission, who forwards it to the concerned police station. The relevant police authorities issue these certificates after consulting their years only records and on ground physical checks. The character certificate is sent to the applicant, as and when received by the Mission from Pakistan.

22. Why the verification letter for driving licence takes so long?

    Ans:It does not take long if all the documents (including the NOC issued by the issuing authority and attestation by MOFA, Pakistan) are in order. It takes more time, only when a verification of driving licence and MOFA attestation is required.

23. Do applicants have to personally come to High Commission or Consulate?

    Ans:No except in case of attestation of signature, example for Power of Attorney and for MRP passport once initiated. For all other consular services, applicants may send their case by post/courier . In case delivery is desired by mail, it is advised not to use ordinary plain envelops with stamp for return mail as they cannot be tracked and also not safe. Therefore for the safety of your documents always use registered or express platinum envelops (High Commission/Consulate accepts no responsibility for any documents so despatched by it nor obviously, it assumes any responsibility for documents sent by post. Applicants sending their documents by post, may please include a self addressed & stamped envelope, in addition to the registered/express envelopes, if they wish to get acknowledgment and receipt , which will also indicate due delivery date.)

24. Why I should register online within High Commission or Consulate?

    Ans:Registration can be done by mail also. Registration online has been made to facilitate the Community. Whereas every Pakistani in Australia and Fiji is required to register with HC/CG, it is in their own interest to register so that they can be better served and in case of any emergency , their next of kin can be contacted.

25. What should I do if I am not satisfied with HIGH Commission or Consulate’s service or I have a complaint against them ?

    Ans:Complaint boxes are available in HC/CG. If personally visiting, if not satisfied with response/service at counter, ask to see Deputy High Commissioner in Canberra and Consul in Sydney. Email them at their direct emails also at enquiry@pakistan.org.au (in case of CG Sydney) and dhcpahiccanberra@internode.on.net ( in case of HC Canberra). Please be rest assured actions will be taken on your genuine complaint and you will be responded to.

26. What is the best way to get information in addition to information already available in HC/CG website?

    Ans:While all endeavours have been made to post all relevant information in the website ( www.pakistan.org.au),applicants may still have some specific querries. In such cases, it is requested to send email at dhcpahiccanberra@internode.on.net ( Canberra) and enquiry@pakistan.org.au for Sydney. Due to limited manpower, phone for Consular services is attended only during specified hours as in the website. However, the Consulate assures that email queries would be responded to by next working day.