FIA Bans Verbal Offloading of Passengers Under New Immigration Rules
The FIA Immigration Wing has issued a comprehensive 12-page directive, Standing Order No. 07/2026, which takes immediate effect and replaces the previous standing order issued in 2005.
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has introduced a new immigration standing order prohibiting the offloading of passengers through verbal instructions, marking a significant change in immigration procedures at airports, seaports and dry ports across the country.
The FIA Immigration Wing has issued a comprehensive 12-page directive, Standing Order No. 07/2026, which takes immediate effect and replaces the previous standing order issued in 2005.
Under the new framework, immigration decisions must be supported by proper documentation, written decisions and digital records, replacing practices in which passengers could be prevented from travelling through verbal instructions.
The revised standing order also supersedes earlier instructions concerning the general duties and job descriptions of immigration officers wherever those instructions conflict with the new provisions.
Written Decisions and Digital Records Made Central to Immigration Procedures
According to the document, the new immigration framework places greater emphasis on transparency, accountability and documented decision-making.
Immigration officials will now be required to follow procedures involving written decisions, risk-based assessments and proper recording of immigration actions in the Integrated Border Management System (IBMS).
The system is designed to ensure that immigration decisions are traceable through official records rather than relying solely on verbal communication.
Greater Accountability for Immigration Officers
The revised procedures also emphasise individual responsibility among immigration officers, linking immigration decisions to documented actions and official records.
By introducing formal recordkeeping and risk-based scrutiny, the new standing order establishes a clearer framework for immigration checks and decisions concerning passengers.
The requirement for digital documentation is expected to strengthen oversight of immigration procedures and provide a more transparent record of decisions taken at entry and exit points.
New Rules Apply Nationwide
Standing Order No. 07/2026 applies to FIA immigration operations at airports, seaports and dry ports throughout Pakistan.
The directive takes effect immediately and will be reviewed periodically to assess its implementation and effectiveness.
The changes represent an important procedural development in Pakistan’s immigration system, particularly regarding the documentation of passenger offloading decisions and the accountability of immigration officials.
However, the new order does not eliminate lawful immigration screening or the authority to prevent travel where valid legal grounds exist. Instead, it establishes a more structured and documented approach to immigration decision-making.