Pakistan enforces Rs 100 NADRA polio card for all departures starting Sept. 14

Airlines across Pakistan began strictly verifying digital polio vaccination certificates for all outbound international travelers on Sept. 14.

Mandatory NADRA verification at departure gates

The Airport Health Department now requires every passenger departing Pakistan internationally to present a government-issued vaccination certificate before boarding, health officials confirmed. The rule applies to all travelers regardless of age, including foreign passport holders, tourists and remote workers who have stayed in the country for four weeks or more.

Passengers must receive an approved polio vaccination between four weeks and 12 months before departure. Public health facilities and District Health Offices log the dose into the National Immunization Management System (NIMS), allowing travelers to download an official certificate through the Pak Vaccination Pass mobile app or the NADRA portal.

The digital certificate costs Rs 100 ($0.36). Travelers planning a stay can consult the Pakistan guide for entry and exit protocols.

Six-hour airport buffer for last-minute shots

Travelers who miss getting vaccinated before heading to the airport can still receive an on-site dose, but the process adds significant transit time. Airport vaccinations are restricted to designated counters at the Federal Government Civil Dispensary in international departure areas, including newly expanded facilities at Lahore Airport.

Passengers relying on terminal vaccination must arrive at least six hours before departure to complete the immunization, record their data into NIMS and generate the NADRA document before airline check-in closes. The simplest way to bypass airport delays is securing the shot at a local clinic days before your flight and downloading the digital card in advance.