According to Arshad Khan, he is a Pakistani citizen, and his family’s nationality has already been officially verified. He said that although his citizenship was confirmed and a passport was previously issued to him, authorities are now refusing to renew the document.

A video shared by Arshad Khan shows him expressing frustration over the delay, saying he continues to face difficulties obtaining a renewed passport despite being a verified Pakistani citizen.

His lawyer, Barrister Umar Ijaz Gilani, said Arshad is a well-known Pakistani citizen whose identity was restored through court proceedings, yet he is still being denied a passport.

He added that letters sent to the relevant authorities failed to receive a satisfactory response, prompting the decision to seek legal relief.

The petition names the Ministry of Interior and the Director General of Immigration and Passports as respondents.

Gilani expressed hope that, as with the restoration of Arshad’s identity card, the court would also provide relief in the passport matter.

Arshad first rose to global fame in 2016 after a photograph of him serving tea at a market in Islamabad went viral on social media.

Then 17 years old, his striking blue eyes and appearance attracted international attention, leading to modelling opportunities and earning him the nickname “Arshad Chaiwala.”

He later launched the Cafe Chaiwala brand, which has expanded to several cities in Pakistan as well as London.

The passport dispute follows an earlier controversy over his citizenship. After rumours questioned his nationality, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) blocked his Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC).

Arshad subsequently challenged the move before the Lahore High Court, arguing that he was born in Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while his father belongs to Gujranwala. He maintained that NADRA’s decision was unlawful and made in bad faith.

In his petition, Arshad also argued that the blocking of his identity documents exposed him to the risk of deportation, particularly during Pakistan’s campaign against undocumented foreign nationals.

In October 2025, NADRA’s Verification Board declared his family records valid and restored his CNIC after confirming his Pakistani citizenship.

However, according to Arshad and his legal counsel, issues surrounding the renewal of his passport remain unresolved.