Visa policy of Pakistan
Visitors to Pakistan typically must obtain a visa from one of the Pakistani diplomatic missions.[1] Pakistani missions abroad offer various categories of visas, with some travelers eligible for visa on arrival if traveling as part of a group tour, or for business.
Pakistan also offers electronic visa application and electronic travel authorization for issuance of visa on arrival.[2]
Applicants must typically apply for visas in their country of origin, but may apply from a third country if they are legal permanent residents of that country.[3]
Visa policy map[edit]
Visa exemption[edit]
Ordinary passports[edit]
Citizens from the following countries who hold ordinary passports do not require a visa for Pakistan.[1][4]
| Date of visa changes | ||
|---|---|---|
Cancelled: |
Non-ordinary passports[edit]
Under reciprocal agreements, holders of diplomatic or various types of passports (official and service) of the following countries and territories may enter and remain in Pakistan without a visa for the following period:[8]
|
3 months
2 month
1 month
|
D - Diplomatic passports
O - Official passports
S - Service passports
Electronic Travel Authorization[edit]
Tourism visa on arrival[edit]
Citizens of the following countries may obtain a visa on arrival in Pakistan for tourism purposes if they possess an ETA (electronic travel authorization):[9]
Business visa on arrival[edit]
Nationals from the following countries may obtain a visa on arrival when traveling on business for a maximum stay of 30 days, provided they have a local sponsor who must first obtain an approval from the immigration authorities at the intended port of arrival, and if they possess any one of the following documents:[10][11]
- A recommendation letter from the Chamber of Commerce & Industries (CC&I) in the country of residence
- An invitation letter from a business organization recommended by the concerned trade organization / association in Pakistan
- A recommendation letter by Investor Consular of Board of Investment posted at Pakistan missions abroad
|
|
Online Visa[edit]
Citizens of all countries except the following are eligible to apply for an online visa:[12][13]
Mandatory registration[edit]
Visitors from the following countries are obliged to register with the police upon arrival to Pakistan:[3]
Police registration is typically performed by hotel staff as part of the check-in process. In person visits to police stations are only required of visitors who choose not to stay in licensed hotels or hostels.
Special categories[edit]
Overseas Pakistani citizens and Persons of Pakistani Origin[edit]
Visas are not required for holders of a Pakistan Origin Card (POC, a National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistani (NICOP), or any passport bearing a "Visa exempt" stamp by Pakistani authorities.
Substitute visas[edit]
Nationals of Turkey holding a valid visa for the Schengen Area, United Kingdom or the United States, can obtain a visa on arrival.[14]
Israeli passport holders[edit]
 |
Pakistan does not bar Israeli citizens from traveling to Pakistan. Though Pakistan has no diplomatic mission in Israel, applicants for Pakistani visas can apply in a third country if they are legal permanent residents in that country.[3]
Israeli passport holders, along with Palestinian Authority passport holders, are required to register their stay with local police authorities,[3] unless granted a work visa.[3]
Indian passport holders[edit]
Applications from Indian passport holders must be cleared directly from the Ministry of Interior,[3] though they are not barred from visiting Pakistan despite being subject to additional regulations, including mandatory police registration,[3] regardless of visa type.[3]
Foreigners of Indian origin were subject to this regulation as well. On 25 January 2019, the policy was revised for Indian Origin United Kingdom and United States Nationals.[3]
Indian nationals are also restricted in the availability of ports of entry to Pakistan, and instead must enter and leave the country via designated points, including the Wagah border, as well as through airports in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi.[3]
Indian nationals are typically required to enter and exit Pakistan through the same post, unless permission is sought in advance.[3]
Indian passport holders are not granted tourist visas, and are only permitted to apply for visas to visit family and friends, business visas, transit visas, and visas for religious pilgrimage.[3]
6 month business visas are granted to Indian passport holders, with multiple entries permitted.[3]
Indian passport holders are also ineligible for any visa extensions,[3] though passport holders who stay longer than the time permitted by the visa are subject to a fee of 40 Rupees per day of overstay.
Indian residents applying for a tourism, visit or student Pakistani visa may especially face issues pertaining to their religious backgrounds. Many visa applicants have also expressed concerns for the extended process that allegedly takes almost twice as much time as other such visas as well as the on and off government imposed bans upon inter-country travels between India and Pakistan.[15]
Visitor statistics[edit]
Most visitors arriving in Pakistan on a short-term basis were from the following countries:[16]
| Rank | Country | 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  China
|
565,212 |
| 2 |  United Kingdom
|
540,709 |
| 3 |  India
|
212,370 |
| 4 |  United States
|
209,633 |
| 5 |  Saudi Arabia
|
150,102 |
| 6 |  Turkey
|
150,009 |
| 7 |  Afghanistan
|
72,000 |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Visa and passport". Timatic. International Air Transport Association through Emirates. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
- ^ "Pakistan Online Visa System - Government of Pakistan". Pakistan Online Visa System. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Directorate General of Immigration & Passports, Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan".
- ^ "Visa Categories".
- ^ Was applied from 1975-1976
- ^ "Pakistan suspends 'visa free entry' agreement with Zambia". Archived from the original on 2017-05-08. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
- ^ "Visa abolition scan". 24 April 2017. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
- ^ "Entry into Pakistan without Visa".
- ^ "List of Countries for Visa on Arrival(Tourist)". Retrieved 19 October 2021.
- ^ "BUSINESS VISA LIST (BVL) COUNTRIES". Retrieved 17 June 2019.
- ^ "Business Visa On Arrival". Retrieved 17 June 2019.
- ^ "Tourist Visa". Ministry of Interior. Pakistan.
- ^ "Countries eligible for Pakistan Online Visa".
- ^ "Archived copy". www.timaticweb.com. Archived from the original on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Directorate General of Immigration & Passports, Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan". www.dgip.gov.pk.
- ^ "Tourism in Pakistan". nation.com.pk. 7 December 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
External links[edit]
- Pakistan Visa Online, (Government of Pakistan) Online Visa Portal
- Bureau of Immigration