To obtain a Pakistan visa, please contact the Pakistani embassy or consulate closest to your location. If there is no Pakistan embassy or consulate in your city or country, contact the Pakistan embassy in a neighbouring country for assistance in obtaining a Pakistan visa. Please check the (Pakistan Embassies Abroad) section of our website for their contact information. Visa processing typically takes between 5 and 7 business days. Contact our office if you need further assistance or an invitation letter for obtaining a visa. Refer to the following link to obtain visa forms and fee information for download (www.pakistanconsulateny.org).
TOURIST VISA
Foreign visitors are permitted to obtain a Pakistan visa/tourist visa with a three-month validity and multiple entry from Pakistani missions overseas.
RPOs have been authorised to extend tourist visas for Pakistan up to a maximum of six months, including the initial visa duration, and to excuse overstays of up to 15 days upon payment of visa fee, with a minimum payment of US$10 only.
For Gilgit-Baltistan, the Deputy Commissioners of Gilgit and Skardu have been authorised to extend Pakistan visas for Northern Areas visitors for an additional three months and one re-entry at the standard visa charge.
TOURISTIC GROUPING VIA DESIGNATED TOUR OPERATORS
Through designated/authorized tour operators, Chinese and Japanese group travellers are granted a 72-hour Landing Permit upon arrival at Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta Airports and Sust Check Post, followed by 30 days.
Visa extensions for Pakistan are available at Regional Passport Offices in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta, subject to the following conditions:
– i.) Pakistan visa application will be submitted through designated/authorized tour operators only; ii.) The concerned tour operator will also submit an undertaking to the effect that the tourists will be their responsibility and that they will not illegally overstay beyond the validity of the Pakistan visa; iii.) If required, the same tour operators will apply, before the visa expires, for an extension of up to 30 days; and iv. The concerned tour operators will submit a confirmation letter stating that they
JOURNALIST VISA
Foreign Journalists who hold an accreditation card and whose cases are recommended by the Ministry of Information and Media Development in Islamabad are awarded a one-year visa or visa extension with multiple entry for Pakistan.
Foreign Journalists without a permanent residence are permitted a one-month visa extension with two re-entries for brief visits.
Their visas are confined to the cities of Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi.
Their petitions through the Ministry of Information and Media Development to visit other locations are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
VISA TO FOREIGNER FROM THIRD COUNTRY
Foreign nationals can only apply for a Pakistan visa from their country of origin OR their country of permanent legal residence. Only the Ambassador / High Commissioner / Head of Mission / Consulate will decide on visa requests from nationals of a THIRD COUNTRY.
VISA-ON-ARRIVAL FOR BUSINESSPEOPLE AND INVESTORS
On presentation of any of the following documents, genuine businessmen from the 48 countries listed below are granted Visa on Arrival (VOA) for a 30-day stay.
Recommendation letter from the CC&I of the foreigner’s home country
Invitation letter from Business organisation endorsed by the relevant Trade Organization/Association in Pakistan
Recommendation letter from an Honorary Investment Counselor of BOI or commercial attaché stationed abroad
Argentina, Hungary, Qatar, Australia, Iceland, Russia, Austria, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iran, Singapore, Belgium, Ireland, Slovakia Republic, Brazil, Italy, South Africa, Brunei, Japan., South Korea, Canada, Kuwait, Spain, Chile, Luxembourg, Sweden, China(Including Hong Kong), Malaysia, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Mexico, Thailand, Denmark, Netherlands, Turkey, Finland, New Zealand, UAE, France, Germany, Oman, U.S.A.
BUSINESS VISA VISA FROM MISSION ABROAD
On presentation of any of the following documents, missions abroad can issue up to a five-year multiple business visa Pakistan (non-reporting) within 24 hours to businesspeople from 48 countries on List-A.
– Recommendation letter from CC&I of the foreigner’s home country
Invitation letter from Business organisation endorsed by the relevant Trade Organization/Association in Pakistan
Recommendation letter from a BOI Honorary Investment Counselor or commercial attach stationed abroad.
Missions are also authorised to issue one-month entrance visas to genuine businessmen from countries other than those on the A List (excluding those not recognised by Pakistan) from the applicant’s own country or place of legal residency, based on the following criteria:
The candidate is affiliated with an international company.
And/or Meets the requirements for a List A country in terms of lawful sponsorship from Pakistan.
Visa Extension in Pakistan
Regional Passport Offices in Islamabad and provincial capitals are authorised to extend business visas for an additional year upon submission of the following business-related documentation.
a. Valid passport / business visa.
Documents demonstrating significant investment, export, or import over the past year.
d. Letter of Registration from Tourism Division (in case of hotel business)
d. Other business documents (such as a letter from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry or the Registrar of Companies, a partnership agreement, articles of association, etc.)
Visa extensions beyond one year in Pakistan will be granted by the Ministry of Interior upon presentation of the required business documents.
THE WORK VISA
The WORK VISA Visa Committee, chaired by the Secretary of the Board of Investment, approves work visa applications submitted to BOI by Pakistani enterprises.
Visa advice is issued by the Ministry of Interior to Pakistan Missions abroad based on the advise of the Board of Investment (BOI) in the event of new entrance visas for Pakistan and to Regional Passport Offices (RPOs) in the case of visa extensions.
However, the Committee may recommend work visas valid for up to five years with repeated entries.
To accommodate foreign investors and expatriates who possess a business visa but are working in Pakistan, the conversion of a business visa to a work visa is permitted for a price of US$100/- in addition to the foreign country’s work visa fee.
STUDENT VISA
The MOI and Ministry of Education accept requests from students. Student visas are issued upon receipt of a NOC from the Ministry of Education/Economic Affairs Division/Ministry of Health (where applicable) and the foreign mission of the appropriate country in Pakistan, as well as security clearance.
NOC is issued to security-cleared students for entry visa to the Mission overseas for three months with a single-entry visa Pakistan.
Foreign students studying in Pakistan with a valid student visa are granted a one-year visa extension with one re-entry. The same policy applies to International Islamic University, Islamabad’s international instructors.
FAMILY VISIT VISA FOR PAK ORIGIN FOREIGNERS
Missions abroad provide Pakistani-origin foreigners visas with multiple entries for up to one year or the duration of their passport validity, whichever is shorter.
RPOs may offer visa extensions to foreign nationals of Pakistani origin for one year with numerous entries and up to five years without entries, depending on the validity of the passport. In such instances, RPOs may grant an extension of up to six months for overstay.
Foreign spouses of foreigners of Pakistani origin are granted the same visa extension as foreigners of Pakistani origin, upon production of a copy of the Nikkah Nama/Marriage Certificate and the National Identity Card of the husband.
Airport Immigration officers may issue a 72-hour Landing Permit to foreigners of Pakistani origin and their families, with the previous approval of the Zonal Director (FIA) concerned, only in circumstances of emergency and upon presentation of documentary proof of Pakistani origin.
PILGRIMAGE VISA
Missions provide Sikhs with foreign passports (other than Indian passports) a two-week entry visa to Pakistan for the locations listed below. Sheikhupura (Nankana Sahib) Rawalpindi / Hassan Abdal (Panja Sahib)
NGOsVISA
In Pakistan, embassies are authorised to provide one-month visas to foreigners working for nongovernmental organisations.
For a long-term visa, an NGO must be registered with the Pakistani government. In such instances, the Mission overseas refers visa applications to the Ministry of Interior for prior approval before granting visas.
In the case of visa extension, registered NGOs may apply directly to the Ministry of Interior, which then authorises the relevant RPOs to extend visas if all procedures are completed.
For additional visa Pakistan information, please contact the Pakistan embassy closest to you; to locate their contact information, please visit the (Pakistan Embassies Abroad) part of our website.
Refer to http://www.interior.gov.pk/ for visa requirements.