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

Visa policy of Pakistan
  Pakistan
  Visa-free entry; eligible for all electronic visas
  Electronic Travel Authorization for visa on arrival for tourism and business purposes; online visa application eligible
  Electronic Travel Authorization for visa on arrival for business purposes only; online visa application eligible
  Online visa application only
  Visa required in advance
  Admission restricted

Visa exemption

Citizens from the following 3 countries who hold ordinary passports do not require a visa for Pakistan. [4] [1] [5]

Electronic Travel Authorization

Tourism visa on arrival

Citizens of the 64 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

Nationals from the following 103 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] [12] [13]

  • 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

Citizens of all countries except the following are eligible to apply for an online visa: [14] [15]

Diplomatic and service category passports

  Pakistan
  Visa free access for diplomatic and service category passports
  Visa free access for diplomatic passports

Pakistan has visa-abolition agreements for holders of diplomatic and official passports from the following countries, who do not require visas for Pakistan for a period of 30 days (unless otherwise stated):[16]

Visa free agreement for diplomatic and special passports was signed with  Cyprus in July 2017 and is yet to be ratified.[17]

Visa-free agreement for holders of diplomatic passports was signed with  Turkmenistan in January 2018 and it is yet to be ratified.[18]

Visa-free agreement for holders of diplomatic and official passport was signed with  Cuba in October 2019 and it is yet to be ratified.[19]

Mandatory registration

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

Overseas Pakistani citizens and Persons of Pakistani Origin

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

Nationals of Turkey holding a valid visa for the Schengen Area, United Kingdom or the United States, can obtain a visa on arrival.[20]

Israeli passport holders

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

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] Six 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.[21]

Visitor statistics

Most visitors arriving in Pakistan on a short-term basis were from the following countries:[22]

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

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Pakistan.

References

  1. 1 2 "Visa and passport". Timatic. International Air Transport Association through Emirates. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  2. ↑ "Pakistan Online Visa System - Government of Pakistan". Pakistan Online Visa System. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Directorate General of Immigration & Passports, Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan".
  4. ↑ "Directorate General of Immigration & Passports, Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan".
  5. ↑ "Visa Categories".
  6. ↑ Was applied from 1975-1976
  7. ↑ "Pakistan suspends 'visa free entry' agreement with Zambia". Archived from the original on 2017-05-08. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  8. ↑ "Visa abolition scan". 24 April 2017. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  9. ↑ "List of Countries for Visa on Arrival(Tourist)". Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  10. ↑ "BUSINESS VISA LIST (BVL) COUNTRIES". Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  11. ↑ "Business Visa On Arrival". Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  12. ↑ "Directorate General of Immigration & Passports, Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan".
  13. ↑ "International travel Instructions / Restrictions. Business Visa on arrival". Federal Investigation Agency, Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan.
  14. ↑ "Tourist Visa". Ministry of Interior. Pakistan.
  15. ↑ "Countries eligible for Pakistan Online Visa".
  16. ↑ "Entry into Pakistan without Visa. List of Countries with whom Pakistan has Visa Abolition Aggrements".
  17. ↑ "Pakistan, Cyprus sign visa abolition agreement for diplomats, official passport holders - Pakistan Today". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. Archived from the original on 2019-08-28. Retrieved 2017-07-10.
  18. ↑ Pakistan, Govt of (15 January 2018). "Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and H.E Mr. Rashid Meredov Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan signing the "Agreement between the Government of Islamic Republic of Pakistan & Turkmenistan on abolition of Visa requirements for the holders of diplomatic passports" in Islamabad.pic.twitter.com/mOdTqBFNX0".
  19. ↑ "Pakistan signs visa-free agreement with Cuba". Khaleej Times.
  20. ↑ "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)
  21. ↑ "Directorate General of Immigration & Passports, Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan". www.dgip.gov.pk.
  22. ↑ "Tourism in Pakistan". nation.com.pk. 7 December 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2019.


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