Pakistan
Pakistan visa guide
- 10 visa types
- checked 25 October 2026
How visas for Pakistan work
Most foreigners need a visa for Pakistan; citizens of the six GCC states are the only nationals the portal lists as not needing to apply, and some diplomatic and official passports are exempt under bilateral arrangements. Since 1 February 2021 every Pakistani visa is applied for online through the Pakistan Online Visa System (POVS), the government portal run with NADRA, and Pakistani missions no longer take paper applications, although they may still invite an applicant to an interview.
The portal groups visas into Tourist/Visit, Business, Business-Investor and SIFC, Work, Study, Family Visit, Medical, Religious Tourism (Tabligh, Missionary, Pilgrim), Mountaineering and Trekking, Journalist, NGO/INGO, Official/Diplomatic and an "Others" category for sports, conferences and cultural events. Each category has its own document list, validity and processing time, and the category you select cannot be used for a different purpose once you are in Pakistan.
Fees depend on the visa category, the number of entries and the country you apply from; the portal's fee calculator shows the amount before you pay, and the same tourist visa costs more from some countries than from others. Nationals of the countries on the portal's lists can also use Tourist Visa in Your Inbox, Tourist Visa on Arrival or, for Business Visa List countries, faster business processing and Business Visa on Arrival.
Which visa do I need?
Holiday, sightseeing or a visit to friends: Tourist/Visit visa (single entry, up to 3 months). Climbing a listed peak or trekking in a restricted area: Mountaineering and Trekking visa through a licensed tour operator. Short notice trips by nationals of the 64 listed countries: Tourist Visa on Arrival with an Electronic Travel Authorization obtained online beforehand.
Meetings, trade fairs and contracts: Business visa (up to 5 years, multiple entry). Investing in property, a company or Pakistani bank accounts: Business-Investor or SIFC Investor visa. Employment with a Pakistani company: Work (General) visa. University studies: Student visa. Pakistani origin or married to a Pakistani: Family Visit visa. Treatment at a Pakistani hospital: Medical visa. Conferences, sports and cultural events: Others visa.
Visa types for Pakistan
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Tourist/Visit Visa (Individual, less than 3 months)
Pakistan’s Tourist/Visit visa lets citizens of the 192 eligible countries visit for tourism for up to three months on a single entry.
Maximum stay: Up to 3 months per visa (single entry); extendable in Pakistan - Family and friends visit visa Family Visit Visa (foreigners of Pakistani origin and their spouses)
The Family Visit visa is for foreign citizens of Pakistani origin and their spouses, including foreign spouses of Pakistani nationals, who want to stay with family in Pakistan.
Maximum stay: Up to 1 year per entry - Medical treatment visa Medical Visa (Short-Term and Long-Term)
Pakistan’s Medical visa lets citizens of the eligible countries travel for treatment.
Maximum stay: Short term up to 3 months (single entry); long-term extension up to 1 year (multiple entry) - Culture, sports and events visa Others Visa (sports, conferences, seminars, cultural events, trainings)
Foreigners attending sports events, conferences, seminars, cultural events or trainings in Pakistan apply in the "Others" category of the online visa system with an invitation from the host organisation.
Maximum stay: Linked to the event; socio-cultural visas up to 30 days
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Business Visa (Individual), up to 5 years multiple entry
Pakistan grants business visas of up to five years with multiple entries to promote investment.
Validity: Up to 5 years, multiple entries - Investor visa Business-Investor Visa and SIFC Investor Visa
Pakistan offers two investor routes on its online visa system: the Business-Investor visa, whose five-year long-term version requires property worth more than USD 100,000 or at least USD 50,000 invested or deposited in Pakistan, and the SIFC Investor visa, granted on a recommendation from the Special Investment Facilitation Council.
Validity: Short term 1 or 3 years; long term 5 years; extensions 2 years; all multiple entry
Study and training
- Student visa Student Visa (Study visa)
Prospective students admitted to higher education in Pakistan can apply for a two-year Student visa on the Pakistan Online Visa System.
Validity: 2 years
Work
- Work visa Work – General Visa
The Work – General visa is for foreigners with a valid job offer in Pakistan.
Validity: 2 years, multiple entries (entry and extension)
Online travel permits
- e-Visa Pakistan Online Visa System (POVS)
Pakistan does not have a separate e-visa category: every visa, from tourist to work and study, is applied for on the Pakistan Online Visa System at visa.nadra.gov.pk.
Validity: All visas must be used for entry within 6 months of issue - Visa on arrival Tourist Visa on Arrival and Business Visa on Arrival (with Electronic Travel Authorization)
Nationals of the 64 countries on Pakistan’s Tourist Visa on Arrival list, and of Business Visa List countries for Business Visa on Arrival, can receive their visa at the airport.
Maximum stay: Tourist: up to 3 months; nationals of some countries may receive 30 days, multiple entry. Business: 30 days
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Pakistan?
Almost certainly, unless you are a citizen of a GCC state, whom the portal lists as not required to apply, or hold a diplomatic or official passport covered by an exemption. Nationals of 192 countries apply online on the Pakistan Online Visa System; nationals of 64 countries can use the visa on arrival with an ETA.
Can I apply at a Pakistani embassy?
Not on paper. All visa applications have been made online at visa.nadra.gov.pk since 1 February 2021. The Pakistani mission in your country may still call you for an interview, and it remains the contact point for questions.
How much does a Pakistan visa cost?
It depends on the category, the number of entries and the country you apply from. The fee calculator on visa.nadra.gov.pk shows the exact amount, and the fee is paid online by Visa or Mastercard when you submit.
How long is a Pakistani visa valid for entry?
Every Pakistani visa must be used for entry within six months of issue. Your permitted stay is counted from the day you arrive, not from the issue date.
Can I apply from a country where I live but am not a citizen?
Yes. The portal expects applications from the country of nationality, so anyone applying from another country uploads proof of legal residence there, such as a residence permit, under the document type "Other".
Does Pakistan have an asylum procedure?
UNHCR’s help site for Pakistan tells new arrivals who want to claim asylum to contact UNHCR or its partners (SHARP in Islamabad, Karachi and Peshawar, SEHER in Quetta), and says UNHCR has offered to help Pakistan develop a national mechanism to register people in need of protection. Asylum is not claimed through the visa portal.
Embassies and consulates
Last checked 25 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.