Pakistan student visa

The Student visa is for people who wish to pursue higher education in Pakistan and are nationals of the countries eligible for the online visa system. Islamic religious seminaries (Deeni Madaris) have their own visa category on the portal, so students of a madrasa should not use this one.

Besides a photograph and passport, you upload an admission or bona fide letter from the institution and an NOC from the Higher Education Commission, the Economic Affairs Division, the IPC ministry, the Health Ministry or the Education Ministry, depending on the programme. Pakistan’s foreign ministry visa guidance specifies that an entry visa needs an NOC from the concerned government body, while an extension needs an NOC from your own country’s embassy in Pakistan.

If family members accompany you, add a sponsorship letter or a bank statement. Students applying from a country other than their own also upload proof of legal residence there.

The portal's calculator sets the fee for single entry, multiple entry up to one year and multiple entry over one year, for both the individual and the family sub-category, according to the country you apply from. Check it before applying and pay online by card.

The portal gives two weeks for both a first entry and an extension; older mission guidance mentioned four to six weeks, so apply well before your term starts. The visa is granted for two years and must first be used within six months of issue. If officials send the application back for review, you have seven days to resubmit or it is cancelled, and the processing time starts again from resubmission.

If your studies last longer than the visa, apply online for an extension while residing in Pakistan, uploading the current visa and entry stamp under "Other" and the NOC required for extensions.