Foreign domestic workers are eligible to apply for this visa under the sponsorship of their employer.
Pakistan
Pakistan sits in Southern Asia. Its immigration system runs 37 distinct routes — led by short stays and visits, work and culture, faith and volunteering, each set out in official law. 36 of them cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.
1 further route is recorded for Pakistan but not shown here — its details are still under review.
- Immigration routes
- 37across 12 route categories, each set out in official law
- Source-cited routes
- 36 of 37cite an official government source, with the date we last read it
- Largest category
- Short stays and visits10 of the 37 routes — see them under Short stays and visits below
- Region
- Southern Asia
- Capital
- Islamabad
- Population
- 255,219,554
- Official language
- English, Urdu
- Currency
- PKR
- Time zone
- UTC+05:00
Immigration routes
All 37 routes, grouped by purpose — 36 of 37 cite an official government source directly. Any route below without one says so on the route.
Work
5 routes
If the journalist is not on negative list, Mission will grant 03 months validity and stay(multiple) visa for Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.
Pakistan Missions abroad are authorized to grant visa to the journalists accredited and based in Pakistan for duration of assignment.
Citizens of foreign countries who have a valid job offer and meet the requirements are eligible to apply for this visa.
Once work visa granted for 3 months, the applicant can seek extension up to 2 years with multiple entries.
Investment
1 route
A Commonwealth citizen or British protected person who transfers PKR 5,000,000 of foreign exchange to Pakistan through normal banking channels may apply on Form R under Section 20 of the Pakistan Citizenship Act 1951 for registration as a citizen. It is a citizenship-by-registration route, not a residence visa, and is unrelated to the Pakistan Origin Card.
Starting a business
3 routes
The Regional Passport Offices at Islamabad as well as at Provincial capitals have been empowered to allow one year extension in business visa.
Missions are allowed to grant 5 years Multiple Business Visa within 24 hours to businessmen of 96 BVL countries.
Visa-on-Arrival (VOA) for 30 days to be granted to businessmen of 96 BVL countries.
Study
2 routes
Study Visa: Student; Deeni Madaris.
Study Entry Visa / Extension will be issued for 2 years after due clearance by security agencies.
Family
3 routes
Pakistan Missions abroad are authorized to grant five years validity and one year stay multiple entry visa to foreigners of pakistan origin and their foreign spouses.
Applicant is a dependent child of foreign spouse of Pakistani Citizen / Origin individual.
Applicant is a foreigner and married to Pakistani Citizen / Origin individual.
Culture, faith and volunteering
4 routes
Christians Missionaries can apply for this visa to carry out missionary work in Pakistan.
All NGO/ INGO officials, staff and their family members are eligible to apply for this visa.
Sikhs of foreign passport holders (other than the Indian passports) are granted entry visa by the Missions for a fortnight.
Muslim citizens of foreign countries who wish to participate in Tabligh activities can apply for this visa.
Short stays and visits
10 routes
Afghan nationals coming from Afghanistan are granted six months visa with one re-entry by Pakistan Mission in Afghanistan.
Afghan origin/third country passports holders are initially granted 45-days visa by our missions abroad except Pakistan Mission in Afghanistan. They are allowed further extension for 45-days.
Afghan nationals holding Afghan passport, living in Pakistan since long are allowed visa/visa extension for a period of six months with one re entry.
To encourage and facilitate tourism in Pakistan Directorate of Tourist Services (DTS) approved tour operators will be allowed to bring tourists groups in Pakistan.
Pakistan Missions abroad are authorized to grant Visit/Tourist Visa for three months validity and stay with double entry to foreigners of List-A.
Visa on Arrival facility to all Qatari Passport holders including Diplomatic, Special and Ordinary Passports, free of charge.
Nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and UAE will be granted 30 days multiple entries visa on arrival.
The applicant will apply online from his/her home country and will get electronic authorization to travel.
Maldives — Three Months — All Nationals of the Country.
Nepal — One Month — All Nationals of the Country.
Humanitarian protection
1 route
If you have just arrived and want to apply for asylum in Pakistan, you should get in touch with either UNHCR or one of our partners, depending on your location.
Ancestry and return
2 routes
For a foreign national who is not a Pakistani citizen but held Pakistani citizenship at some time in their life.
For a foreign national with at least one parent or grandparent who is or was a Pakistani citizen.
Medical treatment
2 routes
Ministry of Interior will approve the Extended Term Medical Visa.
Pak Missions abroad will issue Short Term Medical Visa to cater emergencies.
Sport
1 route
Mountaineering-trekking visa.
Special cases
3 routes
Foreign Diplomats can apply for a GRATIS Visa for the diplomatic assignment.
Foreign Nationals of all countries who are assigned to perform official duties in Pakistan are eligible to apply for this visa.
Officials/ persons deputed to work for or on behalf of the UN and International Organization (IO) in Pakistan can apply.
Official sources
See which Pakistan routes you actually qualify for.
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