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IMMIGRATION LAWS

VISA General Policy for Various Categories:

The Ministry of Interior is responsible for granting/extending visas in the following categories of foreigners (other than Indian nationals whose cases are dealt by the IP&N Wing of the Ministry of Interior):-

  • Diplomatic and Official Visa.
  • Student Visa.
  • Journalist Visa.
  • NGO’s Visa.
  • Work Visa.
  • Afghan Visa.
  • Pilgrimage Visa.
  • Missionary Work Visa.
  • House-Maid Visa.
  • Visa to Third Country Foreigner.
  • Family Visit Visa
  • Business Visa.
  • Visa on Arrival to 50 Countries.
  • Tourist Visa.
  • Group Tourism through Designated Tour Operators.
  • Overstay Charges.
  • Entry into Pakistan without Visa.
  • Registration of Foreigners with Police
  • Visa Extension in Pakistan.
    * Indian Nationals.

A- Diplomatic and Official Visa.
To facilitate foreign diplomats, ministry of Foreign Affairs is authorized to issue gratis visa/accreditation cards for tenure of diplomatic/official assignment.

Authorized slots will be granted Diplomatic Visa only.

Security clearance for additional slots will be mandatory.

Processing time for Diplomatic Visa shall be one week.

B- Student Visa.
Request of the students is received by the MOI and Ministry of Education. Student visa is granted after obtaining NOC from Ministry of Education/Economics Affairs Division/Ministry of Health (as the case may be) and foreign Mission in Pakistan of the respective country and security clearance.

NOC is granted of the security cleared students for entry visa to the Mission abroad for three months with single entry.

Foreign Students studying in Pakistan on proper student visa are granted visa/visa extensions for one year with one re-entry. The same procedure is applied to foreign teachers of International Islamic University, Islamabad.

C- Journalist Visa.
Pakistan Missions abroad are authorized to grant visa to the journalists accredited and based in Pakistan for duration of assignment in consultation with Press Attaches & Link Offices except for Indian journalists, for Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. If they wish to travel to other cities, they will apply through Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

NON BASED:

If the journalist is not on negative list, Mission will grant 03 months validity and stay(multiple) visa for Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.

Extension / long-term visa: Ministry of Information & Broadcasting will provide list of journalists and the security agencies are bound to give clearance or otherwise within four(04) weeks.

Entry Visas with the approval of Ministry of Interior
D- NGO’s Visa.
Embassies are empowered to grant short-term visa for one month to the expatriates working with Non-Government Organizations in Pakistan.
For long-term visa, the NGO is required to be registered with the Government of Pakistan. In such cases, Mission abroad refers the applications for prior clearance from Ministry of Interior before granting visas.
In case of extension of visa, the registered NGOs may apply directly to the Ministry of Interior which in turn authorizes the concerned RPOs for grant of extension of visa, if all the formalities are met.

E- Work Visa.
Pakistan Missions abroad are authorized to grant entry Work Visa to foreign expatriates on the recommendations of Board of Investment for one year (Multiple) validity, extendable on yearly basis in Pakistan.
Mandatory security clearance or otherwise shall be conveyed by the security agencies within 4 weeks positively.

F- Afghan Visa.
Afghan nationals holding Afghan passport, living inPakistan since long are allowed visa/visa extension for a period of six months with one re entry.
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 coming from Afghanistan are granted six months visa with one re-entry by Pakistan Mission in Afghanistan.

G- Pilgrimage Visa.
Sikhs of foreign passport holders (other than the Indian passports) are granted entry visas by the Missions for a fortnight for the following places.

  • Lahore
  • Sheikhupura (Nankana Sahib)
  • Rawalpindi/Hasan Abdal (Punja Sahib)

H- Missionary Work Visa.
The applications for grant of initial visa/extension for missionary work Christian Missionaries in Pakistan is processed by the Ministry of Interior.
Entry visas are not granted to foreign missionaries desirous of opening new missions or strengthening existing one engaged in proselytizing activities.
Foreign missionaries can apply for entry visa through Pakistan missions abroad who will refer the cases to Ministry of Interior with the following documents of the applicants:-

  • Visa application form, duly completed with two photographs.
  • Computer Proforma.
  • Letter from a Missionary Organization certifying that he/she is a Bonafide Member of the said Organization, which takes full responsibility for his/her maintenance, boarding/lodging and return journey in case of repatriation from Pakistan was required.
  • Declaration to respect and abide by the laws of Pakistan and that he/she will refrain from indulging in internal politics and will comply with all the regulations of Pakistan.
  •  Biodata for last 10 years.
  •  Photostat copies of his/her educational degrees diplomas/certificates( with English translation, if required).
  •  Letter from the Organization in Pakistan inviting the said missionary worker.
  •  Complete details of the person being re-placed showing the exact date of his final exit, and visa position at that time along with photocopies of passport pages indicating final exit, final visa as well as the cancellation of un-utilized visa( if any).

The Ministry of Interior after obtaining the views of the Provincial Government clearance authorizes missions abroad for entry visas for one year with one re-entry.
Missionary workers shall apply for an extension in visa one month before expiry of visa to the Nearest Regional Passport Office. In case, the documents furnished are in order, visa extension for two years with 2 re-entries per year (not valid for India) will be granted by RPO concerned.

I- House-Maid Visa.
Entry visa to work as housemaid/domestic servant in Pakistan will be granted by Missions abroad only with prior approval of the Ministry of Interior.
Applications for grant of fresh visa as housemaid/domestic servant etc., to a foreigner, will be forwarded by the employers in Pakistan to Ministry of Interior with following documents:-

  • Visa application form duly completed with two photographs of the applicant.
  • Computer clearance Performa
  • NOC & Acknowledgement from the foreign mission concerned (in Pakistan) about proposed employment of the foreigner by the said employer.
  • Employment Contract on stamp paper, duly signed by the employee and employer and two witnesses.
  • Photocopies of passport pages.
  • Copy of NIC of the employer (in case the employer is a Pakistani).
  • Passport photocopy of the employer (in case the employer is a foreigner). Extension in Housemaid Work/Domestic servant visa cases is granted by the Ministry of Interior on year to year basis subject to the
  • validity of the passport of the applicant with one or two re-entries per year.

J- Visa to Third Country Foreigner.
Foreign nationals can only apply for a Pakistani visa from their country of origin or from the place of legal permanent residence. Request for visas of a THIRD COUNTRY origin will be decided only by the Ambassador/High Commissioner/Head of Mission/Consulate.

K- Family Visit Visa

  • 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, which shall be processed within 7-10 working days.
  • Family visit visas will be extendable on yearly basis in Pakistan.

L- Business Visa.

Missions are allowed to grant 5 years Multiple Business Visa within 24 hours to businessmen of 96 BVL countries subject to the production of any of the following and as per list of countries mentioned below:

  • Recommendation letter from CC&I of the respective foreign country.
  • Invitation letter from Business organization duly recommended by the concerned Trade Organization.
  • Recommendatory letter by Honorary Investment Counselor of BOI/Commercial Attache`.
  • Visa-on-Arrival (VOA) for 30 days to be granted to businessmen of 96 BVL countries on production of any of the above-mentioned documents.
  • Multiple business visa for 5 years shall be granted within 24 hours, subject to provision of requisite documents.
LIST OF BUSINESS FRIENDLY COUNTRIES (BVL)
Algeria Greece Norway
Angola Guatemala Oman
Argentina Guinea Panama
Australia Guinea-Bissau Paraguay
Austria Honduras Peru
Azerbaijan Hong Kong Philipines
Bahrain Hungary Poland
Bangladesh Indonesia Portugal
Belgium Iran Qatar
Benin Iraq Romania
Brazil Ireland Russia
Bulgaria Italy Saudi Arabia
Cambodia Japan Senegal
Cameron Jordan Sierra Lone
Canada Kazakhstan Singapore
Chile Kenya Slovenia
China Korea, Republic South Africa
Columbia Kuwait South Sudan
Comoros Latvia Spain
Cote De Ivoire Lebanon Srilanka
Croatia Lithuania Sweden
Czech Republic Madagascar Switzerland
Denmark Malaysia Tanzania
Djibouti Mauritius Thailand
Ecuador Mexico Togo
Egypt Montenegro Tunisia
Estonia Morocco Turkey
Finland Mozambique Ukraine
France Myanmar United Arab Enirates
Gambia Netherlands United Kingdom
Germany New Zealand United States of America
Ghana Nigeria Vietnam

M- Visa on Arrival

  • 50 countries (Annexure-lll) will be granted Visa-on-arrival for individual tourist/group tourists as per following details:

LIST OF VISA-ON-ARRIVAL

Angola Japan Saint Kitts and Nevis
Argentina Jordan Saint Lucia
Austria Korea South Saudia Arabia
Azerbaijan Kuwait Singapore
Bahamas Lithuania Spain
Bahrain Luxembourg Srilanka
Barbados Malaysia Switzerland
Botswana Maldives Tajikistan
Brunei Malta Tanzania
Costa Rica Monaco Thailand
Finland Mozambique Tonga
Germany Nepal Trinidad and Tobago
Ghana New Zealand Tunisia
Iceland Oman Turkey
Indonesia Paraguay UAE
Italy Qatar Western Samoa
Rwanda Zambia
  • Nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and UAE will be granted 30 days multiple entry visa on arrival.
  • Foreign nationals of Indian origin will also be allowed to avail the facility of visa on Arrival for religious tourism.
  • Visa on Arrival will be augmented with Electronic travel Authorization(ETA) subject to 48-72 hours prior application/intimation.
  • All Qatari Passport holders including Diplomatic Passports, Special passports and Ordinary Passports will be granted Visa on Arrival(Tourist/Visit) free of charge, with single or multiple entries, without requirement of ETA at any port of entry for a period of 30 days extendable by another 30 days subject to the following conditions:

– Passport Validity for at least 6 months
– Confirmed return ticket; and
– having cash equivalent to US $1500/- or a valid credit card.

To encourage and facilitate tourism in Pakistan Directorate of Tourist Services(DTS) approved tour operators will be allowed to bring tourists groups in Pakistan

N- Tourist Visa.

Pakistan Missions abroad are authorized to grant Visit/Tourist Visa for three months validity and stay with double entry to foreigners of 190 countries of List-A.

List A Countries

Albania Guinea Paraguay
Algeria Guinea-Bissau Peru
Andorra Guyana Philippine
Angola Haiti Poland
Antigua & Barbuda Holy See(Vactican city) Portugal
Argentina Honduras Qatar
Australia Hungary Romania
Austria Iceland Russia
Azerbaijan Indonesia Rwanda
Bahamas Iran Saint Kitts and Nevis
Bahrain Iraq Saint Lucia
Bangladesh Ireland Saint Vincent and the grenadines
Barbados Italy Samoa (Western)
Belarus Jamacia San Marino
Belgium Japan Sao Tome and Principe
Belize Jordan Saudia Arabia
Benin Kazakhstan Senegal
Bhutan Kenya Serbia
Bolivia Kiribati Seychelles
Bosnia and Herzegovina Korea (North) Sierra Leone
Botswana Korea (South) Singapore
Brazil Kosovo Slovakia Republic
Brunei Kuwait Selovenia
Bulgaria Kyrgyzstan Solomon Islands
Burkina Faso Laos South Africa
Butundi Latvia South Sudan
Cambodia Lebanon Spain
Cameroon Lesotho Srilanka
Canada Liberia Sudan
Cabo Verde Libya Suriname
Central African Republic Liechtenstein Swaziland(Eswatini)
Chad Lithuania Sweden
Chile Luxembourg Switzerland
China Macedonia Syria
Colombia Madagascar Tajiskistan
Comoros Malawi Tanzania
Congo Malaysia Thailand
Congo(Democratic Republic) Maldives Timor-Lest
Costa Rica Mali Togo
Cote d’ Ivoire Malta Tonga
Croatia Marshall Island Trinidad and Tobago
Cuba Mauritania Tunisia
Cyprus Mauritius Turkey
Czech Republic Mexico Turkmenistan
Denmark Micronesia Tuvalu
Djibouti Moldova U.A.E
Dominican Monaco U.K
Dominican Republic Mongolia U.S.A
Ecuador Montenegro Uganda
Eqypt Morocco Ukraine
El Salvador Mozambique Uruguay
Equatorial Myanmar Uzbekistan
Eritrea Namibia Vanuatu
Estonia Nauru Venezuela
Ethiopia Nepal Vietnam
Fiji Netherlands Yemen
Finland New Zealand Zambia
France Nicaragua Zimbabwe
Gabon Niger
Gambia Nigeria
Georgia Norway
Germany Oman
Ghana Palau
Greece Palestine
Grenada Panama
Guatemala Papua New Guinea

US National:

  • Pakistani Missions abroad are authorized to grant 05 years multiple entry Visa with maximum stay of three (03) months to American national.

List-B Countries

  • There are 2 countries in list B (i-e India and Somalia)
  • Armenia, Israel and Taiwan will not be part of any list.
  • Visa policy regarding Afghanistan will be issued separately.

Applicants from 175 countries would be able to apply E-Visa, which will be augmented with Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) as per following details:

Albania Greece Oman
Andorra Grenada Palau
Angola Guatemala Panama
Antigua and Barbuda Guinea Papua New Guinea
Argentina Guinea-Bissau Paraguay
Australia Guyana Peru
Austria Haiti Philippine
Azerbaijan Holy See (Vatican City) Poland
Bahamas, The Honduras Portugal
Bahrain Hungry Qatar
Bangladesh Iceland Romania
Barbados Indonesia Russia
Belarus Iran Rwanda
Belgium Ireland Saint Kitts and Nevis
Belize Italy Saint Lucia
Benin Jamaica Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Bolivia Japan San Marino
Bosnia and Herzegovina Jordan Sao Tome and Principe
Botswana Kazakhstan Saudia Arabia
Brazil Kenya Senegal
Brunei Kiribati Serbia
Bulgaria Korea (South) Seychelles
Burkina Faso Kosovo Sierra Leone
Burundi Kuwait Singapore
Cambodia Kyrgyzstan Slovakia Republic
Cameroon Laos Slovenia
Canada Latvia Solomon Islands
Capbo Verde Lebanon South Africa
Central African Republic Lesotho Spain
Chile Liberia Srilanka
China Liechtenstein Suriname
Colombia Luxembourg Switzerland
Congo (Republic) Macedonia tajikistan
Costa Rica Madagascar Tanzania
Cote d’ Ivoire Malawi Thailand
Croatia Malaysia Timor-Lest
Cuba Maldives Togo
Cyprus Mali Tonga
Czech Republic Malta Trindad and Tobago
Denmark Marshall Island Tunisia
Djibouti Mauritius Turkey
Dominica Mexico Turkmenistan
Dominican Republic Micronesia Tuvalu
Ecuador Moldova U.A.E
Egypt Monaco U.K.
El Salvador Mongolia U.S.A
Equatorial Guinea Monteneegro Uganda
Eritrea Morocco Ukraine
Estonia Mozambique Uruguay
Ethopia Myanmar Uzbekistan
Fiji Namibia Vanuatu
Finland Nauru Venezuela
France Nepal Vietnam
Gabon Netherlands Western Samoa
Gambia New Zealand Zambia
Georgia Nicaragua Zimbabwe
Germany Niger
Ghana Norway
  • E-Visa Pilot Project would be initiated for China, Malaysia, Turkey, UAE and UK.
  • Processing time for manual applications shall be 7-10 working days at Pakistan missions aboard.

O- Group Tourism through Designated Tour Operators.

Visa On Arrival (VOA) will be allowed for one month validity and stay (Multiple) to Group Tourists of following 24 Tourists Friendly Countries (TFC) through designated Tour Operators in Pakistan subject to the following conditions:-

  • The case will be submitted through designated/authorized tour operators only.
  • The concerned tour operator will also submit undertaking to the effect that the tourists will be their responsibility and that they will not illegally overstay beyond validity of visa.
  • If required, the same tour operators will apply, before expiry of visa for further extension upto 30 days.
  • The concerned tour operators will submit a confirmation about exit of the said tourists, after their actual leaving the country.

Tourist Friendly Countries (TFC) for Group Tourism through Designated Tour Operators

Austria France Korea Singapore
Belgium Germany Luxembourg Spain
Canada Greece Malaysia Sweden
China Iceland Netherlands Thailand
Denmark Italy Norway U.K.
Finland Japan Portugal U.S.A.

Q- Entry into Pakistan without Visa.

Pakistan has visa abolition Agreements with following 46 countries. The foreigners holding diplomatic, official and ordinary passport holders of the following countries can enter in Pakistan without visa for the period mentioned against each. After expiry of the period, extension of visa would be required through Ministry of Interior.

List of Countries with whom Pakistan has Visa Abolition Agreements

Name of Country Period for which visa not required Remarks
 Algeria Three Months Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 Argentina Three Months Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 Austria Three Months Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 Azerbaijan One Month Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 Bahrain Three Months Diplomatic & Special Passports (for Bahrain only)
 Bahrain Three Months Diplomatic & Official Passports (for Pakistan only)
 Belgium Three Months Diplomatic Passport Holders
 Brazil Three Months Diplomatic Passport Holders
 Brunei Darussalam 14 days Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 China/Hongkong One Month Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 Cyprus 90 days Diplomatic & Service/Official Passport Holders
 Czech/Solvak Republic Three Months Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 Denmark Three Months Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 Egypt 30 Days Diplomatic Passport Holders
 Finland Three Months Diplomatic Passport Holders
 Germany Three Months Diplomatic Passport Holders
 Indonesia 30 days Diplomatic & Service/Official Passport Holders
 Iran Three Months Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 Jordan Three Months Diplomatic Passport Holders
 Kuwait Three Months Diplomatic, Special & Official Passport Holders
 Kazakhstan One Month Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 Kyrgyz Republic 30 Days Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 Lao PDR Three Months Diplomatic & Official Passport
 Libya 30 Days Diplomatic, Official & Special Passport Holders
 Luxemburg Three Months Diplomatic Passport Holders
 Maldives Three Months All Nationals of Country
 Malaysia 30 days Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 Malta 30 Days Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 Mexico Three Months Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 Morocco Three Months Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 Nepal One Month All Nationals of Country
 Netherlands Three Months Diplomatic Passport Holders
 Norway Three Months Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 Philippine Three Months Diplomatic Passport Holders
 Romania One Month Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 RussianaFederation Three Months/Entire Period of Assignment Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 Serbia One Month Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 Slovak Republic Three Month Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 South Korea Three Months Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 SriLanka 30 Days Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 Thailand Un-Specified Period Diplomatic Passport Holders
 Tajikistan Three Months Diplomatic Passport Holders
 Tunisia Three Months Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 Turkey Three Months Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 Turkmenistan 30 days Diplomatic Passport Holders
 Vietnam Three Months Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders
 Yemen Three Months Diplomatic, Special & Official Passport Holders

Note: Three months visa will be applicable on short-term/Official Business visits and visa for entire period of assignment will be applicable to members of Diplomatic/Consular Missions & their families.

  • Diplomatic Passport Holders : 12 Countries
  • Diplomatic & Official Passport Holders : 32 Countries
  • Ordinary Passport Holders(All nationals) : 02 Countries

R- Registration of Foreigners with Police.

Foreign nationals who are directed by the immigration authorities at airports to report to FRO for registration and a stamp is affixed to this effect, on their passports.
However, nationals in the managerial category, who are issued Work Permit/Visa will be exempted from Police registration except Indians and foreigners of Indian origin.
Please contact for registration, Foreigner Registration Branch established in the office of every District Police Officer.

S- Visa Extension in Pakistan.

The Regional Passport Offices at Islamabad as well as at Provincial capitals, have been empowered to allow one year extension in business visa on submission of the following requisite business related documents.

  • Valid Passport/Business visa.
  • Documents showing substantial Investment/Export/Import during last year.
  • Registration letter from Tourism Division (in case of hotel business).
  • Other business documents (i.e. letter from Chamber of Commerce & Industry/Registrar of Company, partnership deed, article of association etc.)

Extension in visa beyond one year will be granted by the Ministry of Interior on production of the requisite business documents.

 

 

 

 

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