How Can We Help?
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.
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) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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.