UPDATE (Feb. 2, 2021): Pakistan’s embassies and high commissions across the world have halted the issuance of manual visas, urging all non-resident Pakistanis and others interested in travelling to the country to apply online for electronic or e-visas.
According to a newspaper report, this change applies to all Pakistani missions and embassies across the world will stop issuing manual visas from Feb 1, 2021.
Pakistan is a land of wonders, and its natural beauty makes it a fairly attractive lure for international travellers. As of the first quarter of 2019, Pakistan has launched a new online e-visa application portal to make it easier for foreign tourists to visit and experience the beauty of Pakistan firsthand. Getting a tourist visa for Pakistan was fairly complicated in the past. However, the recently revised visa policies, including visa-on-arrival and e-visas for nationals of several countries, have made it more convenient than ever before for Pakistan to be a gracious host for travellers from across the world. This has resulted in Pakistan topping the list of top holiday destinations for 2020 according to the US-based Conde Nast Traveller. Keeping the interest of foreign tourists in mind, we’ve taken the liberty of compiling a comprehensive guide on how to get a tourist visa for Pakistan as per your nationality and requirements. Read the guide now, and thank us later!
IN THIS POST
– Pakistan’s Official Visa Portal
– Types of Tourist Visas
– Applying for a Tourist Visa Online
– Applying for a Tourist Visa via the Pakistani Embassy
– Important Considerations for Tourists
How Will Pakistan’s Official Visa Portal Help You?
Along with promoting tourism in the country using videos and travel-related content, the online portal run by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) is also offering comprehensive information about the different visa types that you might be eligible for. The portal also allows you to register yourself, fill out an application form, make online payments via Visa or MasterCard, and get a visa in as little as 48 hours (for visa-on-arrival).
There are several visa categories, such as tourist visa, tourist visa-on-arrival, family visit visa, business visa, business visa-on-arrival, work visa, student visa, journalist visa, diplomatic visa, official visa, tabligh visa, missionary visa, NGO/INGO visa, domestic aide visa, mountaineering and trekking visa, and others, including travelling to Pakistan for cultural activities.
Types of Tourist Visas for Pakistan That Are Available Online
First things first; it is important to understand that two types of tourist visas are being offered online via Pakistan’s official visa portal. The first of these is the visa-on-arrival category, while the second is the e-visa. Both of these are only being offered to citizens of selected nations. While nationals of 175 countries are eligible for a Pakistani e-visa, tourists from more than 50 countries can easily apply for a visa-on-arrival.
Please note that you will have to apply for a visa at your nearest Pakistani embassy if you are not a citizen of one of the countries that have been included in the relaxed policy. We’ll discuss these countries shortly.
For now, we’ll be covering the requirements and processes involved in these two tourism-based visas, along with the process involved in getting a tourist visa for Pakistan via the embassy.
Tourist Visa-on-Arrival for Pakistan
We’ll begin our guide on how to get a tourist visa for Pakistan with the visa-on-arrival category. The tourist visa-on-arrival grants you an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which allows you to travel to Pakistan with ease.
What is the Processing Time for a Tourist Visa-on-Arrival?
It is recommended that you apply with your intent for travelling to Pakistan at least 48 to 72 hours before your trip.
Who is Eligible for the Tourist Visa-on-Arrival Category?
Citizens of the following 50 countries can apply for a quick tourist visa-on-arrival before travelling to Pakistan:
| Angola | Mozambique |
| Argentina | Nepal |
| Austria | New Zealand |
| Azerbaijan | Oman |
| The Bahamas | Paraguay |
| Bahrain | Qatar |
| Barbados | Rwanda |
| Botswana | Saint Kitts and Nevis |
| Brunei | Saint Lucia |
| Costa Rica | Saudi Arabia |
| Finland | Singapore |
| Germany | South Korea |
| Ghana | Spain |
| Iceland | Sri Lanka |
| Indonesia | Switzerland |
| Italy | Tajikistan |
| Japan | Tanzania |
| Jordan | Thailand |
| Kuwait | Tonga |
| Lithuania | Trinidad & Tobago |
| Luxembourg | Tunisia |
| Malaysia | Turkey |
| The Maldives | The UAE |
| Malta | Western Samoa |
| Monaco | Zambia |
What Documents Should Be Submitted for a Tourist Visa-on-Arrival Application?
You will need your passport, a recent photograph, as well as an invitation letter from your sponsor or tour operator. If you do not have a sponsor, please attach your hotel booking details instead.
What is the Validity of the Tourist Visa-on-Arrival?
A tourist visa-on-arrival is valid for three months, but it is open to an extension, provided that you are living in Pakistan and have a valid visa when you apply for the extension. Nationals of Turkey, Malaysia, and the UAE may also be granted a 30-day multiple-entry visa-on-arrival (subject to approval on individual applications).
Tourist e-Visa for Pakistan
Getting a tourist visa for Pakistan has been troublesome for many world travellers, but all that has been made a case of the past thanks to the convenient e-visa service. In fact, world travellers now have some amazing views and insights on travelling to Pakistan.
What is the Processing Time for a Tourist e-Visa?
While an e-visa application can take anywhere between seven to ten working days, the visa is open for extensions which can take anywhere between seven days to four weeks of processing time, depending on the duration of the extension.
Who is Eligible for the Tourist e-Visa Category?
Citizens of around 175 countries are eligible for a tourist visa online if they are travelling to Pakistan. These countries include the 50 mentioned above, along with the following:
| Albania | Cote d’ Ivoire (The Ivory Coast) | Guinea-Bissau | Mexico | Sao Tome and Principe |
| Andorra | Croatia | Guyana | Micronesia | Senegal |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Cuba | Haiti | Moldova | Serbia |
| Australia | Cyprus | Holy See (Vatican City) | Mongolia | Seychelles |
| Bangladesh | The Czech Republic | Honduras | Montenegro | Sierra Leone |
| Belarus | Denmark | Hungary | Morocco | Slovakia Republic |
| Belgium | Djibouti | Iran | Myanmar | Slovenia |
| Belize | Dominica | Ireland | Namibia | The Solomon Islands |
| Benin | The Dominican Republic | Jamaica | Nauru | South Africa |
| Bolivia | Ecuador | Kazakhstan | The Netherlands | Suriname |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | Egypt | Kenya | Nicaragua | Sweden |
| Brazil | El Salvador | Kiribati | Niger | Timor-Lest |
| Bulgaria | Equatorial Guinea | Kyrgyzstan | Kosovo | Togo |
| Burkina Faso | Eritrea | Laos | Norway | Turkmenistan |
| Burundi | Estonia | Latvia | Palau | Tuvalu |
| Cambodia | Ethiopia | Lebanon | Panama | The UK |
| Cameroon | Fiji | Lesotho | Papua New Guinea | The US |
| Canada | France | Liberia | Peru | Uganda |
| Ca Verde | Gabon | Liechtenstein | The Philippines | Ukraine |
| The Central African Republic | The Gambia | Macedonia | Poland | Uruguay |
| Chile | Georgia | Madagascar | Portugal | Uzbekistan |
| China | Greece | Malawi | Romania | Vanuatu |
| Colombia | Grenada | Mali | Russia | Venezuela |
| The Comoro Islands | Guatemala | The Marshall Islands | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Vietnam |
| Congo (Republic) | Guinea | Mauritius | San Marino | Zimbabwe |
What Documents Should Be Submitted for a Tourist e-Visa Application?
The list of documents for both online tourist visa processes remains the same. Thus, you will need your passport, a recent photograph, as well as a sponsor’s letter or relevant hotel bookings to prove your travel intent to Pakistan as a tourist.
What is the Validity of the Tourist e-Visa?
Tourist visas for Pakistan can be single as well as double-entry visas with a short stay of fewer than three months, with an extension of up to or more than six months being applicable on them. Meanwhile, US nationals might be eligible for a 5-year multiple entry visa (subject to approval on individual applications). A maximum stay of three months is allowed if such a visa is granted.
How to Apply for a Tourist Visa for Pakistan Online?
Once you’ve determined which visa category you fall into, you can easily complete your set of supporting documents, making sure that your photograph is in accordance with the requirements mentioned in the photograph guide. You should also keep a valid credit/debit card handy for payment of the visa fees.
You can then complete your application in a few easy steps:
- Launch the Pakistan Online Visa system.
- Create your account
- Log in to your account
- Fill the application form
- Pay the required fees
- Submit your application
You can check the website for assistance with regard to uploading your documents. There’s also an application guide available online for your aid.
Applying for a Tourist Visa via the Pakistani Embassy
Under the circumstances that you do not belong to any of the countries mentioned above, you will have to apply for a tourist visa for Pakistan via the closest embassy. It is recommended that you apply from an embassy in your home country unless one is unavailable to improve the chances of visa approval.
What is the Processing Time for a Tourist Visa Application via the Pakistani Embassy?
Travellers differ in their opinions with regards to the processing time, and it can generally take anywhere between one week to up to six weeks for a visa application to be processed. It is therefore advised that you apply for your visa well in advance.
What Documents Should Be Submitted for a Tourist Visa Application?
While most of the documents remain the same, including a recent photograph and your passport, most embassies will require a Letter Of Invitation (LOI) from a Pakistani tour operator to grant you the visa. You will also need to submit a filled application form, a proof of your residence in your home country, your travel itinerary for Pakistan, round trip flight bookings for the duration you wish to travel, employment letter from your place of work/school or proof of business ownership, tax returns, and bank statements for the past three months.
What is the Validity of the Tourist Visa Approved by a Pakistani Embassy?
A tourist visa for Pakistan is valid for around three months from the date of approval, with a stay of anywhere between 30 to 90 days being acceptable based on individual applications.
Some Important Considerations while Getting a Tourist Visa for Pakistan
Wrapping up our guide on how to get a tourist visa for Pakistan, we’ve got some important considerations for you to keep in mind:
Visa-Free Access to Pakistan
Pakistan offers visa-free access to the passport holders of:
- The Maldives (up to 90 days)
- Nepal and Western Samoa (for a month)
- Tonga and Trinidad & Tobago (Unlimited Period)
Thus, travelling to Pakistan from one of these countries is truly hassle-free.
For Holders of Indian, Armenian, Israeli, Taiwanese and Afghani Passports
Special conditions apply to nationals of India, Armenia, Israel, Taiwan, and Afghanistan, so you should research your specific case accordingly.
Police Registration of Foreign Travellers in Pakistan
Police registration is required for tourists travelling from the following 14 countries:
| Algeria | Nigeria |
| Bangladesh | Palestine |
| Bhutan | Somalia |
| India | Sri Lanka |
| Iraq | Sudan |
| Israel | Serbia |
| Libya | Tanzania |
The Requirement of No-Objection Certificate (NOC)
A No-Objection Certificate (NOC) was required to be submitted by foreign travellers in the past if they wanted to visit certain parts of the country, but this requirement has now been waived off. The only areas off-limits to foreigners are:
- Pakistan-China Border: 10 miles
- Pakistan-Afghan Border (Wakhan Corridor): 10 miles
- Azad Jammu & Kashmir (along the Line of Control): 5 miles
- Gilgit-Baltistan (along the Line of Control): 5 miles
- Siachen Glacier (along the Line of Actual Contact): 10 miles
Visa Fees Differ Based on the Type of Visa, Duration of the Visa, and Your Nationality
The online visa portal of Pakistan offers a handy fee calculator that can help you determine just how much it would cost to apply for a tourist visa for Pakistan. The visa can cost anywhere between 35 USD to 60 USD on average.
This concludes our guide on how to get a tourist visa for Pakistan. We’ve included all the prerequisites but if you still have some queries, email us at blog@zameen.com, and we’ll get back to you with the answer. Keep following Zameen Blog for more travel and tourism posts.
