Rules for entry and stay in Pakistan
Pakistan operates a digital visa system. Most travelers must obtain entry authorization before departure through the official Pakistan Online Visa System (POVS). Boarding may be refused if a traveler does not have a valid visa approval before arrival.
Security conditions vary by region. Some territories may be restricted to foreigners or require special permits.
Do you need a visa to enter Pakistan?
Most foreign citizens need a visa to visit Pakistan.
Pakistan currently offers two main ways to obtain permission to enter:
⚠️ Starting January 1, 2026, Pakistan suspended the free Visa Prior to Arrival (VPA) program for 126 nationalities. Travelers must now apply for a regular paid e-Visa before travel. Traditional visa on arrival at the airport is generally not available.
Pakistan electronic visa (e-Visa)
The e-Visa is the main entry document for tourism and business travel. Processing usually takes up to about 7 working days depending on nationality and application review.
The visa generally allows a stay of up to 90 days and may be single or multiple entry depending on approval.
Steps to apply for a Pakistan e-Visa
- Create an account on the official Pakistan Online Visa System (POVS) portal.
- Complete the online application form and select the visa category.
- Upload required documents (passport, photo, accommodation or invitation).
- Pay the visa fee online.
- Wait for processing and approval.
- Download and print the issued e-Visa sent to your email.
- Present the printed e-Visa to airline staff and immigration officers upon arrival.
Required documents for e-Visa
- Passport valid for at least 6 months after departure
- Recent passport-style photograph
- Hotel booking or invitation letter
- Travel itinerary
Upon arrival, border officers may also request return ticket and accommodation confirmation.
Visa through embassy or consulate
Some nationalities must apply through a Pakistani diplomatic mission or may choose this method instead of an e-Visa.
Steps to apply through embassy
- Contact the nearest Pakistani embassy or consulate to confirm requirements.
- Complete the visa application form.
- Prepare supporting documents (passport, photos, travel details, invitation if required).
- Submit the application in person or through an authorized visa center.
- Pay the consular visa fee.
- Wait for processing and collect the visa once approved.
- Travel to Pakistan and present the visa at border control.
Required documents
- Passport valid for at least 6 months
- Passport photographs
- Completed application form
- Travel itinerary
- Invitation letter (if requested)
Visa validity and permitted stay depend on the visa type and immigration decision.
Special categories
Pakistan issues special visa categories such as mountaineering and trekking visas. Applications are submitted online and require sponsorship by an authorized tour operator. Certain regions may require additional permits.
Transit visa
A transit visa must be opened in advance, as no visas are opened upon arrival. This type of visa is issued to people who intend to pass through the territory of Pakistan to a third country, and whose stay in Pakistan will not exceed 72 hours. Visa-free transit is possible only if the passenger is traveling to a third country on the same flight that he arrived in Pakistan, and does not leave the transit zone of the airport.
To obtain a transit visa, you need the following documents:
- an international passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the end of the trip;
- 4 photos of the passport sample 3. 5 x 4. 5 cm, and one of the photos should be attached to the questionnaire;
- application form completed in English and signed personally by the applicant;
- air tickets/travel documents for the entire route;
- a copy of the international passport (the first page with the applicant's data and the visa pages);
- a copy of all completed pages of the international passport (spread on an A-4 sheet);
- a visa to the country of destination, if necessary.
What documents are required to import an animal into the country?
- obtain an import permit issued by the Ministry of foodstuffs and agriculture from the Office of the import and Export Control Organization of Pakistan.
- the animal must be implanted with a microchip that consists of 15 digits and complies with the ISO 11784/11785 standard. The number of the microchip must be displayed in the health certificate;
- the animal must have been vaccinated against rabies 30 days to 12 months before entering the country;
- dogs must be vaccinated against canine distemper, infectious hepatitis, leptospirosis, and canine parvovirus 21 days to 12 months before the travel date;
- cats should be vaccinated against rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia, and calicivirus infection 21 days to 12 months prior to the travel date.
- rabies titer test is optional;
- veterinary certificate;
- treatment of parasites before entry is mandatory;
- birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, amphibians, rodents are not subject to the requirements for rabies vaccination, but may have to meet other requirements that should be specified in the relevant authorities of your country/country of destination.
Important! Before importing a pet (if it is not a dog, cat, or ferret), make sure that it is not protected by the International Convention on international trade in Endangered Species of wild flora and fauna (CITES). If this is the case, then you will need to apply for additional documents.
Duty-free import to Pakistan allowed:
- up to 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, or 4.4 pounds (2 kg) of puff tobacco (people who aged 18 and over);
- personal items and gifts worth up to 100 dollars per person.
What is included in the list of personal items?
- personal jewelry (worth no more than 1,500 dollars USA per person);
- toiletries, electric shaver;
- medals, prizes;
- electric iron (1 PC);
- hair dryer (1 PC),
- toys and personal goods for the child;
- mobile phone (1 PC.);
- wristwatch (1 PC);
- radio or tape recorder (1 PC);
- VCR or VCD or DVD Player (1 PC);
- IR video camera (1 PC.);
- laptop or desktop PC (1 PC);
- professional tools and equipment worth no more than 5,000 dollars USA;
- old and used furniture, lamps, dishes, cutlery, kitchen utensils, rugs, bed linen;
- hand cart;
- wheelchair for your own use.
Items that are prohibited from being imported to Pakistan:
- any alcoholic beverages;
- videos and printed products of erotic and anti-religious content (Pakistani customs officers can classify ordinary magazines that contain photos of half-naked women as” erotic");
- fresh and canned meat;
- drugs and medicines that contain narcotic substances;
- plants and seeds (except for flowers without soil, but in this case you must have a phytosanitary certificate);
- some fruits and vegetables;
- soil samples;
- fish and canned caviar;
- dairy products and eggs (from some countries);
- all types of matches and lighters (although they are not searched to find them);
- counterfeit products and forgeries;
- weapons that fall under the category of illegal under the legislation of the Islamic Republic (you must have a specially issued permit to import hunting weapons).
Currency and gold
- You can import cash, traveler's checks and payment cards of any amount to Pakistan, but you must declare amounts exceeding 10,000 dollars USA or the equivalent in foreign currency. When importing gold, the declaration is mandatory.
- Prohibited: banknotes in denominations of 50 and 100 rupees or more.
Rules for exporting foreign currency:
- The local currency (Pakistani rupee-PKR): up to 100 PKR;
- The State Bank of Pakistan allows you to convert Max. PKR 500 - to foreign currency if you provide a receipt for the exchange in Pakistan.
- Foreign currency: in banknotes and traveler's checks without restrictions.