Visa & Travel

All foreigners coming to Pakistan need a valid passport. Tourists from the following countries do not need visa to enter Pakistan for the period specified as under:

  • Iceland, Maldives, Singapore, South Korea, Zambia and Mauritius for 3 months
  • Hong Kong, Nepal and Western Samoa for 1 month
  • Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago for unlimited period

Landing permit/transit visa for 30 days shall be given at entry points, by Pakistan Immigration, free of cost, to genuine tourists after satisfying about their bonafied. Such landing permit/transit visa should be regularized from the nearest Regional Passport & Immigration Office, within its validity, Landing permit facility is not available for the nationals of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria Palestine, Somalia Sri Lanka, Sudan, Serbia, Tanzania and Uganda, in their own country, Israeli passport holders are not allowed entry into Pakistan.

Application Requirement for Visa

Valid passport, 2 passport size photographs, completed application form confirmed return/onward air-ticket (if traveling by air) and proof of sufficient amount of foreign currency, visa fee varies from country to country and type of visa.

Validity of Visa and other Information

  • Visa once issued, can be utilized within 6 months from the date of issue or as provided for
  • A single journey entry visa is valid for a stay up to 3 months unless other wise provided
  • Multiple journey visa is valid for stay of 5 months at one time. Any number of journeys (normally six) during a specified period not exceeding one year, are allowed on such visas
  • Double entry visa can also be issued to genuine tourists by Pakistani embassies abroad
  • Visa extension (maximum up to 3 months) is granted by Regional Passport & Immigration Offices in major cities of Pakistan (Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi and Quetta etc.)
  • Foreign tourists entering Pakistan through regular check posts do not need any road permit. There is no fresh visa required to travel from one province to another province of Pakistan, however, permission is needed for visit to some restricted areas. Please contact any PTDC Tourist Information Centre for details in this regard
  • Tourists not staying for over 30 days in Pakistan, do not require any Police Registration
  • Visitors staying over 30 days need to register themselves with the District Foreigners Registration Office within 30 days of their arrival in Pakistan. They should get a resident permit from the Registration Office in exchange to the temporary registration (form 'C') issued to them by Immigration authorities at the time of entry. Indian and Afghan visitors are required to obtain Police Registration within 24 hours of their arrival in Pakistan

Health Information

Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required for travelers arriving from endemic zone. Vaccination against Cholera, Hepatitis, Typhoid and Polio is recommended. Malaria risk exists in Pakistan throughout the year in areas below 2,000 m.

Customs Formalities and Allowances

Tourists are allowed to bring in following items without duty, personal clothing, hand bags, travel goods and toiletries, medal, trophies or prizes, jewelry not exceeding Rs. 1000/- or watch and 01 traveling clock, spectacles and physical aids, 01 cigarette lighter and 02 fountain pens, 01 pen-knife and similar items of personal use, 01 hair dryer for female tourist, 01 still camera and 10 rolls of films, 01 substandard cinematographer camera with projector and two rolls of films; 01 portable sound recording apparatus, 01 portable typewriter; 01 portable musical instrument; 01 portable sound recording apparatus; 01 portable typewriter; 01 invalid chair in use, toys and prams for accompanying child; games or sporting requisites including sporting fire-arms and cartridges in reasonable quantity on production of an arms license issued by Pakistan authorities; 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 01 pound of manufactures tobacco or assortment of both not exceed 01 pound in weight; foodstuff including confectionery and non-alcoholic beverage not over Rs. 100 gifts and souvenirs costing not over Rs. 1000/- 01 video camera fitted with VCR or a video camera and VCR with an endorsement by Pakistan customs on the passport.

Import/Availability of Liquor

Import of liquor is not allowed, however, if some body brings in some quantity by mistake, he/she should declare it to the Customs Officer who shall detain the liquor against a receipt and return it to the tourist on his/her departure from Pakistan, Non-Muslim foreign tourists can purchase liquor from an authorized vendor in Pakistan (usually a 5 or 4 star hotel) against a permit. This permit can be obtained form the Excise and Taxation Officer of the respective area. Hotels having a liquor vending license can also sell liquor to non-Muslim foreign tourists staying in the hotel. Please note that drinking at public places is strictly prohibited.

Import of Tourist Vehicles

A tourist may import a motor vehicle without duty under a Carnet-de-passage en dounne for a period of 3 months against an undertaking before the Customs Officer at the entry point that he/she will not transfer the ownership of the vehicle during his/her stay in Pakistan.

Currency Regulations

There are no restrictions on import of any foreign currency in any quantity. Un-spent balance of Pakistani rupees can be re-converted at the time of departure from the banks at exit points or from any authorised money changer in any city.

Formalities for outgoing tourists

Export: Foreign tourists can export precious stones or jewelry (except Gold jewelry) up to a value of Rs. 2,000 without any permission or duty (for Afghans, Bangladeshi and Iranians up to Rs. 1,000). Export of antiqu (such as Gandhara statues etc.) and drugs is prohibited.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) (Concessions and facilities for foreign tourists)

PIA offers attractive discounted air fares to foreign tourist group visiting Pakistan from Europe, Middle East, Japan and USA. A discount on international flights and 50% on domestic flights is available for students. For more details, please contact any PIA office abroad or in Pakistan.

Pakistan Railways (Concessions and facilities for foreign tourists)

A 25% concession is allowed by Pakistan Railways in all classes, to foreign tourists (both for groups and individuals). This concession is allowed on production of a recommendation certificate issued by any PTDC Tourist Information Centre and original Passport, to the Divisional Superintendent of Pakistan Railways (at Karachi, Quetta, Lahore, Sukkur, Multan, Peshawar and Rawalpindi or Station Master of other principal stations. Foreign students are allowed 50% concession on Pakistan Railways on production of PTDC certificate, Student card and their Passport.