Your Complete Guide to the Pakistan Online Visa System

The Pakistan Online Visa System is open to citizens of 192 countries, who can apply through the official portal at visa.nadra.gov.pk. Separately, a specific list of 50 tourist-friendly countries (and a similar list for business) is eligible for the visa-on-arrival route via an ETA. Citizens of the six GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain) are exempt from applying for tourism and business. Eligibility lists change, so always confirm your nationality's current status on the official portal.

An Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is issued for visa-on-arrival categories, it authorises you to travel to Pakistan and seek your visa at the Visa-On-Arrival counter (FIA) on arrival. It is not itself the visa. If your online application is approved, you receive a Visa Grant Notice (the actual visa) and, for VOA categories, an ETA emailed to you.

The fee depends on your nationality, visa category, and duration, typically ranging from around US$5 to US$100. The most accurate way to check is the official fee calculator on visa.nadra.gov.pk. You pay online by credit or debit card. Never pay for a Pakistan visa on any unofficial website, the government portal is the only correct place.

For a tourist visa (individual, up to 3 months), processing is typically around 7 to 10 working days. Work visas can take longer (often 2 to 8 weeks depending on nationality and documents). If your application is sent back for review, the processing time restarts from the date you re-submit, which is why getting it right the first time matters.

No. Tourist and business visas do not permit paid employment. To work in Pakistan you need a specific work/employment visa sponsored by a registered employer, plus a work permit from the Board of Investment. Working on the wrong visa can lead to penalties including deportation, so always apply under the correct category.

The most common reasons are avoidable: a blurry, cropped, or non-compliant photo; passport details entered differently from the actual passport (name mismatch); an incomplete hotel address (like "Hotel in Lahore" instead of a full address); a hotel booking that doesn't cover the full stay; incomplete documentation; or applying too close to travel with no buffer. Security concerns can also cause a rejection. If your application is sent back for "Review", you must respond within 7 days or it auto-cancels. Getting everything right the first time is the best protection.

You can apply for a visa extension through the same official portal while you are physically present in Pakistan and still hold a valid visa. A standard tourist extension is typically for an additional period (often up to 6 months on a multiple-entry basis, or beyond for longer stays, processed as a separate application). Apply at least a week before your current visa expires. Overstaying without an extension can incur charges, so plan ahead.

Yes, always print a colour copy of your Visa Grant Notice or ETA, and keep a digital copy on your phone. On arrival, pass through security screening, join the "E-Visa / Visa on Arrival" or "All Passports" queue, present your passport and printed visa (keep your hotel booking and return ticket handy), have your fingerprints and photo taken, and receive your entry stamp. The whole process usually takes 10 to 20 minutes at Islamabad, Lahore, or Karachi airports.

From January 2026, the free "Visa Prior to Arrival" (VPA) programme, which previously offered free visas to citizens of many countries, was suspended for most nationalities. This means most travellers must now apply for an e-Visa through the official portal before departure, with the applicable fee. GCC citizens (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain) remain exempt for tourism and business. The e-Visa at visa.nadra.gov.pk is now the primary and most cost-effective route for most visitors.

If your application is "sent back for review", you must resubmit within 7 days or it is automatically cancelled, and the processing time restarts from your resubmission date. If refused, you can reapply with stronger, corrected documentation, or pursue an appeal. The key is to identify exactly why it was refused (often an incomplete document, a name mismatch, or an unclear purpose) and fix that specific issue before resubmitting. We help you review the reason and rebuild a stronger application.

We're an independent advisory service. We help you choose the correct category, prepare and check every document (including invitation, sponsor, admission, and work paperwork), calculate the exact official fee, and avoid the common mistakes that cause rejections or delays. You still apply through the official portal, we simply make sure your application is right. Contact us to get started.