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Lake Saif-al-Maluk, Pakistan

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Pakistan: visa and passport requirements

Passport required Return ticket required Visa required
Australian Yes Yes Yes
British Yes Yes Yes
Canadian Yes Yes Yes
Other EU Yes Yes Yes
USA Yes Yes Yes
Passports: 

A passport valid for six months beyond the intended length of stay is required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visas: 

Required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except:
(a) holders of a Pakistan Origin Card (POC) regardless of nationality for unlimited stay;
(b) transit passengers continuing their journey within 24 hours by the same or first connecting aircraft, provided they are holding onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport;
Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the high commission/embassy to check visa requirements.

Visa note: 

Since March 2011, it has become more difficult to obtain a tourist visa to visit Pakistan, not to mention more expensive. If applying at the High Commission in London, expect the visa to take five working days. You’ll need to prepare a photocopy of your passport, two passport photos take along a utility bill for proof of address, your itinerary, a photocopy of your hotel booking, a bank statement covering the last three months worth of transactions and a letter from your place of work explaining that you will be returning to work. Business travellers also need letters of invitation from organisations both in the UK and in Pakistan. Nationals of Tonga and Trinidad & Tobago do not need a visa, nor do nationals of Iceland, Maldives and Zambia for stays up to three months.

Types and cost: 

Visitor: (single entry, up to 30 days) £104, double entry £122, 1 year multiple entry visa £332. Fees are the same for business travellers.

Validity: 

Single entry/double entry: six months from the date of issue for stays of up to three months. Multiple entry: six months to one year.

Transit: 

Transit visa required by all except those as noted above and those continuing their journey to a third country within 72 hours without leaving the airport, provided holding confirmed onward tickets.

Application to: 

Consulate (or consular section at embassy or high commission).

Working days: 

Depends on nationality (in UK, visas are normally granted within five working days). Enquire at the nearest consulate or embassy. Pilgrim visas require two months' processing time. Visa processing during Ramadan can take up to a week longer.

Entry documents: 

Ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months after departure, that you have a valid visa and bring proof of onward travel (usually your airline ticket) to be safe.

Extension of stay: 

It is usually possible for tourists to extend their stay. Contact the Regional Passport Office in Islamabad.

Entry with children: 

Children need their own passports. Immigration authorities will demand documentary evidence of parental responsibility, especially if the child is of Pakistani origin, before permitting the children to leave the country.

Entry restrictions: 

None, no need to prove sufficient funds.

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