F
or those wishing to go to Pakistan you will most likely require a visa. Thankfully, for many of us the process is very simple and done online. We have just been through this process so let us share with you our experience and how to make your life a little easier if traveling to Pakistan.
Firstly, to apply for the E-visa you need to go direct to the Pakistan Government website . Even if you have a consulate in your city, they will suggest for you to apply online as many no longer accept paper applications.
Secondly, there is the choice to apply for either Electronic Visa Authorisation (ETA) which is used for visa on arrival or you can apply directly for an E-visa online. We recommend applying directly for the E-visa online as the ETA is not available to everyone. To see who can apply for the ETA see this map .
To apply for the visa you will need to upload:
- A copy of your passport;
- A passport photo; and
- Proof of accommodation/ Letter of Invitation (LOI)*
When uploading it will ask for an LOI. This is only for people who are not staying in a hotel or are staying with friends/family. They will need to write a letter stating that you will be staying there. Alternatively, you can contact a tour company and they can help you with one for a fee.
What we did/recommend is book a hotel and upload the booking confirmation. You do not need an LOI if you have a valid hotel booking. We had a hotel booked for a few days in Islamabad and we uploaded the confirmation and had no issue. No need to upload a full itinerary or every confirmation for accommodations on your trip.
You will also need to pay the fee of 60 USD which will be done through their online system.
Once this has all been submitted you should receive a confirmation email and then you should get your e-visa approval within 48-72 hours (as stated on the government website). For us we received in closer to 48 hours. Once you have this document you are ready to go!
