For those wishing to go to Pakistan, you will need a visa — and as of 2026 the process has become a fair bit more involved than it was for the past couple of years. If you travelled to Pakistan any time between August 2024 and the end of 2025, you may remember a fast, free “Visa Prior to Arrival” (VPA). That scheme was suspended without warning on 1 January 2026, and there's no indication yet that it's coming back. Visa on arrival was also removed at the same time for most nationalities. So plan ahead: today, almost everyone needs a standard paid e-Visa arranged before you travel.
To apply, go directly to the official Pakistan Online Visa System (POVS) at visa.nadra.gov.pk — this is the only legitimate portal, so ignore any third-party sites offering to process it for a fee. Create an account, select the “Tourist” visa category, and complete the online form.
You'll need to upload:
- A copy of your passport, valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates
- A recent passport-style photo (white background, taken within the last 3 months)
- A hotel booking confirmation, or a Letter of Invitation (LOI) if you're not staying in a hotel
- A rough travel itinerary showing your planned dates and destinations
- Bank statements from the last three months, as proof of funds
If you need an LOI (only relevant if you're not booked into a hotel), it has to be written on Government of Pakistan stamp paper, signed by your host, with a copy of their CNIC and passport attached — reach out to a tour company (like us!) if you need help arranging one.
Fees now vary by nationality rather than being a flat rate: EU passport holders pay around USD 35, US/UK/Canadian passport holders around USD 60, and other nationalities somewhere between USD 20–75. A handful of nationalities — Afghanistan, China, Japan, Iceland, North Korea, Slovakia, Malaysia, UAE and Saudi Arabia — pay no fee at all. Check the POVS fee page for the exact figure for your nationality.
Processing is no longer instant. It's officially quoted at 7–10 business days, but plenty of travellers report waits of up to 20 business days (roughly 3–4 calendar weeks) — so apply at least 4–6 weeks before you plan to travel. If your application is sent back for extra information, you'll only have 7 days to resubmit before it's automatically cancelled, so it pays to get your documents right the first time.
One easier route still exists: citizens of the GCC states (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar) generally continue to get visa-free entry or visa on arrival, without needing to go through the online system at all.
Read more about this:
Getting a Pakistan e-Visa in 2026
