Pakistan Visa Guide

In short. Most visitors apply online. Here is how the process works and where trekking permits come in. How to apply for a Pakistan tourist visa online, the documents you need, and when a trekking permit is required for routes such as K2 Base Camp.

Who needs a visa

Most foreign nationals need a visa to enter Pakistan, and most can apply for one online. What you are eligible for, how long it lasts and what it costs depend on your nationality. Pakistan widened its online visa scheme in 2024 and the rules have changed more than once in recent years, so treat the official portal as the authority and anything else, this page included, as a starting point.

Apply here. The official Pakistan Online Visa System is at visa.nadra.gov.pk. Use only the official site. Third party sites charge extra for the same form.

A group standing beside a jeep on a mountain road.

How to apply

Check your category. The portal shows which visa types are open to your nationality and whether a fee applies.
Gather your documents. See the list below.
Apply online. Create an account, complete the form and upload your documents.
Receive your approval. It arrives by email. Print it and carry it with your passport.
Arrive. Present both at immigration.

What you will usually need

A passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date, with blank pages.
A recent passport style photograph.
Proof of where you will stay, or a letter from your tour operator.
Your travel dates and port of entry.

Trekkers crossing the rubble of the Baltoro Glacier. · The group standing below the Trango Towers. · A small group posing on the hillside.

Trekking to K2 Base Camp: the group standing below the Trango Towers — Trekkers crossing the rubble of the Baltoro Glacier. · The group standing below the Trango Towers. · A small group posing on the hillside.

Trekking permits and restricted areas

A visa lets you into the country. Some mountain areas need more.

Treks in restricted zones, including the Baltoro route to Concordia and K2 Base Camp, require a trekking permit applied for through a licensed Pakistani tour operator, and must be led by a licensed guide.
Treks in open zones, such as Fairy Meadows and Rakaposhi Base Camp, do not need a trekking permit.
National park entry fees apply in some areas, including the Central Karakoram National Park and Deosai.

We handle trekking permits and the supporting paperwork as part of your booking. Permits take time to process, so restricted area treks need to be confirmed well ahead of departure.

Permissions, place by place

From our destination guides. Select a place to read the full story.

K2 Base Camp & Gondogoro La Trek: Permit requirements for the Central Karakoram are handled through your operator and must be confirmed before travel.
Neelum Valley Travel Guide: Foreign nationals usually need permission to visit areas near the Line of Control. Confirm before planning.
Ratti Gali Lake in Winter: Foreign nationals should confirm permissions for upper Neelum.
Chilam Joshi Festival: Foreign nationals should confirm registration requirements for Chitral and the Kalash valleys.

Trekking to K2 Base Camp: a line of trekkers on the Baltoro Glacier — A line of trekkers on the Baltoro Glacier.

Timing

Apply for your visa as soon as your dates are fixed. Do not leave it to the final fortnight.
Check that the visa validity covers your whole trip, including buffer days at the end.
Some nationalities follow a different process or cannot apply online. If the portal does not offer you a tourist visa, contact your nearest Pakistani embassy or consulate.

General guidance for planning. Rules, schedules and conditions change, so confirm the details that matter with official sources and with your XPITUDE planner before you book.