I’ve applied for a fair few visas in my life, and Pakistan’s e-visa system isn’t the worst one out there. It’s not the easiest either. The form is long, it asks you questions that don’t seem to have anything to do with your actual trip.
I’m Pakistani, so I’ve never needed this particular visa myself. But I’ve issued invitation letters before, including for a group of friends who came out to go hiking with me in the north, so I know exactly what that side of the process looks like too.
Here’s the exact process, step by step, what actually causes delays, and whether you need an invitation letter at all.
Do you need a visa for Pakistan?
Almost everyone needs a visa to visit Pakistan. If you’ve got a NICOP, that National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis, you’re exempt. Everyone else needs to sort a visa before they can board that flight.
You’ll see a visa on arrival option mentioned when you’re researching this. Skip it. I’ve heard enough about people getting stuck, denied, or sent back at immigration because VOA fell through that it’s just not worth the risk. Apply for the e-visa in advance instead.
Only apply through the official portal, run by NADRA. There are copycat sites out there that will happily take your money and give you nothing back.
Apply for your Pakistan e-visa on the official NADRA portal.
Only ever apply through NADRA’s official site.
What you need before you apply
Get these ready before you start the application, so you’re not scrambling to find a decent scan of your passport halfway through.
| Requirement | Mandatory? | Notes |
| Passport bio page | Yes | Clear scan or photo, all four corners visible |
| Passport-style photo | Yes | White background |
| Hotel booking confirmation or invitation letter | Yes, one or the other | Hotel booking works, but see the section below on why it’s not always the smoother option |
| Proof of legal residence | Only if applying from a country other than the one on your passport | Skip this when it applies and your application can be rejected outright |
Files need to be JPEG, JPG, PNG, or PDF, and under 7MB each.
How to apply for a Pakistan e-visa (step-by-step)
Step 1: Register on the portal
Head to the official NADRA portal and create a new account with your name, email, and passport number. You’ll need a password with a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and a special character, and the system will make you change it every 30 days if your application drags on. You’ll get a verification email with a PIN. Enter that, plus a CAPTCHA code, and you’re in.
Step 2: Start a new application
Select “Pak Visa,” then your nationality. If this is your first time applying through this portal, select no when it asks if you want to load a previous application. That option is for visa extensions, not new applications.
Step 3: Fill out the application
You’ll be asked for both your parents’ details, which is mandatory even for a standard tourist visa.
The Travel History section is one of the longer parts. It covers the last three years, not just to Pakistan but anywhere you’ve travelled, plus whether you’ve ever been refused a visa for any country.
If you’re applying from a country that isn’t the one on your passport, you’ll need to upload proof of legal residence in that third country. Skip it and your application can get rejected outright.
You’ll also be asked whether you plan to visit Azad Jammu and Kashmir during your stay. If you are, say so.
If you’ve got a hotel booking or an invitation letter, this is where it comes in. The Sponsor Details section is where you enter your host or tour operator’s information, name, contact details, and their Pakistani ID number if it’s a person rather than a company. This is the same information tied to your invitation letter, so if you’ve got one, its details go here.
Step 4: Upload your documents
Passport, photo, and your hotel booking or invitation letter all go into the Documents section. Files need to be JPEG, JPG, PNG, or PDF, under 7MB each.
💡 Don’t book non-refundable flights until your visa is actually approved. The system moves faster than it used to, but “faster than it used to” still isn’t instant.
Step 5: Review, submit, and pay
Check everything before you submit. Once it’s in, you can’t edit it unless immigration sends it back for review. The fee is paid by debit or credit card, calculated automatically based on your nationality and visa type.
Step 6: Wait for your Visa Grant Notice
Processing typically takes 5 to 7 working days, sometimes faster. Once approved, you’ll get an email and can download your Visa Grant Notice from the Existing Applications section of the portal.
Do you need an invitation letter?
An invitation letter, or LOI, is a letter from a registered tour operator or host taking responsibility for your visit. Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior asks for it as part of the visa process. You submit it in the Sponsor Details section of your application, then upload the actual document alongside your passport and photo.
Officially, it’s recommended but not required. A hotel booking can substitute. In practice, applications with only a hotel booking are more likely to get flagged for additional document requests, which slows things down. If you want the smoothest possible approval, an LOI is the more reliable option.
I work with a travel company, run by a friend of mine, to issue these for my readers. I handle the requests myself, so if you get in touch, you’re dealing with me directly.
Cost: $50 USD per person, $90 USD for 2 people.
Turnaround: 3 business days from when you submit your details and payment.
How you’ll receive it: Email or WhatsApp, whichever you prefer.
Request a Letter of InvitationExtending your visa in Pakistan
You can extend your tourist visa as many times as you want, but only 90 days at a time. Don’t request more than 6 months in one go. That triggers a special security clearance process that can take months to clear, which defeats the point of extending in the first place.
You’ll need a new invitation letter for every extension. The one you used for your original visa doesn’t carry over.
Two things commonly hold up an extension: not submitting a photo of your passport page with the entry stamp, and not submitting a fresh invitation letter. If your extension is taking longer than expected, those are the first two things to check.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for a Pakistan visa from another country?
Yes, the portal doesn’t require you to apply from your home country. If you’re applying from a country other than the one on your passport, you’ll need to upload proof of legal residence in that country. Skip it and your application can be rejected.
Is an invitation letter mandatory?
No. A hotel booking can substitute. But applications with only a hotel booking are more likely to get flagged for additional document requests, which slows things down.
How much does a Pakistan visa cost?
A Pakistan tourist visa generally costs between $20 USD and $60 USD for a standard single-entry visa. However, the exact price is highly variable because the government calculates fees dynamically based on your nationality, type of visa, and number of entries.
Can I get Pakistan visa on arrival?
Yes, but you generally cannot just show up at the airport without prior online approval. Pakistan suspended traditional visa-on-arrival and free prior-approval programs, meaning most travelers must now apply for an Electronic Authorization to Travel (ETA) or a regular visa online beforehand through the Pakistan Online Visa System.
Can I apply without a hotel booking?
Yes, as long as you have an invitation letter instead. You need one or the other, not both.
Do children need their own visa?
Yes, children need their own individual visa linked to their own passport to travel to Pakistan.
What happens if my visa extension is delayed?
Check that you’ve submitted a photo of your passport page with the entry stamp and a fresh invitation letter for the extension. Those are the two most common causes.
Planning Your Trip After Approval
Once your Visa Grant Notice is in hand, the visa part of this is done. The e-visa system isn’t painless, but it’s a lot more manageable than it used to be, and now you know exactly what to expect at each step.
Getting the visa is really just the first logistical hurdle. If you haven’t sorted the rest of your trip yet, from routes to timing to what actually surprises people once they land, that’s the next thing worth figuring out. I’ve written about what a first trip here actually looks like, covering the parts that don’t show up in a visa guide.
