Quick answer
Do I need a visa to visit Pakistan?
Yes for most nationalities. Apply only on the official Pakistan Online Visa System at visa.nadra.gov.pk — not on third-party sites. GCC citizens are visa-exempt for the tourist/visit categories listed on the portal. Issuance remains the prerogative of the Government of Pakistan.
- Official portal
- visa.nadra.gov.pk
- Typical tourist processing
- 7–10 working days
- Visa on Arrival
- ETA first; ETA is not the visa
- Restricted treks
- Mountaineering & Trekking category + DTS sponsor
Pakistan visa at a glance
- Where to apply
- Pakistan Online Visa System only (visa.nadra.gov.pk)
- Tourist / Visit e-Visa
- Usually single-entry, up to 3 months
- Processing (tourist entry)
- 7–10 working days on the official portal
- ETA / Visa on Arrival
- Eligible nationalities; collect visa at FIA on arrival
- Mountaineering & Trekking
- Named peak or listed trek; DTS-authorized operator letter
- Letter of invitation
- Support document only — does not guarantee a visa
- Wandering Yaks
- Pakistan only — Hunza and Gilgit-Baltistan
· Wandering Yaks is based in Hunza and Gilgit. This page covers Pakistan visas and mountain permits only. Plan travel after you hold a valid Visa Grant Notice or, where applicable, a valid ETA.
Do you need a Pakistan visa?
Yes for most nationalities. Since 1 January 2021, the Government of Pakistan requires visa applications through the Pakistan Online Visa System. The portal is open to citizens of a large eligible-country list (stated as 192 countries on the official homepage). GCC nationals are exempt from visa for the tourist/visit categories described on the portal — confirm your passport on the live eligibility lists before you travel.
- Apply only on the official site. The government warns it has no collaboration with other visa websites and is not responsible for data or payments made elsewhere (visa.nadra.gov.pk).
- Pick the category that matches the trip. Sightseeing and valley travel usually use Tourist/Visit. Named peaks and listed restricted treks use Mountaineering & Trekking. See visa categories.
- We do not issue visas. Wandering Yaks can supply a host letter of invitation and handles mountain permits for booked journeys. Pakistani authorities decide every visa.
Pakistan tourist visa types
Under Tourist/Visit Visas, the portal separates ordinary tourism from mountain expeditions. Below is the comparison travelers joining Pakistan journeys ask for most.
| Category | Best for | Official duration notes | Portal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist / Visit (e-Visa) | Hunza, Skardu town, Chitral valleys, cultural travel, many open-zone day hikes | Entry often single-entry up to 3 months; extensions listed separately on the portal | Tourist Visa |
| Tourist Visa on Arrival (ETA) | Eligible nationalities who apply online first and collect the visa at FIA on arrival | Commonly described as 30 days; apply for ETA at least 48–72 hours before travel where required | Visa on Arrival — Tourist |
| Mountaineering & Trekking | Named peaks and listed treks (e.g. Baltoro / K2 Base Camp routes on the official trek list) | Requires DTS-authorized operator sponsorship; royalty/permit fees may be due in Pakistan after grant | Mountaineering & Trekking |
Tourist / Visit e-Visa
A Tourist Visa allows foreigners to visit Pakistan for tourism. On the official Tourist Visa page you can apply for a first-time entry or an extension while residing in Pakistan. For individual entry (less than 3 months), required uploads are listed as photograph, passport, and hotel booking details. Stated processing time for that entry type is 7–10 working days (longer for some nationalities and longer extensions).
Visa on Arrival and ETA
Eligible citizens apply online under Visa on Arrival tourist flows and travel only after receiving an ETA by email. Per the official FAQs, the ETA is not the visa — it authorizes you to seek the visa at the FIA Visa on Arrival counter. Typical supporting documents include photograph, passport, and either a sponsor invitation letter or hotel booking (groups use a DTS-designated operator letter). Confirm your nationality on the live Tourist Visa on Arrival page.
Mountaineering & Trekking visa
Use this category when you intend to climb a peak or trek a route on the government lists. Subcategories include Trekking and Mountaineering. Name the peak or trek from the official list of peaks or list of treks. Required documents include photograph, passport, the relevant mountaineering or trekking application form, and a sponsor letter/agreement with a DTS-authorized tour operator (see the list of tour operators). The online fee is the visa application fee; royalty or environment fees for mountaineering and trekking may be payable after arrival if the visa is granted.
How to apply online
The government describes the process in three stages — preliminary assessment, preparation, and online application — on How to Apply. Use the application guide PDF for screenshots and file rules.
Choose the right category
Open visa.nadra.gov.pk and read Tourist/Visit versus Mountaineering & Trekking (and Visa on Arrival if your nationality is eligible). Pick the subcategory that matches your trip.
Gather documents
Prepare a compliant passport photo, passport bio page, and the supporting file for your subcategory (hotel booking, invitation letter, and/or DTS operator sponsor letter).
Create an account and apply
Register on the Pakistan Online Visa System, complete the form, upload documents, and pay the application fee by credit or debit card.
Wait for a Visa Grant Notice or ETA
Do not book non-refundable international flights until you receive a Visa Grant Notice, or — for Visa on Arrival categories — a valid ETA email. An ETA is not the visa itself.
Fees vary by nationality and visa type. Use the fee calculator on the official portal rather than third-party quotes. If an application is sent back for review, you must resubmit within seven days or it can be cancelled — and processing time restarts from resubmission.
Documents checklist
Exact uploads depend on subcategory. Always follow the live checklist on visa.nadra.gov.pk and the photograph tutorial linked from the portal.
- Standard tourist entry
- Photograph (portal size/format rules)
- Passport bio page
- Hotel booking details
- Visa on Arrival / ETA (typical)
- Photograph
- Passport
- Invitation letter or hotel booking
- Group: DTS-designated tour operator letter
- Mountaineering / trekking
- Photograph and passport
- Mountaineering or Trekking application form
- DTS-authorized operator sponsor letter/agreement
- Expedition member list when available
- Applying from a third country
- Proof of legal residence in the country of application is commonly required. Upload it under the supporting document type the portal specifies (often “Other”).
Letter of invitation (LOI)
A letter of invitation is a host or operator support document some Pakistan visa flows accept alongside — or instead of — hotel bookings. It is not a visa and does not guarantee approval. For mountaineering and trekking visas, the portal specifically requires a sponsor agreement with a DTS-authorized operator.
Wandering Yaks issues automated host LOIs for tourist-visa support from Gilgit / Hunza: sign in, add up to two travelers, pay securely, and download the PDF from your dashboard.
Mountain permits in Gilgit-Baltistan
A Pakistan visa is separate from local mountain permits. Restricted-area treks and expeditions in Gilgit-Baltistan typically need operator-led clearances (No Objection Certificate / tourism permits) in addition to the correct visa category. Official trek open/restricted status is published on the list of treks; regional tourism information is at visitgilgitbaltistan.gov.pk and tourism.gov.pk.
- Visa vs permit
- The visa is national immigration permission. Trail and peak permits are destination clearances handled with licensed operators and Gilgit-Baltistan tourism authorities after (or alongside) the visa process.
- Restricted treks (e.g. Baltoro / K2 BC)
- Expect a Mountaineering & Trekking visa naming the official trek, a DTS-authorized sponsor, and local permit/NoC filing. Wandering Yaks coordinates these for travelers on our guided itineraries.
- Open-zone valley travel
- Many Hunza and open-zone day walks sit under a standard Tourist/Visit visa. Your trip page or coordinator will say if a restricted-area file is required.
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers travelers ask before booking a Pakistan journey with us.
- Do I need a visa to visit Pakistan as a tourist?
- Most foreign nationals need a visa or Electronic Travel Authorization before travel. Apply only through the official Pakistan Online Visa System at visa.nadra.gov.pk. Citizens of GCC countries do not require a visa for the tourist/visit categories listed on the portal. Visa issuance is always the prerogative of the Government of Pakistan.
- Where do I apply for a Pakistan visa?
- Online applications must be submitted at https://visa.nadra.gov.pk. The Government of Pakistan states it has no collaboration with third-party visa websites and does not take responsibility for payments or data entered elsewhere.
- How long does a Pakistan tourist visa take?
- For a standard Tourist/Visit entry visa (individual, up to 3 months), the official portal lists 7–10 working days. Extensions up to 6 months are also listed as 7–10 working days; longer extensions and some nationalities can take about 4 weeks. If your application is sent back for review, the clock restarts from resubmission.
- What documents do I need for a Pakistan tourist visa?
- The Tourist Visa page on visa.nadra.gov.pk lists a photograph, passport, and hotel booking details for the standard individual tourist entry category. Visa on Arrival / ETA applications typically require a photograph, passport, and either a sponsor invitation letter or hotel booking (group bookings use a DTS-designated tour operator letter). Always confirm the exact checklist for your subcategory on the portal before you apply.
- What is a Pakistan ETA, and is it the same as a visa?
- No. An Electronic Authorization to Travel (ETA) is emailed for certain Visa on Arrival categories. Per the official FAQs, an ETA is not the visa — it only authorizes you to travel to Pakistan and seek the visa at the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Visa on Arrival counter.
- Do I need a mountaineering or trekking visa for Hunza sightseeing?
- Ordinary valley travel and many open-zone day hikes usually fall under a standard Tourist/Visit visa. The Mountaineering & Trekking category on visa.nadra.gov.pk is for climbers and trekkers naming a peak or trek from the official lists, and typically requires a sponsor agreement with a Department of Tourist Services (DTS)–authorized operator. Restricted routes such as Baltoro / K2 Base Camp need that category plus local permits.
- Do I need a letter of invitation for a Pakistan tourist visa?
- It depends on the subcategory. Some tourist and Visa on Arrival flows accept hotel booking details; others ask for a sponsor invitation letter. Groups often need a letter from a DTS-designated tour operator. Wandering Yaks can issue a host letter of invitation for tourist-visa support — it does not guarantee visa approval.
- Does Wandering Yaks operate outside Pakistan?
- No. Wandering Yaks is based in Hunza and Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan, and runs host-led journeys in Pakistan’s mountain regions (Karakoram, Hindukush, Himalayas, and Pamir routes accessible from Pakistan). This page covers Pakistan visas and related mountain permits only.
Sources & fact check
Field-checked by the Wandering Yaks coordination team in Hunza / Gilgit. Visa rules change — always verify on the live government pages before you apply.
Ready for the mountains?
Start the visa on the official portal, grab an LOI if your subcategory needs host support, then pick a host-led journey from Hunza across Pakistan's high country.
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