Pakistan has introduced free visas for 126 nationalities, in major changes to the nation’s application process. Previously it cost around $60 and the system regularly encountered delays and tourists faced unpredictable waiting times.
This should now change, with the Pakistani authorities also promising to deal with and respond to applications within 24 hours.
The overhaul comes as tourism is on the rise in country and government figures show there was a 115 percent increase in international visitors in 2023, compared to the previous year.
A trend that started pre-pandemic, but unlike some countries, Pakistan’s tourism sector bounced back considerably after COVID restrictions were reduced.
James Willcox is the Founder of the adventure travel company, Untamed Borders, which has been running group and private trips to the nation since 2008. He says: “Until recently the Pakistan visa system was time consuming and inconsistent, with long waits for some applicants. This has made it challenging for potential visitors and tour operators, but these changes are a breath of fresh.
Some of our guests have already benefited from the new system and had their applications granted within 5 minutes of completing the process. The doing away of a fee is another bonus and hopefully it will result in more people choosing to visit Pakistan, which has a wealth of attractions for tourists.”
Pakistan isn’t the only, traditionally challenging, nation to be simplifying visas. In May Syria introduced an e-visa and Libya also did recently, as more hard to reach nations have opened up to tourism.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, Sri Lanka brought in free visas for people from 35 countries, in a move which mirrors developments in Pakistan, but on a smaller scale.
What awaits tourists who visit Pakistan?
For those who do choose to venture into the South-Asian country, they will be treated to a range of ecosystems and breathtaking scenery. The stunning peaks in the country’s north are among the highlights, with many mountains that tower more than 7,000m high, including the world’s second tallest – K2 (8,611m ).
There are also areas of harsh desert, the Arabian Sea coastline, the lush Indus Valley, dense forests and locations where you can find mud volcanoes. Pakistan offers an array of UNESCO recognized ancient sites too, with the country home to some of the planet’s earliest civilizations, beautiful mosques, shrines, historic forts and many other wonderful examples of antiquity.
Pakistan’s towns and cities capture the imagination as well, with vibrant street scenes found across the nation, filled with bustling bazaars, tasty food, ancient traditions, ceremonies and festivals. Rural life is equally as enthralling, with rarely visited nomadic communities found in some regions and lots of examples of traditional customs and ways of life.
This cultural and historic mix, along with its natural beauty, is why more and more people are visiting Pakistan and the streamlined visa process is expected to see that trend continue.
Untamed Borders has a number of upcoming trips to the country including 13-day, 10-day and 7-day cultural tours along the Indus Valley, an adventure to take part in the 2025 Islamabad Marathon, a trip to take in the rarely visited western region of Balochistan and annual visits to the gorgeous Hindu Kush & Karakorum Mountains in the north.
Eligible guests will need to complete an online form on Pakistan’s e-visa website, where they will be required to upload a copy of their passport, a photo and answer 30 questions. If successful, the visa will be valid for 90 days.
