GoPakistan Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

1、 Visa Notice. China and Pakistan have signed a mutual visa exemption agreement, allowing Chinese citizens holding diplomatic, official, or service ordinary passports to stay in Pakistan for 30 days without a visa.

China and Pakistan have also signed a mutual visa fee exemption agreement, where ordinary passport holders are exempt from paying visa fees when applying for each other's visas. Ordinary passport holders applying for a business visa to Pakistan should provide an invitation letter from relevant Pakistani units (companies) and have it stamped with a certification seal by the first level Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Pakistan; To visit relatives, friends, or travel to Pakistan, one must provide proof of financial support from relatives or friends, hold a valid passport to apply for a visa at the Pakistani Embassy in China, or apply for an electronic visa online. The application website can be found on the official website of the Pakistani Embassy in China.

The common types of visas issued by Pakistan for foreigners are tourist visas and business visas. Starting from May 2019, Chinese citizens traveling to Pakistan for business purposes can apply for a visa on arrival with a maximum validity period of 30 days, but they need to obtain relevant supporting documents through the Pakistani Embassy in China in advance. Starting from August 2024, citizens of 120 countries, including Chinese citizens, can apply online to travel to Pakistan for business, tourism, and pilgrimage purposes（ https://visa.nadra.gov.pk/ ）And obtain a free electronic visa with multiple entries and a stay period not exceeding 90 days.

Foreign citizens can only apply for a visa to Pakistan in their country of origin or legal permanent residence.

2、 Entry and Exit Notice

A valid passport and visa are required to enter the country from the open port of Pakistan, and the passport should be valid for at least six months. When entering the country, one should fill out the entry card, hold a valid passport and visa, and undergo border and customs inspection before entering.

Special Reminder:

Chinese personnel who come to or reside in Pakistan temporarily should pay attention to the validity period of their visas and promptly apply for visa extensions online（ https://visa.nadra.gov.pk/ ）Or apply for an exit permit at the passport and visa office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Pakistan to avoid any obstacles when leaving the country. For specific matters, please consult the Embassy of Pakistan in China. For more visa information, please visit the website of the Immigration and Passport Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Pakistan: https://www.dgip.gov.pk/visa/

Customs epidemic prevention and control

1、 Customs

（1） Entering the Pass

Foreigners can bring in duty-free:

1. 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 1/2 pound of tobacco;

2.4 litres of perfume and floral water;

3. Reasonable quantity of gifts and souvenirs: valued no more than 2000 rupees.

Special reminder: Pakistan is a Muslim country and it is strictly prohibited to bring items that violate Islamic teachings, such as alcohol, pork, and pork products, into the country.

The import license and source country health certificate from the Plant Protection Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture of Bangladesh prohibit the carrying of matches, fruits, plants, and related products (whether fresh or dried, including flowers).

（2） Exit customs

200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, or 1/2 pound of tobacco can be brought out tax-free.

Special reminder: 1. It is prohibited to carry cultural relics out of the country in Pakistan; 2. It is strictly prohibited to carry foreign currency cash exceeding $5000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) out of the country; 3. It is strictly prohibited to carry more than 3000 Pakistani rupees out of the country; 4. It is strictly prohibited to carry more than 500 Pakistani rupees when the destination is India. Those who violate the above regulations will be punished by relevant Pakistani departments in accordance with the law.

For more customs information, please log in: https://www.fbr.gov.pk/Pakistan%20Customs/51149/131168

2、 Epidemic prevention and control

Ba is located in the tropics and has a high incidence of infectious diseases. Vaccines against malaria, yellow fever, hepatitis B, encephalitis B and other diseases can be given if conditions permit.

Residency and Naturalization

Pakistan's naturalization act of 1926 stipulates that: to become a Pakistani citizen, the following conditions must be met: non Pakistani adult foreigners can apply for naturalization in Pakistan, and they should stay in Pakistan for 12 consecutive months before submitting the application for naturalization, and the cumulative residence in Pakistan within 7 years before the above period should be 4 years; The applicant also needs to master the official language published by the Pakistani government; The applicant must abide by laws and regulations, and have good conduct; After obtaining Pakistani citizenship, the applicant must reside in or come to Pakistan to serve the Pakistani government.

According to the 1951 Nationality Law of Pakistan, the following individuals are eligible to apply for citizenship: 1 Foreign women married to Pakistanis; Children born to Pakistani women after April 18, 2000..

The Pakistani government has established a mutual recognition mechanism for "dual citizenship" with 21 countries, as detailed on the official website of the Pakistani Immigration Department（ http://dgip.gov.pk/immigration ）.

There are currently 2 red (extremely high-risk) areas in Pakistan, while the rest of the areas are orange (high-risk). Specifically, as follows:

1、 Red areas: Cape Province, Balochistan Province (excluding Chagai region). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds Chinese citizens not to travel to the above-mentioned areas in Pakistan in the near future. Personnel and institutions in the area should evacuate or transfer to safe areas as soon as possible. In case of emergency, please report to the police in a timely manner and contact the Chinese embassy or consulate in the local area.

2、 Orange region: Other regions, including the Chagai region in Balochistan province. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds Chinese citizens to be cautious when traveling to other areas of Pakistan in the near future. Local personnel and institutions are closely monitoring the situation, maintaining high vigilance, strengthening security precautions and emergency preparedness, and ensuring personal and property safety.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and overseas embassies and consulates will continue to closely monitor changes in the overseas security situation, dynamically adjust relevant risk assessments, and release and update corresponding security reminders in real time on platforms such as the China Consular Service Network. Please continue to pay attention.

public security

The security situation in Pakistan is severe, and our personnel should be vigilant and take strict precautions, especially in the provinces of Cape and Balochistan where the security situation is very serious and security incidents occur from time to time. We should not go to these provinces in the near future. Some areas in Pakistan are prohibited from entering, and those who have not obtained a permit certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Interior are strictly prohibited from entering (see the following link for the list of areas mentioned above): https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/pakistan/document/updated-list-prohibited-areas-mofa ）.

Each province of Pakistan has different protection measures for foreigners in Pakistan. For example, in Islamabad, Lahore in Punjab Province and Karachi in Sindh Province, Chinese people must register after arriving at the airport. In case of emergency, please promptly report to the local police and seek assistance from the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan.

Chinese funded enterprises still need to obtain a project bidding consent letter from the embassy (consulate) business office and apply to the Ministry of Commerce for specific project approval before bidding (negotiating) for foreign contracted engineering projects in Pakistan. Projects undertaken in Sindh and Balochistan provinces should apply to the Commercial Office of the Consulate General in Karachi, while projects in other regions should apply to the Commercial Office of the Embassy in Pakistan. The delegation visiting Pakistan on official business shall promptly and proactively report and file with the Chinese Embassy or relevant departments in Pakistan. If necessary, relevant departments of the embassy and consulate can assist in coordinating with the Pakistani side on security matters for the delegation in Pakistan.

natural disaster

The terrain and landforms are complex, and natural disasters occur frequently, mainly including floods, earthquakes, mudslides, droughts, etc.

The northern region has complex terrain and sparse population, and natural disasters such as landslides, mudslides, and avalanches often occur. It is best to arrange and travel with local partners when going there, and try to shorten the stay time as much as possible.

FDA

Pakistan has relatively poor sanitation conditions and is located in the tropics, with a high incidence of infectious diseases. Vaccines against malaria, yellow fever, hepatitis B, encephalitis B and other diseases can be given if conditions permit before traveling to Pakistan. Before coming to Ba, you can prepare an appropriate amount of antidiarrheal medicine, cold medicine, anti-inflammatory medicine, and cooling oil.

Most of the water supply systems in Bacheng City are not sound, with pipelines that have been in disrepair for a long time, long-term water shortage, serious pollution, acidic water quality, and high bacterial content, which can easily cause intestinal diseases and cannot be consumed directly. Due to the lack of water in the city, the greening is low, the air dust content is high, and there are many flies and mosquitoes. In addition, the medical system is not perfect, and the ordinary people lack basic health knowledge, so they are prone to a variety of diseases, such as gastroenteric disease, cholera, lung disease, tuberculosis, liver disease, and congenital polio. Malaria, yellow fever, hepatitis B, encephalitis B, abdominal typhoid fever, and hemorrhagic fever are common infectious diseases in Pakistan.

Urgent Help

Search number: 17; Fire alarm: 16; Bandit police: 15; Rescue: 115.

Pakistani police emergency hotline:

Sindh Provincial Police Headquarters: 0092-21-992126260092-21-99212627

Punjab Provincial Police Headquarters: 0092-42-99210062-63

Cape Province Police Headquarters: 0092-91-9210331

Balochistan Police Headquarters: 0092-81-92013660092-81-9201834

Gilgit Baltistan Regional Police Headquarters: 0092-58-11-9302300092-58-11-930231

The Ministry of Interior of Pakistan provides contact email for Chinese funded enterprises, overseas Chinese, police and civilians in Pakistan: Samibaloch39@gmail.com Security problem assistance and complaint hotline 111-222-567 (available 24 hours a day, please dial 0111-222-567 for landline phones and 051-111-222-567 for mobile phones)

Islamabad police civilian contact email: cnplopk@foxmail.com

Sindh Police Chief Email: sindhigp@gmail.com

Sindh Province Police Civilian Liaison Platform: feedback@sindhpolice.gov.pk Facebook:@ sindhpolice ； Twitter:@ sindhpolicedmc  

The Punjab Provincial Department for the Special Protection of Foreigners (SPU) opened a Chinese hotline for Chinese and overseas Chinese on the police and civilian contact platform: 0092-42-99333323, 99333019, mobile phone: 0092-316-4018883, e-mail: control.spu@gmail.com

Chinese Help Desk of Punjab Ministry of Interior Tel: 0092-42-99214061-62; Fax: 0092-42-99213672-77; Email: chinesehelpdesk786@gmail.com

Contact email for police and civilians in Balochistan Province: mohsinbutt02@hotmail.com ， Igp.balochistan@hotmail.com

air traffic

Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, has direct flights to Beijing and Urumqi, Karachi has direct flights to Beijing, and Lahore has direct flights to Guangzhou.

China Southern Airlines has offices in Islamabad and Lahore, while Air China has offices in Islamabad and Karachi to handle ticket booking services. You can also book tickets for other airlines at the airport or travel agencies.

land transport

The overall transportation in Islamabad is good, but in other cities, the roads are narrow, the facilities are outdated, and there are many and crowded vehicles, especially in mountainous areas where the mountain roads are narrow, steep, and have many sharp bends, resulting in frequent traffic accidents. Taxis in Batang are cheap, but their condition is poor, so safety should be taken into consideration when taking them.

Pakistani vehicles drive on the left side, unlike in China.

The Pakistani traffic police department reminds that Chinese citizens who reside in Pakistan for a long time should hold a Pakistani driver's license in order to drive vehicles; 2. Chinese citizens who travel for short-term family visits are allowed to drive vehicles with a valid Chinese driver's license during their stay in Pakistan; Pakistan recognizes international driver's licenses.

water communication

Karachi Port is a relatively good natural port, built in 1887. The annual throughput is about 25 million tons. Kasim Port is located 40 kilometers southeast of Kashgar City and is a newly built port mainly serving the Ba Steel Plant. It is also used for exporting pig iron, coke, rice, and cotton. In addition, there is the newly built Gwadar Port.

Urban transportation

Urban traffic in Pakistan is quite congested and chaotic. Taxis are of lower grade and have lower prices. People usually travel by bus, taxi, or private car. Transportation is more convenient.

major city

1、 Islamabad (ISLAMABAD)

Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan. Located in the northern part of Punjab Province, the Potwar Plateau has an elevation of 600 meters. The Islamabad Capital Region (ICT) covers an area of 906 square kilometers and has a population of approximately 1.27 million. Ibrahimovic is an emerging city founded in 1961, and the capital of Pakistan was relocated from Rawalpindi in 1965. The layout of the city is reasonable, with straight and wide streets and innovative buildings, mainly including the government building, presidential palace, prime minister's office, parliament building, Supreme Court, conference center, Jinnah University, Faisal Grand Mosque, and high-end hotels. Residential areas are mostly villa style courtyards, while embassy areas are located in the eastern part of the city. There are no industrial or mining enterprises in the city, the air is fresh, the flowers and plants are lush, the trees are shaded, and the climate is pleasant. In October 1992, it became a friendly city with Beijing. The main attractions in the city include Faisal Mosque and Xiaoshan Park.

2、 Karachi (KARACHI)

Karachi is the capital of Sindh Province, the largest city and the largest seaport and military port in Pakistan. It is the national center for industry, commerce, trade, and finance, and also an international airport for travel between Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Karachi is located on the northwest side of the Indus River Delta, bordering the Arabian Sea to the south. The city covers an area of 591 square kilometers and has a population of approximately 17.65 million. It was the capital of Pakistan from 1947 to 1959. High rise buildings in the city, bustling markets, and congested traffic. In the 1980s, Karachi became a friendly city with Shanghai, China. The main attractions in the city include the Zhenna Tomb and the Batu Grand Mosque.

3、 Lahore (LAHORE)

Lahore is the capital of Punjab province and the second largest city in Pakistan. The city is located about 300 kilometers southeast of Islamabad, 30 kilometers from the India Pakistan border, with a population of nearly 14.41 million. It is a historic and cultural city in Pakistan, known as the "soul of Pakistan". The capital of the Ghaznavid dynasty was established here from 1021 to 1186. From 1525 to 1707, it was the capital of the Mughal Empire. Lahore became friendly cities with Xi'an and Chengdu in China in 1992 and 2015, respectively. In 2021, Lahore and Guangzhou became international friendly cooperation and exchange cities. Lahore Castle and Shalimar Park were listed as World Cultural Heritage sites in 1981.

4、 Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi is located 12 kilometers southwest of Islamabad, with a population of approximately 2.43 million in the city center. From 1959 to 1965, as the temporary capital of Pakistan, important places such as the former Presidential Palace, Prime Minister's Office, Army Headquarters, and State Guesthouse were established here. The entire city is divided into a new city and an old city. The new city was originally a British colonial army barracks, mostly consisting of old-fashioned courtyard residences, and is now a place where senior government officials and wealthy businessmen reside. The market is bustling and transportation is convenient. The old city is a residential area for civilians, crowded and chaotic. The city has relatively developed light industries such as textiles, woolen weaving, and leather, and has a small reputation for handicrafts and embroidery. There are national parks and army museums in the city.

5、 Other cities

Other important cities in Pakistan include Faisalabad (the third largest city and textile industry center), Peshawar (the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province), and Quetta (the capital of Balochistan province).

Commodity prices

The price level in Pakistan is slightly lower than that in China, and the market supply is relatively sufficient. The currency of Pakistan is the rupee, which is around 1:38 to the Chinese yuan and around 1:278 to the US dollar (exchange rate as of December 2024).

Insurance Medical

Pakistan experiences hot weather in May, June, July, August, and September. Chinese citizens who come to Pakistan should pay attention to heatstroke prevention and cooling, and can bring some cooling oil, wind oil essence, and other medicines. In summer, it is recommended to carry medication for treating gastrointestinal diseases to prevent gastrointestinal diseases caused by unclean diet. There are national hospitals and private clinics in Pakistani cities, which can ensure the treatment of common diseases. But in rural and remote mountainous areas, there is basically no medical treatment or medicine, and the hygiene conditions are poor. Ba is a high-risk area for hepatitis, while other infectious diseases mainly include cholera and malaria.

There are national hospitals and private hospitals (clinics) in Pakistan. National hospitals have lower costs and offer some free services to patients, except for expensive drugs. In rural and remote areas, especially in the high-altitude areas of northern Pakistan, medical conditions are very poor.

Some qualified insurance companies in Pakistan carry out medical insurance business, covering the medical expenses of policyholders in Pakistan according to the type of insurance. Pakistan has no regulations to force foreigners to purchase medical insurance.

Customs taboos

Pakistan is a conservative Islamic country. Foreigners should observe the customs of Muslim countries. Ladies should not wear revealing clothing, sleeveless tops, short skirts, etc. when going out, and it is best to have a man accompany them. Try not to touch female bodies and avoid staring at masked women. Men are not allowed to enter women's bedrooms and do not shake hands with women. If women want to shake hands with men first, they can shake hands. If you want to take photos with Pakistani people, especially women, you need to obtain their consent. Entering the mosque, one must comply with local regulations, take off shoes, do not wear revealing clothing, do not speak loudly or joke, and ladies must wear their heads. Islamic countries prohibit alcohol and absolutely prohibit drinking in public places. Taboos on pictures and food related to pigs, such as during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, try to avoid crowds when drinking, eating, or smoking during the day.

Pakistanis tend to dress conservatively, with men mostly wearing traditional robes, but in formal occasions they wear suits. Women often wear long robes or do not wear veils. Women over 12 years old should wear headscarves when going out. Both men and women should avoid wearing short sleeves or shorts in public places, but there is no such taboo for foreigners. The main religious activities of Muslims include annual pilgrimage, five daily prayers, and an annual Quran recitation competition. Orthodox Muslims strictly prohibit alcohol consumption. Visitors and tourists to Pakistan should pay attention to respecting local customs and habits, and not bring alcohol, alcoholic beverages, or pork products, otherwise they will encounter trouble when passing through customs.

Communications Power

The vast majority of wireless communication standards in Pakistan are GSM, which can be used by most domestic mobile phones after switching to a local SIM card. International long-distance calls are charged differently by country and region, with relatively cheaper phone rates. The overall speed of the network is slow.

The international area code for Pakistan is 0092. To make a call from China to Pakistan, you should dial "0092+area code+landline number" or "0092+mobile number".

The voltage is the same as in China, but the power socket is not compatible with China. It is recommended to carry a multi-purpose conversion socket.

contact information

The website of the economic and trade department of the Pakistani government