US citizens need a Pakistan visa before they travel, and it is applied for online on the Pakistan Online Visa System at visa.nadra.gov.pk. The official fee schedule lists US$60 for a single-entry tourist visa, US$90 for multiple entry up to one year and US$120 for longer multiple-entry visas, with standard processing of 7 to 10 working days. If you hold a valid NICOP or Pakistan Origin Card (POC), you do not need a visa at all.
Last checked: 20 October 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Pakistan visa for US citizens: the short version
Pakistan visa for US citizens is now an online-only process. The Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, DC says all visa applications are submitted and processed online through the Pakistan Online Visa System (POVS), which NADRA runs for the Ministry of Interior. You do not mail your passport to the embassy. If approved, you receive an electronic Visa Grant Notice by email and travel with a printout of it.
Fees are set on a reciprocal basis, which means each country’s rate depends on what that country charges Pakistanis. The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGI&P) publishes the country-by-country list on its visa fee page, and all fees are charged in US dollars.
Pakistan visa fee for US passport holders
These are the rows for the USA in the DGI&P visa fee schedule. The downloadable version of that list is dated March 2019, and the amounts still match what the online portal is reported to charge US applicants, but the portal shows the final amount before you pay, so confirm it there.
| Visa type (USA row) | Single entry | Multiple entry, up to 1 year | Multiple entry, more than 1 year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visit / Tourist / Study | US$60 | US$90 | US$120 |
| Work / Employment (business category row) | US$100 | US$150 | US$200 |
| Transit | US$30 | Not listed | Not listed |
The same schedule shows the old US single-entry tourist fee as US$160, so the current US$60 is much lower than what many older guides quote. Fees are non-refundable once paid.
Which visa type should you choose?
Pakistan tourist visa for US citizens
This is the visit/tourist visa for sightseeing, trekking in Gilgit-Baltistan, weddings you are attending as a guest, and similar short trips. The Washington embassy asks for one of these: a signed, notarized invitation letter from a host in Pakistan (with the host’s CNIC, address and phone number), or a confirmed hotel booking.
DGI&P’s visa categories page adds a US-specific rule: Pakistani missions may grant US nationals a multiple-entry visa valid for up to five years, with each stay capped at three months. Tourist visas can be extended inside Pakistan by the Regional Passport Offices up to six months in total.
Family visit visa
This is for foreigners of Pakistani origin and their foreign spouses. DGI&P says missions can grant a five-year, multiple-entry family visit visa with stays of up to one year, processed in 7 to 10 working days. You prove Pakistani origin with one of these:
- Your own old Pakistani documents: passport, CNIC, NICOP or birth certificate.
- A Pakistani ID of an immediate family member, plus proof of the relationship.
- Your marriage certificate and proof of your spouse’s Pakistani origin.
- A signed invitation letter from a relative in Pakistan with their CNIC, address and phone number.
For questions about family visit cases, the embassy lists 202-243-6500, extensions 2012 or 2014.
Business visa
The USA is on Pakistan’s Business Friendly Countries list. Missions can grant a five-year multiple-entry business visa, and DGI&P says it can be issued within 24 hours when you produce one of these: a recommendation letter from a chamber of commerce in your country, an invitation from a Pakistani company endorsed by a trade body, or a recommendation from the Board of Investment (BOI), a commercial attaché or SIFC.
Pakistan e visa for US citizens: how to apply online
- Create an account on visa.nadra.gov.pk and verify your email. Keep your phone handy for verification codes.
- Pick the right category. Choose ordinary passport, not diplomatic or official. The embassy warns that choosing the wrong passport type leads to automatic rejection.
- Fill in the form exactly as your US passport reads. Name, date of birth or passport number errors have to be fixed through NADRA, which delays you.
- Upload documents: passport bio page, a passport-style photo, a US state-issued ID or driver’s license (the Washington embassy says this is mandatory for all categories), and your category documents.
- Pay online by card and submit.
- Watch the REVIEW tab. If an officer asks for more documents, you have 7 days to reply or the application is cancelled.
- Download the Visa Grant Notice once approved and carry a printout.
Applicants under 16 need a notarized parental consent form. Do not book non-refundable flights until the grant notice arrives: the embassy says this directly.
Processing time
The official standard is 7 to 10 working days for tourist and family visit visas, according to both the Washington embassy and DGI&P. Pakistani public holidays and weekends do not count, and every query from the officer adds time. Applying four to six weeks before your trip is a sensible margin.
Is there a Pakistan visa on arrival for US citizens?
Not in the walk-up sense. DGI&P’s list of 50 countries eligible for tourist visa on arrival does not include the USA. Pakistan’s version of “visa on arrival” also always required an approved electronic authorization before you flew.
Two narrow exceptions on the DGI&P page: US businesspeople on the business list may get a 30-day business visa on arrival when they hold one of the business documents listed above, and US tourists travelling in a group through a designated Pakistani tour operator can get a one-month entry arranged by that operator.
A recent change matters here. The free “Visa Prior to Arrival” route, which gave citizens of 126 countries including the US a fee-free visa in 24 to 48 hours, disappeared from the portal on 1 January 2026, as reported by Passport Index. There was no public government announcement, so treat the paid e-visa as the normal route and check the portal for any return of the free option.
When you do not need a visa: NICOP and POC
Many Pakistani Americans never need a visa. A valid NICOP (National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis) lets the holder enter Pakistan visa-free under Section 12 of the NADRA Ordinance, 2000, as ARY News noted when NADRA launched the new Smart NICOP in July 2026. A Pakistan Origin Card (POC), issued to foreign nationals of Pakistani origin and their foreign spouses, also gives visa-free entry.
| Your situation | What you need to enter Pakistan |
|---|---|
| US citizen, no Pakistani link | E-visa from visa.nadra.gov.pk |
| Dual US-Pakistani citizen with valid NICOP | US passport plus NICOP, or a valid Pakistani passport. No visa. |
| US citizen of Pakistani origin who gave up Pakistani citizenship | POC (no visa) or a family visit visa |
| Non-Pakistani spouse of a Pakistani | POC or family visit visa |
| NICOP or POC expired | Renew it first, or apply for a visa for this trip |
If your NICOP is expiring, renewal is done on NADRA’s Pak-ID app from the US. Our NICOP renewal online guide covers the US$39 fee and the steps. NADRA’s normal NICOP processing is about a month, so a NICOP renewal is not a fix for a trip next week; a visa is faster in that case.
Dual nationals
Pakistan allows dual nationality with a list of countries that includes the United States (see DGI&P’s dual nationality page). A dual national can travel on a Pakistani passport, or on a US passport with a NICOP. If your Pakistani passport has expired, see how to renew a Pakistani passport in the USA.
Overstay charges
DGI&P’s categories page lists overstay surcharges. For foreign nationals: nothing up to 2 weeks, US$50 for 2 weeks to 1 month, US$200 for 1 to 3 months, and US$400 per year for 3 months to 1 year. Foreigners of Pakistani origin get gentler rates: nothing up to 1 month, US$40 for 1 to 6 months and US$80 for 6 months to 1 year. Children under 12 are exempt.
Common mistakes that cause refusals or delays
- Choosing “Diplomatic” or “Official” passport type by mistake.
- Uploading an invitation letter that is not signed or not notarized, or without the host’s CNIC copy.
- Missing the 7-day window to answer a query in the REVIEW tab.
- Using a third-party “Pakistan e-visa” website that adds its own service fee. The government portal is visa.nadra.gov.pk.
- Booking travel before the Visa Grant Notice arrives.
Visiting with a new phone? Foreign visitors can register a phone temporarily for 120 days for free. See how to register a phone in Pakistan with a passport. Sending money to family before the trip is covered in our guide to sending money to Pakistan from the USA.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Pakistan visa for US citizens?
The DGI&P fee schedule lists US$60 for a single-entry tourist visa, US$90 for multiple entry up to one year and US$120 for multiple entry over one year. Work and business visas are US$100, US$150 and US$200.
Can Americans get a Pakistan visa on arrival?
Not as tourists travelling independently. The USA is not on Pakistan’s 50-country tourist visa-on-arrival list, so apply for the e-visa before you fly.
How long does a Pakistan e-visa take for US citizens?
The official standard is 7 to 10 working days. Queries from the visa officer and Pakistani holidays can add time.
Do I need a visa if I have a NICOP?
No. A valid NICOP gives visa-free entry to Pakistan. Carry it with your US passport.
What is the official website for a Pakistan visa?
visa.nadra.gov.pk, the Pakistan Online Visa System. The Embassy of Pakistan in Washington does not accept paper applications for these visas.
Can US citizens get a five-year Pakistan visa?
Yes. DGI&P allows missions to grant US nationals a five-year multiple-entry visa, with each stay limited to three months.
Sources
- Pakistan Online Visa System (NADRA / Ministry of Interior)
- Embassy of Pakistan, Washington DC: Visa
- DGI&P: Visa application fee schedule
- DGI&P: Visa categories, visa on arrival list, overstay charges
- DGI&P: Dual nationality
- ARY News: NADRA introduces new Smart NICOP (July 2026)
- Passport Index: Free VPA suspended from 1 January 2026
