Pakistan offers UK travellers three distinct routes for entry depending on the purpose of visit and heritage. The standard route is the Pakistan Online Visa System operated by NADRA at visa.nadra.gov.pk, with fees from $60 USD for a 30-day single-entry tourist visa to $130 for a one-year multiple-entry visa. A more limited visa-on-arrival exists at major airports for selected tourism categories. British citizens of Pakistani origin can use the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) or Pakistan Origin Card (POC) for visa-free entry. This guide explains the eligibility, document requirements, and where the official routes diverge from third-party visa services. It does not provide regulated immigration advice.
TL;DR - The 60-Second Answer
- Most UK passport holders need a Pakistan visa, applied via the NADRA portal at visa.nadra.gov.pk.- Standard e-Visa fees: $60 USD for 30-day single entry, $130 for one-year multiple entry, business categories higher.
- Processing time is typically 7 to 10 working days; lodge at least three weeks before travel.
- Visa-on-arrival is available at major airports for limited tourism cases but is not the default route.
- British Pakistanis can use the NICOP or POC for visa-free entry under the Pakistan Origin Card scheme.
- The NADRA portal is the only direct channel; third-party Pakistan visa services add markup over the official fee.
Last reviewed: May 2026 · Sourced from GOV.UK
The three routes into Pakistan for UK travellers
Pakistan's entry rules vary substantially depending on the traveller's circumstances. The default route for a UK passport holder with no Pakistani heritage is the e-Visa applied through the NADRA Pakistan Online Visa System. The second route, visa-on-arrival, is available for tourists meeting specific eligibility criteria but is not as broadly available as in some neighbouring countries. The third route applies to British citizens with Pakistani heritage who can hold a NICOP (National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis) or a Pakistan Origin Card (POC), both of which permit visa-free entry to Pakistan.
Choosing the right route matters because lodging the wrong application can lead to refusal or delay. A British Pakistani who has not yet obtained NICOP can apply for the e-Visa as an interim solution, but the longer-term answer for repeat travel is to apply for the NICOP itself through the Pakistan High Commission in London. A first-time UK visitor with no Pakistani heritage uses the e-Visa.
e-Visa categories
The Pakistan e-Visa covers tourism, business, family visit, religious pilgrimage (Sikh and Hindu yatra visas in particular), and journalism, each with its own document requirements and processing tier. The tourist e-Visa at $60 USD is for 30 days single entry. The five-year multiple-entry tourist visa, available for selected nationalities including the UK, costs $130 USD and permits multiple entries for tourism over five years with each stay limited to 90 days. The business e-Visa requires an invitation letter from a Pakistan-based company and starts at $76 USD.
Visa-on-arrival eligibility
Visa-on-arrival is available at major international airports including Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi, but only for specific tourist categories. Eligibility is generally restricted to organised tour groups accompanied by a Pakistan-approved tour operator and to family visit travellers carrying a confirmed invitation. Independent UK tourists arriving without prior arrangement should not rely on visa-on-arrival and should apply for the e-Visa in advance.
How to apply for the Pakistan e-Visa
The official application portal is visa.nadra.gov.pk, operated by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) on behalf of the Pakistan Ministry of Interior. A complete tourist visa application takes around 30 to 45 minutes for a first-time user. The form is more detailed than many regional e-Visa systems, asking for full travel history, employment details, references in Pakistan, and complete itinerary.
Required documents are a colour passport photo on white background, a scan of the passport biographical page, a hotel booking or invitation letter from a Pakistan-based contact for the duration of the stay, a return or onward flight booking, and evidence of sufficient funds (typically a bank statement covering the last three to six months). For business visas, a formal invitation letter from a Pakistan-incorporated company on letterhead is required. For family visit visas, a copy of the host's Pakistani identity card or NICOP is required.
Processing and follow-up
After submission, the applicant receives a confirmation by email with a tracking reference. The NADRA portal allows status checks using the reference. Processing time is typically 7 to 10 working days but can extend to several weeks during peak periods or for applications requiring additional security clearance. Where additional documents are requested, the applicant has a set period to provide them before the application lapses.
Cost: official fees and third-party markup
The Pakistan e-Visa fees, payable directly on the NADRA portal, are $60 USD for a 30-day single-entry tourist visa, $130 USD for a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa (eligible nationalities), $76 USD for business visas, and varying fees for other categories such as journalism and student visas. Payment is in US dollars by credit or debit card. Some applicants report card payment issues with UK cards on first attempt; using an alternative card or contacting the bank's fraud line is usually the workaround.
Third-party Pakistan visa services charge UK applicants £100 to £250 for an e-Visa, materially more than the $60 to $130 official fee. The services lodge applications through the same NADRA portal. Some claim added value through assistance with the more demanding documentation requirements of Pakistan visas compared to neighbouring countries, which can be genuine for first-time business applicants but is generally not value-added for a straightforward tourist application.
NICOP and the Pakistan Origin Card for British Pakistanis
British citizens with Pakistani heritage have a separate, more advantageous entry route. The NICOP is issued to overseas Pakistanis who are dual citizens or eligible by descent and grants the holder visa-free entry to Pakistan along with property and inheritance rights in Pakistan. The POC is the analogous document for those of Pakistani origin who are not dual citizens, granting visa-free entry without the broader citizenship rights. Both documents are issued by NADRA at the Pakistan High Commission in London for UK applicants.
For repeat travellers with Pakistani family ties, the NICOP is materially more practical than chaining tourist visas. The initial application requires evidence of Pakistani citizenship or origin (typically a Pakistani birth certificate, a Pakistani parent's NICOP, or a Pakistani family registration certificate known as a B-Form). The process takes several weeks but the resulting document is valid for ten years and is renewable.
Processing time and refusal reasons
The Pakistan e-Visa processing time of 7 to 10 working days is the most relevant practical constraint for UK travellers. Tight applications submitted within a week of travel risk the visa not arriving in time. The Pakistan High Commission in London offers limited urgent visa services for documented emergency travel, typically for family medical situations, but this is not a routine expedited service.
The most common refusal reasons are incomplete documentation, particularly missing or inadequate invitation letters for family and business visits, photographs that fail format checks, and travel histories raising additional security review. Refusal letters typically provide a reason and the applicant can submit a fresh application addressing the issue or, in some cases, request reconsideration through the Pakistan High Commission.
Editorial Disclaimer
Content on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute regulated immigration, legal or financial advice. Kael Tripton Ltd is not authorised by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) and does not provide regulated immigration advice. Rules, fees and processing times change without notice. Verify current information directly with GOV.UK, HM Passport Office, or an OISC-registered adviser before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do British passport holders need a visa for Pakistan?
Yes, in most cases. UK passport holders without Pakistani heritage require a visa to enter Pakistan, applied through the NADRA Pakistan Online Visa System at visa.nadra.gov.pk. Standard tourist e-Visa fees are $60 USD for 30-day single entry or $130 for five-year multiple entry where eligible. British citizens of Pakistani origin can use a NICOP or Pakistan Origin Card for visa-free entry instead. A limited visa-on-arrival exists at major airports for organised tour groups and pre-arranged family visits.
How long does the Pakistan e-Visa take to process?
The Pakistan e-Visa processing time is typically 7 to 10 working days from a complete application, but can extend to several weeks during peak periods or for applications requiring additional security clearance. The NADRA portal does not offer routine expedited processing. UK travellers planning a trip to Pakistan should lodge at least three weeks before the travel date, and longer for first-time business or family visit applications which carry heavier documentation requirements.
What is NICOP and who can apply?
NICOP, the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis, is issued by NADRA to Pakistani citizens or those eligible by descent who reside abroad. It grants visa-free entry to Pakistan and confirms property and inheritance rights in Pakistan. UK citizens with at least one Pakistani parent or grandparent who can document the lineage through Pakistani birth certificates or family registration are typically eligible. The application is lodged at the Pakistan High Commission in London and the resulting card is valid for ten years and renewable.
Is the visa-on-arrival in Pakistan available for UK tourists?
Visa-on-arrival is available at Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi airports but is restricted to specific tourist categories, principally organised tour groups travelling with a Pakistan-approved tour operator and family visit travellers carrying a confirmed invitation letter. Independent UK tourists arriving without prior arrangement cannot rely on visa-on-arrival and should apply for the e-Visa in advance through the NADRA portal. Attempting to enter Pakistan without a visa or pre-arranged tour group typically leads to immediate return on the next available flight.
How much does a Pakistan business visa cost from the UK?
The Pakistan business e-Visa starts at $76 USD for single entry through the NADRA portal, with longer validity and multiple-entry options at higher fees. The application requires an invitation letter from a Pakistan-incorporated company on letterhead, the company's registration details, and proof of the relationship between the UK applicant and the Pakistani host. Business visa processing typically takes longer than tourist applications, often 10 to 14 working days, so applicants planning Pakistan business travel should lodge with adequate buffer time.
Why are third-party Pakistan visa sites more expensive than NADRA direct?
Third-party Pakistan visa services charge UK applicants £100 to £250, materially more than the $60 to $130 official NADRA fee. These services lodge applications through the same NADRA portal and retain the difference. For documentation-heavy applications (business, family visit, journalism) some agents can add genuine value through assistance with invitation letters and supporting documents. For a straightforward tourist application from a UK applicant with reasonable English literacy, the NADRA portal is the lower-cost direct route.
How we verified this
Fees, visa categories, and processing times were verified against the NADRA Pakistan Online Visa System portal at visa.nadra.gov.pk, the Pakistan High Commission in London, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice for Pakistan, all checked in May 2026. NICOP and Pakistan Origin Card eligibility was cross-referenced with the NADRA consular services pages. Where guidance differs between sources, the NADRA portal is treated as authoritative for fees and procedures and the FCDO is treated as authoritative for British traveller advice.
Primary Sources
- NADRA Pakistan Online Visa System - official application and current fees
- UK Foreign Travel Advice for Pakistan - entry requirements for British nationals
- Pakistan High Commission London - consular services and NICOP applications
- UK Foreign Travel Advice for Pakistan - overview and safety information
- National Database and Registration Authority of Pakistan - NICOP and Pakistan Origin Card
