How to get a Pakistan Visa as a US Citizen

A quick and easy guide on how to get a Pakistan Visa for US citizens. Includes types, steps, required documents, and fees.

Getting a Pakistani tourist visa as a US citizen used to be a bit arduous. Tons of information was required, fees were astronomical compared to many other countries, and wait times could be long.

But as of April 2019, the system has done a complete 180, and getting a Pakistani visa is now a relatively straightforward and quite affordable process. We were  able to obtain a one year, multi entry visa that made backpacking Pakistan a breeze!

  Pakistan also eased restrictions on foreign tourists- meaning that it’s now possible to even visit places like Swat Valley freely! Read on to find everything you need to know about securing this visa within the good ol’ US of A!

E-visa vs In-Passport Visa- A Brief Introduction

As of late April 2019, Pakistan has officially launched their e-Visa program, an online system which US citizens are eligible for. (The program also included Visa on Arrival privileges for some nationalities, but the US was not one of them)

The E-visa can be obtained easily from anywhere in the world, (unlike the passport one- but more on that later) and allows for visits of up to 3 months, with the possibility to extend for up to 6 more.

So, the E-visa is ideal for those making a short visit to Pakistan, provided they do not plan on exiting and re-entering the country. Another added bonus of the e-Visa is it allows you to apply with nothing more than a hotel booking confirmation instead of the usual LOI. (Letter of Invitation)

 

But what about the In-Passport visa?

The In-passport Visa requires you to be in the US for processing. If you live close to your embassy/consulate you can drop your application and passport off in person, or if not, you can mail it.

The major benefit of this type of visa is it allows you to request and pay for longer duration & multiple entry visits. This is economically and geographically ideal, especially for long -term travelers who plan to visit the country more than once.

Now that we’ve differentiated between the two, this guide will primarily focus on the In-Passport Visa.

What you need before getting a Pakistan Visa for US Citizens

Before you get started, you’re going to need a few things first. The most important? An LOI.

An LOI is a letter from a friend or sponsor that “invites” you to the country and provides some information on your expected itinerary.

If you do not have any contacts in Pakistan to write this for you, you’ll have to go through a tour company. But don’t worry- booking a tour is not actually required!

Most tour companies charge a fee between $80-$100 to issue an LOI. Embassies/consulates require the following along with a letter (this rings true for LOI’s from personal contacts as well) :

• Inviter’s name and copy of CNIC number/ card
• Copy of the inviter’s passport

And if using a tour company:

• A copy of the tour company’s license

Based on experience, I cannot recommend anyone other than Abdul Bari of Lost Horizons. He is very professional, responsive, and quick.

Embassies & Consulates

There are 5 Pakistani Embassies/Consulates in the US that issue Pakistan Visas for US citizens. Where you submit your application to is dependent upon your legal residence, as indicated by your license/ID card. Here’s who accepts who:

• Washington D.C – D.C, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee
• New York City– New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Kentucky, Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Wyoming
• Los Angeles– California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Alaska, Montana
• Chicago– Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Indiana, Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Michigan, Idaho
• Houston– Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana

Application Checklist

Now that you have your LOI and know where you’ll be sending everything to, it’s time to fill out the application and gather the rest of your documents. For your Pakistan Visa application to be processed in the US you need:

• 1 completed application form (this can be printed from your embassy’s website)
• Your actual passport
• Your LOI
• 2 passport sized photos (Must be different than the one IN your passport)
• A copy of your passport’s  first page
• A copy of your driver’s license/ ID card (may be substituted by a utility bill)
• A self-addressed return shipping envelope if submitted by mail

If you have extenuating circumstances, it may be useful to include a cover letter describing those as well.

How to Apply

Once you have all the required documents, you can either deliver your application materials in person (be sure to check document receiving times on your location’s website) or send it via UPS or Fedex mail.

If doing the latter, make sure you pay for and include a self-addressed return label for them to send your passport back to you.

Passports are typically sent back within 7-10 days of arriving at the embassy/consulate.

 

Tip: If two or more people residing at the same address are applying together, you may send everything in one envelope, just make sure you pre-pay for the correct weight for the return.

Pakistani Visa Fees for US Citizens

In late April 2019, Pakistan completely overhauled its visa fees, cutting them by more than half! In the past, a one-month visa cost $192, but luckily for us, those days are behind us. The Pakistani visa fees for US citizens are as follows:

• Single Entry Visa: $60
• Multiple Entry Visa (up to 1 year): $90
• Multiple Entry Visa (more than 1 year): $120

In April 2019, Charles and I applied at the Houston Consulate and were granted a 1 year, multiple-entry visa with each duration of stay 90 days.

We had our LOI processed some months before, so despite it only detailing a 2 month visit, we were still given the long stay we requested. This definitely speaks to the positive changes Pakistan is making in regards to tourism!

 

And there it is, a quick and simple guide to applying for a Pakistan Visa for US Citizens. Was your experience different from ours? Did your specific embassy require something different? Be sure to chime in in the comments!