Pakistan · Business / Startup
Pakistan Investor visa · short term
Business Investor Visa, short term (1 or 3 years)
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Investor visa · short term is a business / startup route for Pakistan. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
Time and long term
RenewalRenewable
An extension of two years is available.
What you'll need
Who can apply1
- The applicant intends to do business or invest in Pakistan.
Documents5
- One of the following is required: a recommendation from the chamber of commerce and industry of the applicant's country.
- Or an invitation letter from a business organisation endorsed by a trade body.
- Or a recommendation of the BOI, a commercial attache or a head of mission, or a letter of existing business.
- A passport and a photograph.
- Proof of legal residence when applying from a third country.
Steps2
- Apply online on the Pakistan Online Visa System, from the country of residence or from Pakistan when extending.
- Processing takes 24 hours for countries on the Business Visa List and four weeks for other countries.
After you arrive1
- An extension of two years with multiple entries can be applied for while holding a valid visa and living in Pakistan.
What happens at day 183
How Pakistan decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in a tax yearAn individual present in Pakistan for 183 days or more in the tax year is a resident individual.
- Foreign-source income
Resident individuals pay income tax on worldwide income at progressive rates: 0% up to PKR 600,000, (≈ $2,170) rising to 35% on salaried income above PKR 7,000,000 (≈ $25,300) and 45% on other income above PKR 5,600,000 (≈ $20,200); from tax year 2027 salaried individuals pay no surcharge.
- Special regime
Foreign-source salary of residents exempt if foreign tax is paid · Tax relief
Foreign-source salary received by a resident individual is exempt from Pakistani tax if foreign-source income tax has been paid on it, including tax withheld by the employer.
All tax rules for Pakistan Tax records checked
Full official text
Multiple-entry business investor visa for one or three years for people who run or start a business in Pakistan, with a recommendation or invitation instead of a minimum investment. 1 2
Requirements
- The applicant intends to do business or invest in Pakistan. 1
- One of the following is required: a recommendation from the chamber of commerce and industry of the applicant's country. 1
- Or an invitation letter from a business organisation endorsed by a trade body. 1
- Or a recommendation of the BOI, a commercial attache or a head of mission, or a letter of existing business. 1
- A passport and a photograph. 1
- Proof of legal residence when applying from a third country. 1
- Apply online on the Pakistan Online Visa System, from the country of residence or from Pakistan when extending. 2
- Processing takes 24 hours for countries on the Business Visa List and four weeks for other countries. 1
- An extension of two years with multiple entries can be applied for while holding a valid visa and living in Pakistan. 1
Stay
- One-year or three-year multiple-entry visa; extension of two years.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Citizens of the countries covered by the online visa system; processing is faster for countries on the Business Visa List and slower for other countries.
Work
Business activity in Pakistan.
Family
Each accompanying family member files a separate application; listing a family member in the application does not grant them a visa.
Official sources
- Business - Investor Visa · Pakistan Online Visa System, Ministry of Interior (NADRA) · checked 2026-10-12
- Frequently asked questions · Pakistan Online Visa System, Ministry of Interior (NADRA) · checked 2026-10-12
Investor visa · short term and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investor visa · short term | – | – | – |
| SIFC business visa | – | – | – |
| SMART Visa S · 2 years Thailand | Needs savings of ฿600k+ ≈ $18k | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Business Manager Japan | Needs an investment of ¥30M+ ≈ $189k | 5 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Golden · Entrepreneur United Arab Emirates | – | 10 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Investor visa · short term?
One-year or three-year multiple-entry visa; extension of two years.
Can I work on the Investor visa · short term?
Business activity in Pakistan.
Can I bring my family on the Investor visa · short term?
Each accompanying family member files a separate application; listing a family member in the application does not grant them a visa.
Is there a tax break for Investor visa · short term holders in Pakistan?
Foreign-source salary of residents exempt if foreign tax is paid: Foreign-source salary received by a resident individual is exempt from Pakistani tax if foreign-source income tax has been paid on it, including tax withheld by the employer. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Foreign-source salary of residents exempt if foreign tax is paid
Tax relief
Details
- Who: Foreign-source income tax has been paid on the salary
Foreign-source salary received by a resident individual is exempt from Pakistani tax if foreign-source income tax has been paid on it, including tax withheld by the employer.
Taxed on
Foreign-source salary of resident individuals.
Who it applies to
- Foreign-source income tax has been paid on the salary, or the employer withheld tax and paid it to the revenue authority of the country where the employment was exercised.
Exclusions
- Foreign-source income other than salary is taxed in Pakistan with a credit for foreign tax paid, under section 103.
Tax residence
Applies to individuals who are resident in Pakistan for the tax year under the 183-day test.
Visas
Not tied to any visa.
Other taxes
Foreign-source income that is not salary is taxed in Pakistan with a foreign tax credit limited by the Ordinance.
Checked against official sources on Change log
More in Pakistan
Business / startup visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 2 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Business - Investor Visa · Pakistan Online Visa System, Ministry of Interior (NADRA) · checked 2026-10-12
- Frequently asked questions · Pakistan Online Visa System, Ministry of Interior (NADRA) · checked 2026-10-12
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.