Pakistan · Work
Pakistan Business visa
Business Visa (Pakistan Online Visa System)
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Business visa is a work route for Pakistan. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
Time and long term
RenewalRenewable
Extensions are applied for in Pakistan.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Pakistan
- Not open to passports from Israel
What you'll need
Who can apply1
- The applicant is a business traveller invited by a company registered in Pakistan or recommended by a chamber of commerce or the Board of Investment.
Documents7
- Proof of registration of the inviting company, such as an SECP or chamber of commerce certificate.
- One of the following is required: a recommendation letter from the chamber of commerce and industry of the applicant's country.
- Or an invitation letter from a business organisation endorsed by a Pakistani trade organisation.
- Or a recommendation from a BOI honorary investment counsellor or a commercial attache.
- A business invitation letter obtained through the E-Business Invitation Letter System.
- 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
- Regional Passport Offices can extend a business visa by one year on business documents; longer extensions come from the Ministry of Interior.
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 visa for up to five years for businesspeople invited by a Pakistani company or recommended by a chamber of commerce, extendable in Pakistan. 1 2 3
Requirements
- The applicant is a business traveller invited by a company registered in Pakistan or recommended by a chamber of commerce or the Board of Investment. 1 2
- Proof of registration of the inviting company, such as an SECP or chamber of commerce certificate. 1
- One of the following is required: a recommendation letter from the chamber of commerce and industry of the applicant's country. 1
- Or an invitation letter from a business organisation endorsed by a Pakistani trade organisation. 1
- Or a recommendation from a BOI honorary investment counsellor or a commercial attache. 1
- A business invitation letter obtained through the E-Business Invitation Letter System. 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. 3
- Processing takes 24 hours for countries on the Business Visa List and four weeks for other countries. 1
- Regional Passport Offices can extend a business visa by one year on business documents; longer extensions come from the Ministry of Interior. 2
Stay
- A business visa may be granted for up to five years with multiple entries; extensions are applied for in Pakistan.
- Visa validity: 60 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Nationals of all countries except Israel; processing is faster for the 96 countries on the Business Visa List and slower for other countries. Not open to: Israel.
Work
Business visits and business activity; the business visa cannot be converted into a work visa.
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 Visa · Pakistan Online Visa System, Ministry of Interior (NADRA) · checked 2026-10-12
- Visa categories · Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, Ministry of Interior · checked 2026-10-11
- Frequently asked questions · Pakistan Online Visa System, Ministry of Interior (NADRA) · checked 2026-10-12
Business visa and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business visa | – | – | – |
| CPEC work visa | – | – | – |
| Work visa | – | – | – |
| LTR · Highly Skilled Thailand | Needs income of $80k+ a year | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Engineer/Specialist visa Japan | – | 5 yr, renewable | Limited |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Business visa?
A business visa may be granted for up to five years with multiple entries; extensions are applied for in Pakistan.
Can I work on the Business visa?
Business visits and business activity; the business visa cannot be converted into a work visa.
Can I bring my family on the Business visa?
Each accompanying family member files a separate application; listing a family member in the application does not grant them a visa.
Who can apply for the Business visa?
Nationals of all countries except Israel; processing is faster for the 96 countries on the Business Visa List and slower for other countries. Not open to: Israel.
Is there a tax break for Business visa 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
Work 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 3 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 Visa · Pakistan Online Visa System, Ministry of Interior (NADRA) · checked 2026-10-12
- Visa categories · Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, Ministry of Interior · checked 2026-10-11
- 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.