Pakistan · For your nationality or ancestry
Pakistan Origin Card
Pakistan Origin Card (POC)
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Pakistan Origin Card is a for your nationality or ancestry route for Pakistan. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Not open to passports from India, Israel
What you'll need
Who can apply3
- The applicant is not a Pakistani citizen but was a citizen at any time, or a parent or grandparent was or is a Pakistani.
- Applicants who acquired foreign nationality before the Pakistan Citizenship Act 1951 also qualify.
- Citizens of India and Israel and of countries not recognised by Pakistan cannot apply.
Documents1
- Proof of previous Pakistani nationality or of the parent's or grandparent's origin, and a valid foreign passport.
Steps1
- Apply through the PakID app or a NADRA Registration Centre; biometrics and a photograph may need a visit to a centre.
After you arrive1
- The holder enters Pakistan without a visa and stays during the validity of the card, and can buy, sell and own property under applicable law.
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
Identity card for foreign nationals of Pakistani origin that allows visa-free entry, stay in Pakistan for the validity of the card and property ownership. 1
Requirements
- The applicant is not a Pakistani citizen but was a citizen at any time, or a parent or grandparent was or is a Pakistani. 1
- Applicants who acquired foreign nationality before the Pakistan Citizenship Act 1951 also qualify. 1
- Citizens of India and Israel and of countries not recognised by Pakistan cannot apply. 1
- Proof of previous Pakistani nationality or of the parent's or grandparent's origin, and a valid foreign passport. 1
- Apply through the PakID app or a NADRA Registration Centre; biometrics and a photograph may need a visit to a centre. 1
- The holder enters Pakistan without a visa and stays during the validity of the card, and can buy, sell and own property under applicable law. 1
Stay
- Stay is allowed for the validity of the card; the card is not Pakistani citizenship.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Foreign nationals of Pakistani origin; citizens of India, Israel and countries not recognised by Pakistan are excluded. Not open to: India, Israel.
Official sources
- Pakistan Origin Card (POC) · National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) · checked 2026-10-12
Pakistan Origin Card and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan Origin Card | – | – | – |
| Ex-citizen descendant visa (E32B) Indonesia | Needs an investment from $30k | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Korean F-4 overseas Korean visa South Korea | – | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Quota Immigrant (13) Philippines | – | – | – |
| K visa (Khmer origin) Cambodia | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Pakistan Origin Card?
Stay is allowed for the validity of the card; the card is not Pakistani citizenship.
Who can apply for the Pakistan Origin Card?
Foreign nationals of Pakistani origin; citizens of India, Israel and countries not recognised by Pakistan are excluded. Not open to: India, Israel.
Is there a tax break for Pakistan Origin Card 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
Nationality or ancestry 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 1 official source. 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.
- Pakistan Origin Card (POC) · National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) · checked 2026-10-12
Tracked since 2026-10-11. 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.