Pakistan · Business / Startup
Pakistan SIFC business visa
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
SIFC business visa 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 in Pakistan and holds a recommendation letter or email from the Special Investment Facilitation Council.
Documents3
- The SIFC recommendation letter or email.
- A passport and a photograph.
- Proof of legal residence when applying from a third country.
Steps3
- Request the SIFC visa invitation letter through the SIFC e-visa page, then apply online on the Pakistan Online Visa System.
- Businesspeople from Business Visa List countries can apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization at least 24 hours before travel for the short-term visa.
- Processing takes 24 hours for countries on the Business Visa List and four weeks for other countries; an extension takes two weeks.
After you arrive1
- Extension of two years with multiple entries is available 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
Business visa on the recommendation of the Special Investment Facilitation Council: six months single entry, or five-year validity with a two-year stay and multiple entries. 1 2
Requirements
- The applicant intends to do business in Pakistan and holds a recommendation letter or email from the Special Investment Facilitation Council. 1
- The SIFC recommendation letter or email. 1
- A passport and a photograph. 1
- Proof of legal residence when applying from a third country. 1
- Request the SIFC visa invitation letter through the SIFC e-visa page, then apply online on the Pakistan Online Visa System. 1
- Businesspeople from Business Visa List countries can apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization at least 24 hours before travel for the short-term visa. 1
- Processing takes 24 hours for countries on the Business Visa List and four weeks for other countries; an extension takes two weeks. 1
- Extension of two years with multiple entries is available while holding a valid visa and living in Pakistan. 1
Stay
- Short-term entry visa for six months, single entry (ETA valid 90 days); long-term entry visa with five-year validity and a two-year duration, multiple entry; 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
- SIFC - Business 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
SIFC business visa and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIFC business visa | – | – | – |
| Investor visa · short term | – | – | – |
| 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 SIFC business visa?
Short-term entry visa for six months, single entry (ETA valid 90 days); long-term entry visa with five-year validity and a two-year duration, multiple entry; extension of two years.
Can I work on the SIFC business visa?
Business activity in Pakistan.
Can I bring my family on the SIFC business visa?
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 SIFC 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
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.
- SIFC - Business 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.