Pakistan · Spouse visas
Pakistan Origin Card
Pakistan Origin Card for the foreign spouse of a Pakistani citizen
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Pakistan Origin Card is a spouse visas route for Pakistan. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
Time and long term
CitizenshipGeneral rule: 5 years of residence
A foreign wife of a Pakistani national can apply for Pakistani citizenship under section 10(2) of the Citizenship Act 1951, with evidence of five years' aggregate stay in Pakistan and an oath of allegiance for non-Commonwealth citizens.
Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, Ministry of Interior
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Not open to passports from India, Bangladesh, Israel
What you'll need
Who can apply3
- The applicant is a foreign national married to a Pakistani citizen or origin individual.
- Citizens or nationals of India and Bangladesh, of countries not recognised by Pakistan (the NADRA FAQ names Israel) and of any enemy country are not eligible.
- Dependent children of the foreign spouse can also apply.
Steps1
- Apply through the PakID app or a NADRA Registration Centre.
After you arrive1
- The Pakistani spouse must report a divorce to NADRA so the spouse's card is cancelled.
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
Pakistan Origin Card for a foreigner married to a Pakistani citizen or a person of Pakistani origin, giving visa-free stay for the validity of the card. 1
Requirements
- The applicant is a foreign national married to a Pakistani citizen or origin individual. 1
- Citizens or nationals of India and Bangladesh, of countries not recognised by Pakistan (the NADRA FAQ names Israel) and of any enemy country are not eligible. 1
- Dependent children of the foreign spouse can also apply. 1
- Apply through the PakID app or a NADRA Registration Centre. 1
- The Pakistani spouse must report a divorce to NADRA so the spouse's card is cancelled. 1
Stay
- Stay is allowed for the validity of the card.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Foreign spouses of Pakistani citizens or persons of Pakistani origin; citizens of India, Bangladesh, countries not recognised by Pakistan and enemy countries are excluded. Not open to: India, Bangladesh, Israel.
Family
Dependent children of the foreign spouse can apply for the card.
Official sources
- Pakistan Origin Card (POC) · National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) · checked 2026-10-12
- Grant of citizenship · Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, Ministry of Interior · checked 2026-10-11
Pakistan Origin Card and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan Origin Card | – | – | – |
| Spouse of a permanent resident Thailand | – | 3 mo, renewable | – |
| Spouse of a citizen Japan | – | 5 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Spouse of a stay permit holder Indonesia | – | – | No |
| Spouse of a citizen United Arab Emirates | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Pakistan Origin Card?
Stay is allowed for the validity of the card.
Can I bring my family on the Pakistan Origin Card?
Dependent children of the foreign spouse can apply for the card.
Who can apply for the Pakistan Origin Card?
Foreign spouses of Pakistani citizens or persons of Pakistani origin; citizens of India, Bangladesh, countries not recognised by Pakistan and enemy countries are excluded. Not open to: India, Bangladesh, 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
Spouse and partner 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.
- Pakistan Origin Card (POC) · National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) · checked 2026-10-12
- Grant of citizenship · Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, Ministry of Interior · checked 2026-10-11
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.