Pakistan · Student
Pakistan Student visa
First stay: 2 yrs
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Student visa is a student route for Pakistan. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Processing
- Up to 30 days
- First stay
- 2 yrs
Time and long term
ProcessingUp to 30 days
The Interior Ministry visa policy sets 30 days for security clearance of a study entry visa or extension; the online portal says two weeks.
Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, Ministry of InteriorPakistan Online Visa System, Ministry of Interior
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a place at a school or university in Pakistan
What you'll need
Who can apply1
- The applicant has been admitted to a higher education institution in Pakistan.
Documents4
- An admission or bonafide letter from the institution.
- A no-objection certificate from the HEC, Economic Affairs Division, IPC, Ministry of Health or Ministry of Education, as applicable.
- For accompanying family: a sponsorship letter or bank statement.
- A passport and a photograph.
Steps2
- Security clearance is part of the procedure.
- Security clearance is decided within 30 days; the online portal lists two weeks for a new visa and for an extension.
After you arrive1
- The visa can be extended while the holder is living in Pakistan.
What happens at day 183
How Pakistan decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
2 years at first, renewable
- 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
Two-year student visa for foreigners admitted to higher education in Pakistan, issued after a no-objection certificate from the responsible ministry. 1 2
Requirements
- The applicant has been admitted to a higher education institution in Pakistan. 1 2
- An admission or bonafide letter from the institution. 1
- A no-objection certificate from the HEC, Economic Affairs Division, IPC, Ministry of Health or Ministry of Education, as applicable. 1 2
- For accompanying family: a sponsorship letter or bank statement. 1
- A passport and a photograph. 1
- Security clearance is part of the procedure. 2
- Security clearance is decided within 30 days; the online portal lists two weeks for a new visa and for an extension. 2 1
- The visa can be extended while the holder is living in Pakistan. 1
Stay
- A student visa is granted for two years.
- Initial permitted stay: 24 months.
- Visa validity: 24 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
Citizens of countries on the visa list can apply.
Family
Family members apply separately and need a sponsorship letter or bank statement.
Fine print
The visa policy allows up to 30 days for security clearance; the online portal says two weeks.
Official sources
- Student 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
Student visa and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student visa | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Study visa (ED) Thailand | – | 3 mo, renewable | No |
| Student visa Japan | – | 4.3 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Student visa · Non-formal Indonesia | – | 4 yr, renewable | No |
| Student visa United Arab Emirates | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Student visa?
A student visa is granted for two years.
How long does the Student visa take to process?
The Interior Ministry visa policy sets 30 days for security clearance of a study entry visa or extension; the online portal says two weeks.
Can I bring my family on the Student visa?
Family members apply separately and need a sponsorship letter or bank statement.
Is there a tax break for Student 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
Study 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.
- Student 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
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.