Pakistan Visa Policy for Afghan Nationals: Nine Routes, 45 Day Visit Visa and Exit Permit
The directorate's policy for Afghan nationals lists nine visa routes, 45 day visits, 6 month extensions and a 14 day overstay exit permit. See the limits.
Pakistan's immigration directorate publishes a separate visa policy for Afghan nationals, with nine categories: a 45 day visit visa from a Pakistani mission abroad, a treatment visa, a family visit visa of up to five years, and business, work, study, journalist, diplomatic and PoR card routes. It also allows an exit permit for Afghans who overstay by 14 days or less without the overstay charge.
We read the Afghan visa policy page of the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGI&P) on 22 October 2026. The page shows that it was last modified on 4 October 2023. So treat it as the published policy, not as a promise of what a mission or an immigration officer will do today.
The policy lists nine routes for Afghan nationals
The page lists PoR card holders, visit or tourist, treatment, family visit, business, work, diplomatic and official, study, and journalist visas. Each has its own length of stay and its own approvals, and most need the Ministry of Interior to authorise the visa first.
| Route | What the page says |
|---|---|
| Visit or tourist, from a mission abroad (not in Afghanistan) | 45 days, single re-entry, with a sponsor in Pakistan |
| Visit, from the Pakistan mission in Afghanistan | Up to one year, multiple entry, 60 days each stay |
| Treatment | 3 months on arrival at Torkham for serious illness; up to 6 months from the mission for long illnesses |
| Family visit | Up to five years, multiple entry, each stay up to one year |
| Business | Five years for investment of Rs 50 million or more; two to three years for Rs 20 to 50 million |
| Work | One year entry work visa on a BOI recommendation |
| Study | Length of the university programme; one to five years for school or college |
PoR card holders, diplomats and journalists have their own rules on the page. A PoR card is the Proof of Registration card issued to registered Afghan refugees.
A visit visa from a mission needs a guarantor in Pakistan
A Pakistan mission outside Afghanistan may give an Afghan visitor 45 days with a single re-entry. The page says a guarantor or sponsor in Pakistan is needed, either a Pakistani national or a credible Afghan businessman. Doubtful cases go to the Ministry of Interior for security checks, which the page says should take about four weeks.
The Pakistan mission in Afghanistan may issue a multiple entry visa valid up to one year, with 60 days in each stay. The page adds that the 60 day limit can be changed or waived if the mission finds good reason. Pakistan's own rules for other nationalities are in the guide to the eleven Pakistan visa categories.
Extension is six monthly for long residents, and needs Interior approval
The page says an extension can be given for six months, with one re-entry, to Afghans who have lived in Pakistan for a long time and keep getting extensions. Long means two or more entry visas or extensions. The Ministry of Interior approves it and tells the security agencies. A longer extension, up to one year, depends on security clearance.
For the general way to extend a Pakistan visa at a regional passport office, see how to extend a Pakistan visa. The Afghan policy has extra conditions on top of it.
An exit permit waives the overstay charge for up to 14 days
The page says Afghans who entered on a proper visa from a Pakistani mission, including those in Afghanistan, can get an exit permit from the Ministry of Interior if they overstay. If the overstay is no more than 14 days there is no overstay charge. After that, charges are recovered at government rates before the permit is issued.
The charges for other nationals are in our note on the overstay surcharge for foreigners. We did not find an Afghan specific rate on the page.
A visa is cancelled if you use it for another purpose
The page says a visit visa cannot be used to work, run a business, study or practise journalism. If a visa is used for a purpose other than the one it was granted for, it stands cancelled. The Ministry of Interior can also cancel any category on security advice.
- Choose the category that matches your real purpose.
- Apply at the right Pakistan mission, with a sponsor or papers for that category.
- Wait for Ministry of Interior authorisation where the page requires it.
- Do not work or study on a visit visa.
- Apply for an extension or an exit permit before the stay ends.
Travel conditions also depend on the border. Our report says land trade with Afghanistan has been shut for a year. We did not find a notice on passenger rules.
Common questions
How long can an Afghan visitor stay on a Pakistan visit visa?
A mission outside Afghanistan may give 45 days with one re-entry. The Pakistan mission in Afghanistan may give up to one year with multiple entries, with 60 days in each stay.
Do Afghans need a sponsor in Pakistan?
For a visit visa from a mission abroad, the page asks for a guarantor or sponsor, either a Pakistani national or a credible Afghan businessman, with full details.
Can an Afghan visitor get a visa at the Torkham border?
The page allows a three month visa on arrival at Torkham for serious illness, with one attendant. It lists no general visit visa on arrival.
What happens if an Afghan visitor overstays?
The Ministry of Interior can issue an exit permit. There is no overstay charge up to 14 days. After that, charges are paid first.
Is the page up to date?
The page was last modified on 4 October 2023. Confirm with a Pakistan mission or the directorate helpline before you plan a trip.
Who is covered by the family visit visa?
Afghan nationals who have a spouse of Pakistani origin, and their children, according to the same page.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 22 October 2026. Every category, duration and condition above comes from the DGI&P Visa Policy for Afghanistan page, which we read in full on 22 October 2026. Its footer says it was last modified on 4 October 2023. We could not verify whether missions apply every rule today, whether passenger crossings are open, or any Afghan specific fee. We did not contact the directorate.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
