How to Get a Pakistan Work Visa for a Foreign Employee: 2 Years, Multiple Entries, 4 Weeks
A Pakistani company applies for a foreign employee’s work visa. The BOI lists 2 years with multiple entries and 4 weeks. See documents and the 7 day rule.
A Pakistani company that hires a foreign engineer, manager or technician applies for the worker's work visa online, through Pakistan's E-Visa portal. The Board of Investment (BOI) page says the visa lasts 2 years with multiple entries, and the target processing time is 4 weeks. The employer applies, not the worker.
We read the BOI's Work Visa page on 14 October 2026. It names the portal, the documents and the timelines. We could not open the portal itself from our connection, so we did not check the visa fee or the form fields. The page does not list a fee either. Confirm the fee on the portal before you pay.
The company applies on the E-Visa portal for a new visa or an extension
The BOI page says companies employing expatriates must submit the work visa application on the E-Visa portal run by NADRA. There are two kinds of online application. An entry application is for someone who has no valid Pakistan visa. An extension is for someone who already holds a valid Pakistan visa and lives in Pakistan.
Eligibility is simple on paper: a foreign citizen with a valid job offer who meets the requirements. The page adds that issuing a visa is the prerogative of the Government of Pakistan. That means a complete file is needed, but it is not a guarantee.
Prepare the passport, photo and an employment letter from an SECP company
For a person hired by a company, the BOI lists the passport, a photograph and an employment letter from a company registered with the SECP. The letter must show salary and duration of the assignment, or be a sponsorship or guarantee letter. For a single-person business, the employer's tax certificate and CNIC or passport are also needed.
| Case | Documents the BOI page lists |
|---|---|
| Hired by a company | Passport, photograph, employment letter from an SECP-registered company with salary and duration |
| Hired by a single-person business | Passport, photograph, employment agreement or sponsorship letter, employer's tax certificate, employer's CNIC or passport |
| Applying from a third country | Proof of legal residence in that country, uploaded as supporting document type "Other" |
| Extension | Proof of the valid Pakistan visa and the passport entry stamp, uploaded as "Other" |
The BOI also lists documents that may be requested on a need basis: a company covering letter stating the visa period, three passport pages (information, entry and last visa page), sponsor details, the employee's CV, any previous work or family visa page, the company registration certificate, the SECP certificate, the FBR NTN certificate, employment agreements, a company profile and a letter confirming the expatriate's credentials.
The target is 4 weeks, and a returned file restarts the clock
The BOI page gives 4 weeks for both entry and extension. It also says that if the portal sends the application back for review, the processing time starts again from the day you resubmit. The application is cancelled if the applicant does not resubmit within seven days of being sent back.
Those seven days are the rule that catches companies. Check your portal inbox and email each day after you apply.
- Confirm the employee's job offer, salary and assignment period in writing.
- Collect the employer's SECP certificate and NTN, plus the employee's passport pages and photograph.
- Create the application on the E-Visa portal as an entry or extension case.
- Upload every document in the right slot, using "Other" for residence or visa proof.
- Pay the fee shown on the portal and keep the receipt.
- Watch for a "sent back for review" notice and answer it within seven days.
- When the visa is issued, record the expiry date and plan any extension early.
Know the difference between a work visa and a business visa
A work visa is for someone who will be employed in Pakistan. A visitor who comes for meetings needs a different category. The DGI&P rules for that case are in our guide to the Pakistan business visa. A person who plans only a short trip may also fit the tourist route in the Pakistan e-visa.
Mixing the categories is a common mistake. A foreign worker who starts work on a visit visa risks a penalty. If a stay runs past its date, see the overstay charges in the surcharge for foreigners.
Why this matters while CPEC and foreign investment grow
Chinese contractors, Gulf investors and other foreign firms bring staff with them. Their visas run through this route when the staff will be employed in Pakistan. A company in a special economic zone, such as those in the CPEC zones, still needs the same visa for each foreign employee. For help, the BOI names the Assistant Director (Visa) at the Prime Minister's Office, Board of Investment, Islamabad, on +92-51-9244530.
Common questions about the Pakistan work visa
How long is a Pakistan work visa for a foreign employee?
The BOI page says the entry or extension visa is valid for 2 years with multiple entries. The Government of Pakistan decides each case.
Who applies for the work visa, the worker or the employer?
The company. The BOI page says companies employing expatriates must submit the application on the E-Visa portal.
How long does a work visa take?
The page gives 4 weeks for both entry and extension. The time starts again each time the application is sent back and resubmitted.
What happens if I do not answer a review request?
The application is cancelled if the applicant does not resubmit within seven days of the date it was sent back for review.
What is the work visa fee?
The BOI page does not list a fee. The fee is shown on the portal, which we could not open, so check it there before you pay.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 14 October 2026. Eligibility, documents, validity, processing time and the contact officer come from the BOI Work Visa page. The E-Visa portal blocked our connection, so we did not verify the fee, form fields or current processing times. Visa approval is the Government of Pakistan's decision in each case.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
