Pakistan Business Visa for Foreign Businessmen: 5 Years, Multiple Entry, Issued in 24 Hours
Pakistan business visa for foreign businessmen: 5 years, multiple entry, 24 hours at the mission, the 96 country list, documents, fee note and extension steps.
Short answer: A foreign businessman from one of 96 listed countries can get a Pakistan business visa valid for 5 years with multiple entries. DGIP says the Pakistan mission should issue it within 24 hours. The applicant must show one of three papers: a chamber letter, a trade invitation or a BOI letter.
A Lahore furniture exporter invites a buyer from Poland to see his factory. The buyer asks one thing first: which visa, and how long will it take? The exporter does not know. This page gives him the answer, in plain steps.
We read the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGIP) visa categories page on 13 October 2026. It shows a last modified date of 14 September 2026. Everything below about the business visa comes from that page and the DGIP fee page, unless we say it is reported.
The 5 year business visa is for 96 listed countries
DGIP lets Pakistan missions abroad grant a 5 year multiple entry business visa within 24 hours. This applies to businessmen of 96 countries on its Business Friendly List (BVL). Poland, China, Turkiye, the UK, the USA, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are on the list.
The list runs from Algeria to Vietnam. It also includes Bangladesh, Egypt, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Qatar and Singapore. If a country is not on it, the rules in the next section apply. India and Israel are treated separately by Pakistan, so do not plan around them.
Three papers can support the application
An applicant needs only one of three papers, according to DGIP. The first is a recommendation letter from the chamber of commerce and industry of the applicant's own country. The second is an invitation from a Pakistani business body, recommended by its trade organisation. The third is a letter from the BOI Honorary Investment Counsellor or the commercial attache.
The Pakistani host usually arranges the second one. Ask your trade association or chamber for the recommendation. A plain invitation from your own company letterhead may not be enough, because DGIP says the invitation must be recommended by the trade organisation.
Countries outside the list get a shorter visa
For the other 107 countries, DGIP says missions can grant a visa of one month with multiple entries. The applicant must belong to a company of international repute, or meet the sponsorship test that applies to List A countries. The Ambassador or head of mission decides these cases, not a junior officer.
Israel is excluded. DGIP also says a business visa cannot be converted into a work visa, or the other way round. A foreigner who plans to take up a job must apply for the work visa separately, as explained in the guide to the work permit for foreigners in Pakistan.
| Applicant from | Validity | Stay | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96 BVL countries | 5 years, multiple entry | As the visa states | 24 hours at the mission |
| Other 107 countries (not Israel) | 1 month, multiple entry | 1 month | Decided by the head of mission |
| Extension inside Pakistan | Up to 1 year at the RPO | 1 year | Business papers needed |
Apply in four steps
The process starts with the right paper, not with the form. Get the support letter first. Then apply at the Pakistan mission, or online if the portal offers the business category for your country, and keep the support letter ready to upload.
- Check that your country is on the BVL list on DGIP's categories page.
- Collect one support paper: chamber letter, trade body invitation or BOI counsellor letter.
- Apply through the Pakistan mission, or the online visa portal if it lists your country.
- Pay the fee. DGIP's note says the single entry business fee is US$100 for all countries.
A person who only wants to tour should use the tourist route in the guide to the Pakistan e-visa for foreign visitors.
Fees follow a fixed note
DGIP's fee page says business and work single entry visas cost US$100 for all countries. Multiple entry is charged at 200 per cent of that, which is US$200. All fees include surcharges and are charged in US dollars.
That fee page shows a last modified date of 4 October 2023. Its country table is older still. We therefore treat the US$100 note as the published rule, but ask the mission for today's figure before you pay. The visa has a separate fee when you extend it, listed at US$20 unless stated otherwise.
Staying longer needs a regional passport office
Regional Passport Offices in Islamabad and the provincial capitals can extend a business visa by one year. The visitor must show valid papers and proof of business, such as investment, exports or imports in the last year, or a chamber letter. Longer than one year needs the Ministry of Interior.
Overstaying has a price. A foreigner pays nothing for up to two weeks, then US$50, US$200 and US$400, as set out in the note on the overstay surcharge for foreigners. Foreigners who register with the police also follow the steps in how to register a foreigner with Islamabad Police.
Common questions
How long is a Pakistan business visa?
Five years with multiple entries, for businessmen of the 96 listed countries, according to DGIP. Other countries get one month.
How fast is the visa issued?
DGIP says the mission should issue the 5 year visa within 24 hours of receiving the right documents.
What documents are needed?
One of three: a chamber of commerce letter, a trade body invitation, or a BOI counsellor or commercial attache letter.
Can I turn a business visa into a work visa?
No. DGIP says conversion between business and work visas has been discontinued.
How much does the business visa cost?
DGIP's fee note says US$100 for a single entry and 200 per cent of that for multiple entry. Confirm the current figure with the mission.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 13 October 2026. We read the DGIP visa categories page and the visa fee page. The fee page was last modified on 4 October 2023, so the fee is reported, not current. We did not apply for a visa and could not test the online portal, which refuses automated requests.
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.
