Quick summary
Pakistan suspended visa on arrival and its simplified Visa Prior to Arrival program on January 1, 2026, for 126 nationalities including Australians and New Zealanders. All travelers must now apply through the official e-visa portal at least 14 days before departure, pay USD 60 for a single-entry tourist visa, and provide documentation including accommodation proof—a shift from the previous free, 48-hour VPA process.
Processing takes 7–10 business days with no guarantee of faster turnaround during peak periods. Gulf nationals retain visa on arrival, and three nationalities are excluded from the e-visa system entirely.
Australians and New Zealanders can no longer land in Pakistan and collect a visa at the airport. As of January 1, 2026, Pakistan suspended both its visa on arrival and the streamlined Visa Prior to Arrival (VPA) program that had covered 126 nationalities since 2024. Every traveler from Australia and New Zealand must now hold an approved e-visa before boarding—no exceptions, no airport fallback.
The practical impact is significant. Processing has jumped from 48 hours to 7–10 business days, fees have gone from zero to USD 60 for a single-entry tourist visa, and documentation requirements now include accommodation proof, a detailed itinerary, and a digital passport-specification photo. Air Traveler Club’s visa and entry requirement tracker flagged this policy change on January 2, 2026, affecting all AU/NZ travelers routing through Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi.
For anyone with Pakistan flights booked or planned from Australian and New Zealand airports through mid-2026, spontaneous travel is no longer possible. A minimum 14-day advance application window is now essential to avoid denied boarding.
What changed and why it matters for your booking timeline
The 2024 VPA program was Pakistan’s most ambitious visa liberalization in decades—free processing, minimal paperwork, and approval within two days for citizens of 126 countries. It was designed to boost tourism and simplify access. That experiment ended abruptly on New Year’s Day 2026, reportedly due to administrative overload at processing centers.
The reversal creates a planning bottleneck that directly affects flight booking strategy. If you’re using AI-detected Superdeals from Australasia to catch temporary fare drops on routes through the Middle East or Central Asia with Pakistan as your destination, you now need visa approval before you can act on time-sensitive deals. A 3–7 day deal window doesn’t align with 7–10 day visa processing.
| Requirement | Old VPA (pre-2026) | New E-Visa (current) |
|---|---|---|
| Processing time | 24–48 hours | 7–10 business days |
| Fee (single-entry tourist) | Free | USD 60 |
| Documentation | Basic online form (20 questions) | Passport scan, photo, hotel proof, itinerary |
| Passport validity | 6 months | 6 months |
| Application method | Online (auto-approved) | Online via visa.nadra.gov.pk (manual review) |
The processing time increase alone represents a 10x slowdown. Combined with the new fee and documentation burden, this transforms Pakistan from a relatively spontaneous destination into one requiring the same advance planning as India or China.
How to apply: the step-by-step e-visa process
All applications go through Pakistan’s official e-visa portal operated by NADRA, the national database authority. There is no alternative channel—embassy walk-ins, airport counters, and third-party visa agents cannot override the online requirement.
The application requires five elements: a scanned passport bio page (valid at least 6 months beyond entry), a white-background digital photo meeting ICAO specifications, proof of accommodation in Pakistan (hotel booking or host invitation letter), a day-by-day travel itinerary, and online payment of USD 60 via credit card. Business visas cost USD 100+ for multiple-entry, six-month validity.
Once submitted, expect 7–10 business days for processing. During peak periods—particularly post-Ramadan travel season—processing may exceed 10 days without notification. The Australian government’s Smartraveller advisory recommends allowing a full 14-day buffer. Print the approval letter; airlines verify e-visa status at check-in and will deny boarding without it.
The VPA experiment that lasted 18 months
Pakistan’s 2024 Visa Prior to Arrival program processed over 200,000 applications in its first year, but the volume overwhelmed NADRA’s verification infrastructure. The reversion to standard e-visa processing reflects capacity constraints rather than security concerns—no official reinstatement timeline has been announced for 2026.
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Booking flights around the 14-day visa window
The new timeline creates a sequencing challenge: apply for the e-visa first, then book flights once approved. Booking non-refundable fares before visa confirmation risks losing both the fare and the USD 60 application fee if rejected. Incomplete documentation is the most common rejection trigger.
For travelers monitoring fare drops on Emirates, Qatar Airways, or Etihad routes connecting through Dubai, Doha, or Abu Dhabi to Islamabad or Lahore, the strategy shifts. Our analysis of Asia-Pacific fare trends in 2026 shows these Gulf carrier routes frequently surface pricing anomalies—but acting on them now requires pre-approved visa status.
The practical workaround: submit your e-visa application as soon as travel dates crystallize, even before finding the ideal fare. Once approved, the visa window gives you flexibility to book within its validity period. This front-loads the bureaucratic step and preserves your ability to act quickly on pricing opportunities.
Who is exempt—and who is excluded entirely
Not every nationality faces the same restrictions. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nationals—citizens of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar—retain visa on arrival privileges at Pakistani airports. This exception reflects bilateral agreements separate from the broader VPA suspension.
Three nationalities face harsher restrictions. Citizens of Armenia, India, and Taiwan are ineligible for the e-visa system entirely and must apply through Pakistani embassies or consulates using traditional paper processes. Indian nationals are further restricted to specific entry ports and limited visa categories (family, business)—no tourist e-visa exists for Indian passport holders.
European Union citizens pay lower fees than Australians and New Zealanders: USD 35 for a single-entry tourist e-visa versus USD 60 for AU/NZ applicants. This fee differential mirrors the tiered structure Pakistan applies to US, Canadian, and UK citizens, who also pay USD 60.
Three risks that catch travelers off guard
- E-visa expiry before travel. Approved e-visas have a fixed validity window from issuance date, not from your planned entry date. If your trip shifts by several weeks after approval, the visa may expire before you arrive. Reapplication means another USD 60 and another 7–10 day wait.
- Non-refundable application fees on rejection. Pakistan does not refund the USD 60 if your application is denied. Common rejection reasons include mismatched passport details, photos not meeting specifications, or missing accommodation documentation. Double-check every field before submitting.
- Overstay penalties are immediate. Exceeding your e-visa validity incurs a daily fine of PKR 40 (roughly USD 0.15), but the real consequence is potential detention, deportation, and future visa bans. Extensions must be arranged through Pakistan’s Directorate General of Immigration and Passports before expiry—not after.
Questions? Answers.
Can Australians still get a visa at Islamabad or Lahore airports?
No. Visa on arrival was suspended on January 1, 2026, for Australian citizens. Airlines check e-visa approval at check-in and will deny boarding without a printed approval letter. There is no airport fallback option.
What happens if my e-visa application is rejected after I booked flights?
You bear the financial risk. The USD 60 application fee is non-refundable, and airlines will not allow boarding without an approved e-visa. Book refundable or flexible fares until your visa is confirmed, or apply for the e-visa before purchasing flights.
Does this affect transit passengers connecting through Pakistani airports?
Transit visas are a separate category. If your layover exceeds 24 hours or you need to collect and re-check baggage, a transit e-visa is required. Most Australian and New Zealand itineraries routing through Gulf hubs to onward destinations bypass Pakistani immigration entirely.
Are group tour participants exempt from the e-visa requirement?
No. Tour operators can provide a letter of invitation to support your application, but every individual traveler must submit their own e-visa application through visa.nadra.gov.pk. Group applications do not receive faster processing.
How much does a business e-visa cost for New Zealanders?
Business e-visas for New Zealand citizens start at approximately USD 100 for a six-month multiple-entry visa. Exact fees depend on duration and entry frequency—confirm current rates on the official portal before applying.
Will the old VPA program be reinstated?
No reinstatement has been announced for 2026. The suspension appears linked to processing capacity constraints rather than security policy changes. Monitor Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior website for updates, but plan all current travel under the e-visa requirement.
