Pakistan's 5-year Business-Investor visa for Americans
Put $50,000 into a Pakistani company or bank account, or own property there worth more than $100,000, and you can apply for five years of multiple entries.
It's a long-stay route into Pakistan that rests on your money, not on family ties, an employer or a school. Here's what qualifies, what each route involves, and what to weigh before you wire anything.
Who this visa fits, and who can skip it
It fits Americans with capital to park in Pakistan who want a business base or long stays near family, without a job offer or a school place.
Dual U.S.-Pakistani nationals with a valid NICOP or Pakistan Origin Card don't need it. Those cards get you in without a visa, though Pakistan then treats you as a citizen.
Four investments that qualify
$100,000+
Real estate you own in Pakistan
worth more than this
$50,000
In a company or partnership registered in Pakistan
minimum
$50,000
Held in Pakistani foreign currency accounts
one or more accounts
$50,000
Any other investment in Pakistan
minimum
Choosing a route
Which route takes the least paperwork
NADRA also accepts a recommendation from Pakistan's Board of Investment (BOI) in place of these proofs.
The bank balance
Since a State Bank of Pakistan directive in March 2026, non-residents can open foreign currency accounts in Pakistan. Expect anti-money-laundering checks on where the money came from.
A company
Foreign directors and shareholders need Ministry of Interior clearance, which typically takes 2 to 6 weeks and asks for a police clearance certificate from home. Since 2026 you can incorporate on a self-declaration first, but regulators can force board changes if clearance is refused.
Property
Here's the catch: buying in your own name needs a No Objection Certificate from the Ministry of Interior, and registrars won't record the sale without federal approval. Agricultural land needs express federal permission. A Pakistani company you own can hold property instead.
Business-Investor Visa (Long Term, 5 Years)
A five-year multiple-entry visa for foreigners who have invested in Pakistan, such as through property, a registered company or a foreign currency bank balance. Thresholds are low compared with most investor visas. Holders can extend it for two years at a time from inside Pakistan.
- Government cost
- $200
- Processing time
- ~10 days
- Timeline
- 5 years, multiple entry; extensions of 2 years granted inside Pakistan
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Key requirements
- Real estate in Pakistan worth more than $100,000, or
- Investment of at least $50,000 in a company or partnership registered in Pakistan, or
- At least $50,000 held in one or more foreign currency accounts in Pakistan, or
- Any other investment in Pakistan of at least $50,000
- Valid passport and photograph, applied online through the Pakistan Online Visa System
About that processing time
The "10 days" figure applies only to countries on Pakistan's Business Visa List. NADRA gives everyone else 4 weeks. September 2026 reports put the U.S. on an expanded business list, but NADRA's own list hadn't confirmed it when we checked, so plan for 4 weeks.
Applying from the U.S.
Apply online only
Pakistan's U.S. consulates send every applicant to NADRA's online visa portal.
Check your passport
It needs 6 months of validity beyond your arrival date and 2 blank pages.
Budget about $200
The Chicago consulate lists $200 for a U.S. citizen's multiple-entry business visa over one year (September 2026). Fees aren't refundable.
Extend from inside Pakistan
Extensions run 2 years with multiple entries. You must hold a valid visa and be living in Pakistan when you apply.
Know the cash limit
Adults can take out at most $5,000 in foreign currency per trip and $30,000 a year.
Don't overstay
Overstay fines have applied since January 2023, and staying more than a year past expiry can get you blacklisted.
Before you invest
Safety, taxes and the U.S. side
Safety
As of June 2026, the State Department rates Pakistan Level 3, Reconsider Travel, citing armed conflict, terrorism, crime and kidnapping. Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the area near the Line of Control are Level 4, Do Not Travel. U.S. government staff need special permission to leave Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, and the embassy can't help with Pakistani visa problems.
Taxes
Spend 183 days or more in Pakistan's July to June tax year and you're tax resident, taxed on worldwide income. Non-residents pay only on Pakistan-source income. The U.S. taxes you either way, and the two countries have had a tax treaty since 1957.
A newer option to watch: Long-Term Residency
A 2025 order created Pakistan's first residency-by-investment scheme. It asks for $50,000 invested within a year, runs 5, 7 or 10 years, and covers spouses and dependents. In September 2026 the Board of Investment still said its portal would open soon.
Help with the parts that follow you from home
MyExpatTaxes
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Currency Exchange
Handles currency exchange and international payments, worth a call before you move $50,000 or more.
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Document Preparation
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Healthcare Coach
A healthcare coach who helps you work out which hospitals and what coverage fit your needs abroad.
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Matches Americans abroad with international health insurance plans.
Pakistan investor visa questions
Can a bank deposit alone qualify you for Pakistan's investor visa?
Yes. A balance of at least $50,000 in one or more foreign currency accounts in Pakistan qualifies. Since a State Bank of Pakistan directive in March 2026, non-residents can open these accounts, subject to anti-money-laundering checks.
Can your spouse and children join you on Pakistan's investor visa?
NADRA's investor visa rules don't spell out dependent visas, so ask NADRA or a Pakistani consulate before you apply. Pakistan's newer Long-Term Residency scheme does cover spouses and dependents, but in September 2026 the Board of Investment still listed its portal as opening soon.
How much do you need to invest for Pakistan's 5-year Business-Investor visa?
At least $50,000 in a company or partnership registered in Pakistan, in Pakistani foreign currency accounts, or in another investment in Pakistan. Real estate counts if it's worth more than $100,000. NADRA also accepts a recommendation from Pakistan's Board of Investment. These were the rules as of September 2026.
Can Americans buy property in Pakistan?
Yes, with government approval. Foreigners need a No Objection Certificate from the Ministry of Interior, and land registrars won't record a purchase in a foreigner's name without federal approval. Agricultural land needs express federal permission. A Pakistani company you own can also hold property.
Do you pay Pakistani tax on an investor visa?
Only if you become tax resident. Spending 183 days or more in Pakistan's July to June tax year makes you resident and taxable on worldwide income, while non-residents pay only on Pakistan-source income. The U.S. still taxes its citizens abroad, and the two countries have had a tax treaty since 1957.
How long does Pakistan's Business-Investor visa last?
Five years, with multiple entries. You can extend it for 2 years at a time, but only from inside Pakistan while your current visa is still valid.
How long does Pakistan take to process an investor visa?
NADRA lists 10 days for Business Visa List countries and 4 weeks for everyone else. Whether Americans get the faster track was unclear in September 2026, so plan for 4 weeks.
Do dual U.S.-Pakistani nationals need a Pakistani investor visa?
No. If you hold a valid NICOP or Pakistan Origin Card, you can enter Pakistan without a visa. Pakistan then treats you as a Pakistani citizen while you're there.
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