Pakistan's Work Visa: a job offer, a short entry visa, then a BOI extension
For Americans hired by a company registered in Pakistan. What your employer files, what you pay, and how the two-year extension works.
This one starts with your employer, not you. Without a job offer from a company registered with Pakistan's SECP, there's no application to file.
Two stages, one sponsor
You enter on a work visa that Pakistani missions can approve for up to three months, single entry. Once you're in Pakistan, you apply to extend it for up to two years with multiple entries, and that step needs a Board of Investment (BOI) recommendation letter.
The visa is tied to your employer. Change jobs and you start a fresh BOI process with a new visa.
Work Visa
For foreigners hired by a company operating in Pakistan. You enter on a short work visa and then extend it inside Pakistan for up to two years at a time with a Board of Investment recommendation. Renewals are handled yearly or every two years while the job continues.
- Government cost
- $100
- Processing time
- ~2 days
- Timeline
- 3-month single-entry entry visa, extendable in Pakistan up to 2 years with multiple entries
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Key requirements
- Employment agreement with a company registered in Pakistan
- Company profile and SECP registration of the employer
- CV of the applicant
- Board of Investment recommendation letter for the extension beyond the initial entry visa
- Apply online through the Pakistan Online Visa System (visa.nadra.gov.pk)
About that data card
Its "2 days" processing time is the 48-hour window Pakistan's immigration directorate gives missions for the entry visa. NADRA's own work visa page says 4 weeks for entry or extension, while the Chicago consulate quotes 7 to 10 working days. Budget a month.
How the paperwork runs
1. Your employer builds the file
SECP registration, company profile, an employment letter showing your salary and assignment length, and a signed undertaking accepting responsibility for you. A sole-owner business adds its tax certificate and the owner's ID.
2. You apply online
Everything goes through visa.nadra.gov.pk; consulates don't take paper applications. Upload your passport, photo, CV and a U.S. state ID or driver's license, and pay by Visa or Mastercard.
3. Watch the review tab
If an officer sends your file back, you have 7 days to resubmit or it's canceled. Don't book flights until the electronic Visa Grant Notice arrives by email.
4. Extend inside Pakistan
With a valid visa, your entry stamp and the BOI letter, you apply for up to two years. The Ministry of Interior runs a security check; if agencies don't reply within 30 days, the case is treated as approved.
Who should skip it
Freelancers, remote workers for U.S. companies and retirees need a different route. A business visa doesn't allow local employment, and working on a tourist visa can get you deported and banned from returning.
If you're a U.S.-Pakistani dual national with a valid NICOP or Pakistan Origin Card, you don't need a visa at all. You'll be treated as a Pakistani citizen there, which can limit U.S. consular help.
What a U.S. citizen pays (2026)
$100
Single-entry visa
Non-refundable
$150
Multiple entry, up to 1 year
Per applicant
$200
Multiple entry, over 1 year
Per applicant
30 days
Extension processing
Deemed approved after that
Family, taxes and safety
Family
The entry visa and the extension both come in Individual and Family versions, but every family member files a separate application. The official pages we read don't say whether a dependent spouse can work, so confirm that before counting on two incomes.
Taxes
Spend 183 days or more in Pakistan in a tax year and you're a tax resident, taxed on worldwide income; below that, only Pakistan-source income is taxed. Registering with the FBR, Pakistan's tax authority, is mandatory.
Safety
The State Department rates Pakistan Level 3, Reconsider Travel (renewed June 2026), with Do Not Travel warnings for Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including former FATA, and areas near the Line of Control. U.S. government staff need special authorization to travel outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.
People who can help
Plan-B Outbound Migration
Multi-Country Visa Support
Plan-B Outbound Migration offers visa support across multiple countries.
MyExpatTaxes
U.S. Expat Tax Service
MyExpatTaxes prepares U.S. tax returns for Americans living abroad.
ExpatInsure
Global Health Insurance
ExpatInsure offers global health insurance for people living outside their home country.
Hunter Schultz
Healthcare Coach
Hunter Schultz is a healthcare coach who helps people plan medical care and coverage abroad.
Pakistan Work Visa FAQ
Can I work in Pakistan on a business visa?
No. A business visa doesn't permit local employment, and working on a tourist visa is illegal and can lead to deportation and a re-entry ban.
How much does a Pakistan work visa cost for U.S. citizens?
Pakistan's consulate in Chicago lists fees for U.S. nationals of $100 for a single-entry visa, $150 for multiple entry up to one year, and $200 for multiple entry over one year, as of 2026. Fees are paid online by Visa or Mastercard and aren't refundable.
What happens if I overstay a Pakistan visa?
Pakistan charges no surcharge for up to two weeks. Beyond that it's US$50 for two weeks to one month, US$200 for one to three months, and US$400 per year for three months to a year. The State Department warns that overstaying can also bring detention, arrest, fines or imprisonment.
Do Americans need a work visa to take a job in Pakistan?
Yes. U.S. citizens need a visa before traveling, and a job with a Pakistani company needs the work visa, backed by the employer's documents and a Board of Investment recommendation. The exception is U.S.-Pakistani dual nationals holding a valid NICOP or Pakistan Origin Card, who don't need a visa.
Can my spouse and children come with me on a Pakistan work visa?
Pakistan's work visa categories include Individual and Family versions for both entry and extension. Each family member has to submit a separate online application. Official sources don't say whether a dependent spouse may work, so confirm it before you move.
How long does the Pakistan work visa take?
NADRA's work visa page states 4 weeks for an entry or extension visa, and a Pakistani law firm puts the whole process at four to eight weeks. Extensions inside Pakistan have a 30-day processing time, and a case is treated as approved if security agencies don't respond within those 30 days.
Will I pay tax in Pakistan on a work visa?
If you spend 183 days or more in Pakistan in a tax year, you become a tax resident and are taxed on Pakistan-source and foreign-source income. Non-residents are taxed only on Pakistan-source income. Registration with the FBR, Pakistan's tax authority, is mandatory.
Can I change employers on a Pakistan work visa?
Not on the same visa. A change of employer requires a fresh Board of Investment process and a new visa linked to the new sponsor.
Weighing a job offer in Pakistan?
Talk it through with an Expatsi advisor before you sign.
Why not you?