Visa Section

Visa Policy
WORK VISA POLICY / PROCEDURE
Work Visas are granted to foreign technical and managerial personnel for the purpose of imparting technical know-how and skills to the local population.
A committee under the chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Investment / Board of Investment, periodically considers and decides the cases of grant or extension of Work Visas and the conversion of Business Visas to Work Visas.
Companies that need to hire foreign nationals should submit a request along with the prescribed application form and documents to IF Wing BOI Islamabad. For the convenience of companies based in the province of Sindh, BOI Karachi Office has also been authorized to process Work Visa cases [prescribed form can be obtained from BOI Offices at Islamabad and Karachi or can be downloaded from the above link.
As per Visa Policy of the Government of Pakistan, cases of grant or extension of Work Visas, and conversion of Business Visas to Work Visas are processed within 4 weeks.
For multiple entry Work Visa, application has to be submitted to BOI which processes and recommends the case to the Ministry of Interior after a period of 4 weeks from the date of processing of the application. The Ministry of Interior subsequently authorizes Pakistani diplomatic missions abroad to endorse the visa. The multiple entry Work Visa has validity for either one year or till the life of the passport which ever is earlier. Such a visa is extendable on yearly basis.
The cases of extension of Work Visas and conversion of Business Visas to Work Visas are authorized and issued by the Ministry of Interior on the recommendations of BOI. Such cases are endorsed by Regional Passport Office of the city where the expatriate is working. These visas are also extendable on yearly basis.
Applications for extension of three months provisional Work Visa are recommended by BOI directly to the Regional Passport Offices.
IMPOSITION OF ‘OVERSTAY SURCHARGE' ON FOREIGNERS
(a) All Foreign Nationals
Period of Overstay
Overstay Surcharge
up to 2 weeks
-
above 2 weeks to 1 month
US $ 50/-
above 1 month to 3 months
US $ 200/-
above 3 months to 1 year
US $ 400/-
Note:
All powers of externment etc. available with MOI will apply in addition to the above surcharge.
There will no condonation of overstay charges.
No surcharge shall be payable in case of holders of diplomatic passports.
(b) Foreigners of Pak Origin
Period of Overstay
Overstay Surcharge
Up to one month
-
above 1 month to 6 months
US $ 40/-
above 6 months to 1 year
US $ 80/-
Beyond 1 year
US $ 200/- per year
Note:
All powers of externment etc. available with MOI will apply in addition to the above surcharge.
There will no condonation of overstay charges.
No surcharge shall be payable in case of children up to 12 years of age.
50% surcharge shall be payable in case of children up to 18 years of age.
(c) Indian Nationals
Rs. 40/- per day shall be charged for any period of overstay.
Conversion of Business Visa

Conversion of Business Visa into Work Visa and vice versa has been allowed on payment of conversion fee of $100/.


Registration of Foreigners with the Police

It has been decided to exempt all foreigners who have been issued work visas from registration with the police, except for nationals of countries on the negative list.

Even in the case of countries on the negative list (except for Indians and foreigners of Indian origin), foreign nationals in the managerial category who are issued work permits/visas will also be exempted from police registration.

FAST TRACK BUSINESS VISAS FOR BUSINESSMEN / INVESTORS
To facilitate travel to and staying in Pakistan for foreign businesspersons and investors, business visa policies have been considerably relaxed. Missions abroad are authorized to grant five years validity (multiple entry) visa within 24 hours to businessmen of 66 countries of Business Visa List (BVL), with the duration of each stay would be restricted for three months, on production of any of the following documents:
Recommendation letter from Chamber of Commerce & Industry of the respective country of the applicant.
Invitation letter from business organization duly recommended by the concerned Trade Organization/Association, in Pakistan.
Recommendatory letter by Honorary Investment Counsellors of BOI.
Recommendatory letter from Pakistani Commercial Attaché posted in Pakistan High Commissions / Embassies / Consulates General abroad.
BUSINESS VISA LIST (BVL)

List of Countries with whom Pakistan has Visa Abolition Agreement
List of Countries to whom Police Registration is Required
ENTRY VISA TO BUSINESSMEN OF REMAINING 123 COUNTRIES
Missions abroad can grant one month validity and stay (Multiple) entry visa to the businessmen of remaining 123 countries (except countries not recognized by Pakistan) subject to the production of afore-mentioned requisite documents. Such applicants can apply from their own country or place of legal residence to our Ambassador/High Commissioner/Head of Mission.
VISA ON ARRIVAL (VOA) TO BUSINESSMEN OF 66 COUNTRIES
Visa On Arrival for 30 days validity and stay will be given to the businessmen of 66 countries of Business Visa List (BVL) mentioned above on production of any of the documents as for entry business visa by Missions for businessmen (please see above).
Click For VISA FEE BEING CHARGED BY FOREIGN MISSIONS IN ISLAMABAD FROM PAKISTANIS

GRANT OF PAKISTAN CITIZENSHIP TO FOREIGN NATIONALS (INVESTORS)


Any person of a country recognised by Pakistan may obtain Pakistani Citizenship by investing a minimum of US$ 0.75 million in tangible assets and $ 0.25 million (or equivalent in major foreign currency) in cash on a non-repatriable basis and by fulfilling the conditions of the Pakistan Citizenship Law. Investment on a non-repatriable basis means that the amount is brought to Pakistan through normal banking channels, converted into rupees, and never remitted back through the free market.

UK Immigration and UK Visa Services

The UK has introduced a number of new UK immigration, naturalization, UK visa, work permit and UK working visa categories in the last few years. The points based skilled immigration category the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP), introduced in January 2002, proved to be very successful.
However, the HSMP has been replaced by Tier 1 (General), part of the UK's new five-tier points based system which will encompass all work, study, and training immigration routes into the country. People seeking extensions to their HSMP visa are now required to extend their leave to remain under Tier 1 (General) for General Highly Skilled Migrants. Since April 2008, applicants located in India have been required to file initial highly skilled migrant applications under the Tier 1 (General) rules. This was followed by the rest of the world on 30 June 2008 as the Tier 1 (General) scheme fully replaced the HSMP.
You may have to wait months for your UK visa application to be processed by the UK Border Agency, or spend the whole day there to then find that you do not have all the relevant documentation. We are OISC registered and can submit your UK visa application to the Home Office to be dealt with on the same day.

VISA INFO

Immigration Law is complex and requires the guidance of a experienced professionals who are equipped with the knowledge necessary to fight for you. Legal pathways to permanent residency, citizenship and temporary visas are available, but only a skilled Immigration Attorney can safely navigate the bureaucratic process and ensure that your best interests are not strangled by red tape.
Darren Silver & Associates is one of the largest and most successful Immigration Firms in the country and has provided excellent representation for individuals and families as well as large multi-national corporations for over 15 years. Our team of knowledgeable Immigration Lawyers is composed of top tier professionals capable of handling the most difficult and seemingly impossible cases. With an emphasis on thoughtful and effective service, we develop a strategy that is tailored to every client’s unique situation.
Every new administration proposes policy reform and a different appropriation of funding for immigration programs. This can affect future citizenship regulations and the number of nationals granted visas in a given year. Legislation changes frequently and a competent Immigration Attorney must stay current with respect to relevant issues, constantly updating one’s library of knowledge. Each and every associate at Darren Silver is willing to go the extra mile to stay ahead of the curve through research and continued education. It is this tireless dedication that allows us to provide our clients with the most cost effective and efficient representation. Time is of the essence when securing proper immigration status so we work hard to ensure that each case is handled in an expeditious and professional manner. Our firm will find solutions to the most complex Immigration issues.