Immigration & Citizenship law consists of the specific acts, rules, and court decisions that manage how people enter or are removed from a country. While immigration involves the movement of people across borders, citizenship is a permanent legal status. It gives an individual the absolute right to live in a specific nation, meaning the government cannot deny them entry or force them to leave.

While these two areas are closely related, they remain distinct legal fields. Citizenship is usually granted at birth, though many countries allow people to obtain it later through a process called naturalization.

Our firm operates globally to provide expert Immigration & Citizenship support. We partner with expert consultants and lawyers to provide relocation services for those moving to the USA, UK, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand. We handle a vast range of visa types and categories. Our international services are built specifically to help clients navigate the complexities of moving to a new country, supported by consultants ready to offer practical advice.

Helping You Reach Your Goals

Over the years, we have helped many clients successfully complete their relocation applications and turn their dreams into reality. Our team consists of highly trained professionals who focus entirely on providing great service. Beyond helping people move abroad, we assist clients from across the globe who want to visit Pakistan for tourism, business, or work. We also manage stay extensions and help solve related legal hurdles. We frequently serve experts in industries like Telecommunications, Oil & Gas, IT, Energy, and Engineering.

Our experienced attorneys and staff provide high-quality legal support regarding Immigration & Citizenship for employees, employers, and large corporations. We manage appeals for all types of immigration issues and work with partner firms in other countries to solve local problems. 

We use modern technology to keep our services more affordable than traditional consultants. By using digital communication, we have made the data-gathering process faster and passed those savings on to you. Please note that we are a private law firm, not a government agency. We cannot grant visas; only the relevant government authority in your destination country has the power to make a final decision on your application.

Today, we are a truly global organization. We partner with the world’s leading law firms to offer a unique blend of global reach and local expertise. Our team takes a fresh approach to building successful strategies for Immigration & Citizenship that provide real value to our clients.

Business Visas

Business Visas via Foreign Missions

To encourage investment, Pakistan has simplified its business visa rules. Missions abroad can issue five-year multiple-entry visas within 24 hours to business people from 66 specific countries. Each stay is limited to three months. To apply, you need one of the following:

• A recommendation from a Chamber of Commerce in your home country.
• An invitation from a Pakistani business organization, backed by a local trade association.
• A letter from a Board of Investment (BOI) counselor.
• A letter from a Pakistani Commercial Attaché stationed abroad.

Countries on the Business Visa List (BVL): Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, U.A.E., U.K., U.S.A., Ukraine, and Vietnam.

Visas for Other Countries

If the applicant submits the necessary documentation, missions can grant a one-month multiple-entry visa for the other 123 nations. You might submit an application at the High Commission or Pakistani Embassy in your nation of residence.

Visa on Arrival (VOA) for Business

Business people from the 66 countries listed above can get a 30-day Visa on Arrival at the airport by showing the same business documents mentioned earlier.

Work Visas

Pakistan provides work visas to foreign managers and technically qualified individuals to support skill transfer. Companies have to submit the following papers to the Board of Investment (BOI) in Islamabad to hire a foreign national or extend a visa:

• Completed application form and six photos.
• Passport copies (info and visa pages).
• A company letter explaining how long the visa is needed.
• Company profile and registration papers.
• The formal employment contract.

A committee led by the BOI Secretary reviews these cases. For new entries, the BOI recommends the case to the Ministry of Interior, which then tells the foreign mission to issue the visa. Business visas can be converted into work visas within Pakistan if the committee approves. Work visas usually last up to two years. Extensions are handled by local passport offices after BOI approval.

Visa Conversions and Residency

• Conversion Fee: You can switch between a business and work visa for a $100 fee plus the standard visa cost.
• Long-Term Residence: Investors who bring US$ 200,000 into Pakistan can get multiple-entry resident visas for up to 3 years.

Police Registration

Most foreigners with work visas no longer need to register with the police, except for those from countries on a “negative list.” Even for those on the list, high-level managers (except those of Indian origin) are usually exempt.

Special Categories

• Indian Nationals: Indians working for major global groups like the World Bank, IMF, or UN receive specialized visa processing through the relevant Ambassador.
• NGO Visas: Missions can grant one-month visas for NGO workers. For longer stays, the NGO must be registered in Pakistan. Our firm helps NGOs with both registration and visa endorsements.

Tourist Visas

Pakistan offers three-month tourist visas with double entry to citizens of 175 countries. Local passport offices can extend these up to six months. In Northern Areas like Gilgit and Skardu, Deputy Commissioners can grant three-month extensions directly.

Group Tours

Groups of tourists from 24 “Tourist Friendly Countries” can get a 30-day Visa on Arrival if they travel through an authorized tour operator. The operator must guarantee that the tourists will leave on time and handle any extension requests.

Specialized Work Visas

Domestic Servants

To bring a housemaid or servant to Pakistan, you need prior approval from the Ministry of Interior. You must provide a formal contract, an NOC from the relevant foreign mission, and clear details about the employer.

Missionary Work

Christian missionaries must apply through the Ministry of Interior. New missions intended solely for preaching are generally not granted entry visas. Applicants must provide a 10-year bio-data, educational degrees, and a letter from a sponsoring organization that takes full responsibility for them. Extensions are granted for two years at a time.

Diplomatic and UN Visas

Staff at foreign missions and UN agencies receive free visas based on recommendations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This also applies to their domestic staff on a reciprocal basis.

Student and Journalist Visas

• Students: Foreign students need an NOC from the Ministry of Education and a security clearance. Initial visas are for three months, while extensions are granted for one year with one re-entry.
• Journalists: Journalists based in Pakistan’s major cities (Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad) get visas for the length of their assignment. Non-based journalists can get three-month visas for these specific cities, with extensions available for short visits.

Visas for Overseas Pakistanis

Foreigners of Pakistani origin and their wives can get multiple-entry visas for up to one year. Passport offices can extend these for up to five years. In emergencies, airport staff can grant a 72-hour landing permit if the person can prove their Pakistani roots.

Pilgrimage Visas

Sikh travelers holding foreign passports (except Indian) can get 15-day visas to visit holy sites in Lahore, Nankana Sahib, and Hasan Abdal.

Overstay Penalties

If a foreign national stays past their visa limit, the following charges apply:

• Up to 2 weeks: No charge.
• 2 weeks to 1 month: US$ 20.
• 1 month to 3 months: US$ 50.
• 3 months to 1 year: US$ 100.

For those of Pakistani Origin, the rates are lower:

• Up to 1 month: No charge.
• 1 month to 6 months: US$ 10.
• 6 months to 1 year: US$ 20.
• Over 1 year: US$ 40 per year.
• Note: Children under 12 pay nothing, and those under 18 pay half.

Rules for Indian Nationals

All Indian citizens must have a valid visa to enter Pakistan.

• Requirements: A passport valid for one year, a completed form, and the visa fee. Business travelers need a local sponsor’s letter.
• Visitor Visas: For meeting family or friends (usually 6 months for business).
• Transit Visas: 72 hours for travelers passing through to India.
• Tourist Visas: 14 days, non-extendable, via approved operators.
• Check Posts: Entry is allowed via air (Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad), sea (Karachi), or road (Wagah).

Instructions: Forms must be filled in CAPITAL LETTERS. Travelers must have at least US $45 in cash upon entry and must register with the police within 24 hours of arriving at any location.

Pakistani Citizenship Categories

As part of our Immigration & Citizenship services, we assist with the following categories:

1. Parents of Pakistanis in India: Sons or daughters in Pakistan can apply for their elderly parents living in India. This requires an emergency certificate followed by a citizenship certificate.
2. Commonwealth Citizens: Citizens of Commonwealth countries who transfer Rs. 5 million in foreign exchange to Pakistan can obtain an immigrant visa and citizenship.
3. Naturalization: Non-Commonwealth citizens who live in Pakistan for five years (including 12 months of continuous stay before the application) can apply for citizenship.
4. Foreign Wives: A foreign lady married to a Pakistani man can apply for citizenship. She needs an affidavit from her husband, a marriage certificate, and a residential permit.
5. Minor Children: Pakistani mothers or guardians can apply for citizenship for their children under 21 years old.
6. Automatic Citizenship: Children born to a Pakistani mother and a foreign father after April 18, 2000, are automatically considered Pakistani citizens.
7. Investors: Any person can obtain citizenship by investing US$ 0.75 million in assets plus $0.25 million in cash on a non-repatriable basis.

Dual Nationality and Renunciation

• Dual Nationality: Pakistan allows dual citizenship with the USA, England, Syria, Switzerland, Sweden, New Zealand, Netherlands, Jordan, Italy, Ireland, Iceland, France, Egypt, Canada, Belgium, and Australia.
• Renunciation: To give up Pakistani citizenship, an adult must file a “Form X.” If a father gives up his citizenship, his minor children living abroad also lose theirs, though they can reclaim it when they turn 21.

Birth and Annual Registration

Parents must report the birth of a Pakistani child born abroad to the nearest mission within six months. All Pakistanis living abroad should register annually with their local mission to maintain accurate Immigration & Citizenship records. At Sardar Khan & Co, our mission is to serve our clients and our community with integrity.