Getting a business visa in Pakistan is one of the easiest ways to stay in the country for extended periods of time.
This article shares what can you do with a business visa, how to get it, and what are the requirements.
What can you do with a business visa in Pakistan?
In Pakistan, holding a business visa allows you to engage in various business activities such as market research or meetings.
However, with a business visa, you cannot look job or get employed. A business is not transferable or convertible to a work visa. You need to apply for a work visa to start working in Pakistan.
How long can you stay?
The duration of your visit to Pakistan depends on which type of business visa you have.
If you obtained a business visa and you come from one of the countries in the Business Visa List (BVL), your permit is valid for five (5) years. It means that you can enter the country multiple times with three (3) months maximum length of stay for every visit.
On the other hand, if you are coming from a country that is not part of the BVL, you may still apply for a business visa. However, instead of having five (5) years as the validity period, it will only be 30 days.
Note that Business Visa List (BVL) is also known as Business Friendly List (BFL). They are the same.
Who can apply for a business visa?
As previously mentioned, a business visa isn’t transferable to a work visa or vice versa. You need to apply for a work visa to work or get employed in Pakistan.
Business visa sponsorship in Pakistan
A foreign national wanting to apply for a business visa needs a corporate sponsor. It is a requirement for a foreign national to begin their application for a business visa. If you don’t have a corporate sponsor, Emerhub can act as a corporate sponsor as long as your purpose of the visit aligns with the allowed activities.
As mentioned, a business visa is not a work permit, nor it is transferable into one. You need to apply for a work visa to work in Pakistan.
Requirements for a Business visa in Pakistan
Here are the prerequisites for applying for a business visa:
- Recommendation letter from Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CC&I) of the respective country of the foreign national
- Invitation letter from a business organization duly recommended by the concerned trade
- Recommendation letter by the Honorary Investment Counselor of Board of Investments (BOI) or Commercial Attach posted at missions abroad
The application process takes three to four weeks. You will receive your visa in a Pakistan embassy abroad.
Fill in the form below to get started with the business visa application.
