Canada
Exercise a high degree of caution
Exercise a high degree of caution in Pakistan due to the unpredictable security situation. There is also a threat of terrorism, regional violence, civil unrest, sectarian violence and kidnapping.
Pakistan
Pakistan offers a striking mosaic of languages, Mughal-era cities, desert edges, and the snow-capped drama of the north.
Overview
From Karachi’s coastal sprawl to Lahore’s cultural heart and Islamabad’s planned avenues, Pakistan’s cities reflect the nation’s blend of Urdu, English, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, and more. Regional contrasts are vivid—Indus plains, mountain valleys, deserts, and a changing coastline—framed by deep historical layers and provincial diversity.
At a glance
Languages
- English(Official)
- Urdu(Official)
Population223,773,700
CurrencyPakistani Rupee (PKR)
1 PKR = 0.003594 USD
1 USD = 278.24 PKR
Cost of living
Numbeo publishes these source indexes relative to New York City.
Cost of LivingPotentially much less expensiveSource category: All | 2026
RentPotentially much less expensiveSource category: Rent | 2026
GroceriesPotentially much less expensiveSource category: Grocery | 2026
RestaurantPotentially much less expensiveSource category: Restaurant | 2026
Local Purchasing PowerMuch weaker local purchasing powerSource category: Purchasing Power | 2026
Sources
- Numbeo Cost of Living Index
Quality of life
Quality of LifeStrongSource category: Quality Of Life | 2026 | Overall quality of life index
SafetyMixedSource category: Safety | 2026 | Safety index (100 = safest)
HealthcareMixedSource category: Healthcare | 2026 | Healthcare quality index (100 = best healthcare)
PollutionElevatedSource category: Pollution | 2026 | Pollution index (100 = most polluted)
TrafficHighSource category: Traffic | 2026 | Overall traffic index (considers time + inefficiency + CO2)
Sources
- Numbeo Cost of Living Index
Entry requirements
Visa and residency reference data is available for Business Visitor, Family Reunification, Student, and 2 more.
Business Visitor
- Business Visa
Pakistan business visa route for eligible business people from BVL countries with chamber, trade-organization, BOI, commercial-attache, or investment-counselor support.
- 5 years
- No work rights
Family Reunification
- Family Visit Visa
Pakistan family visit visa route for foreigners of Pakistan origin and their foreign spouses, with five-year validity, one-year stay, and yearly extendability in Pakistan.
- 5 years, renewable
Student
- Study Visa
Pakistan study visa route for foreign students after NOC and security clearance, with revised entry or extension duration of two years.
- 2 years
Tourist / Visa Waiver
- Tourist Visa
Pakistan tourist visa route. DGI&P says missions are authorized to grant a three-month validity and stay with double entry for List-A foreigners, with RPO tourist extension authority up to six months including the initial visa period.
- 3 months
- No work rights
Work (Employer-Sponsored)
- Work Visa
Pakistan employer-backed work visa route. The entry visa is up to three months single entry; after grant, applicants may seek extension up to two years with multiple entries.
- 3 months
- Employer-sponsored only
Languages
- English(Official)
- Urdu(Official)
- Pashto(Regional)
- Punjabi(Regional)
- Sindhi(Regional)
Sources
- Country language reference
Safety
3 source-backed travel advisories are available for Pakistan.
United Kingdom
FCDO advises against all travel; FCDO advises against all but essential travel
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Pakistan-Afghanistan border. FCDO advises against all travel to within 10 miles of the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.
FCDO advises against all travel to these areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province:
- Bajaur
- Bannu
- Buner
- Chārsadda
- Dera Ismail Khan
- Hangu
- Karak
- Khyber
- Kohat
- Kurram
- Lakki Marwat
- Upper Dir
- Lower Dir
- Mohmand
- Orakzai
- Peshawar, including the city of Peshawar
- Swat
- Tank
- North Waziristan
- Upper South Waziristan
- Lower South Waziristan
- the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas via Battagram, Besham City, Dasu and Sazin up to the junction with the N15
- the N45 Highway, from the north of the Mardan ring road, to the edge of Chitral City, including Kalash valley
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to these areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province:
- Malakand
- Mardan
- Nowshera
- Shangla
- Swabi
Balochistan Province. FCDO advises against all travel to Balochistan Province. Pakistan-India Border Area. FCDO advises against all but essential travel within 5 miles of the international border between Pakistan and India except the Grand Trunk highway to India via Wagah border (which is currently closed) and the Kartarpur Corridor for Sikh pilgrims visiting Gurdwara Darbar Sahib (currently closed for crossings). Pakistan-administered Kashmir. FCDO advises against all travel to within 10 miles of the Line of Control. Sindh Province. FCDO advises against all but essential travel to all areas of Sindh Province north of and including the city of Nawabshah. Punjab Province. FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Dera Ghazi Khan.
United States
Level 3Reconsider travel
Reconsider travel to Pakistan due to armed conflict, terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Do Not Travel to:
- Balochistan Province due to terrorism and kidnapping
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Province, including the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), due to terrorism and kidnapping
- The immediate vicinity of the Line of Control due to terrorism and the potential for armed conflict
On March 3, 2026, the Department of State ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and the family members of U.S. government personnel from U.S. Consulates Lahore and Karachi to leave Pakistan due to safety risks. There is no change to the status of Embassy Islamabad. Terrorism There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Pakistan. Visit the U.S. Department of State's country reports on terrorism to learn more. Violent extremist groups have carried out attacks in Pakistan. Terrorist attacks typically happen in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the former FATA, but they have also occurred in major cities such as Karachi and Islamabad. Terrorists may strike without warning. They target transportation hubs, hotels, markets, malls, military and security forces sites, airports, trains, schools, hospitals, places of worship, tourist spots, and government buildings. Demonstrations Local law prohibits protesting or demonstrating without a permit.
- Being near a protest can draw scrutiny from Pakistani security forces
- U.S. citizens have been detained for participating in protests
- You can also face detention for posting content on social media viewed as critical of the Pakistani government, military, or officials
- Internet and mobile phone service outages are common, especially during protests
Crime Pakistan’s security environment remains fluid. It sometimes changes without notice and can be a serious threat. There are greater security resources and infrastructure in the major cities.
- Security forces in these areas may be more readily able to respond to an emergency compared to other areas of the country
- The most reported crimes are pickpocketing, bag-snatching, and phone theft
Limited U.S. consular assistance The Government of Pakistan restricts the travel of U.S. government personnel working in Pakistan.
- U.S. government employees working in Pakistan are required to use armed escorts and armored vehicles when traveling in certain parts of the country, both for official and personal travel
- The U.S. government has a limited ability to assist or provide services to U.S. citizens in the KP Province, Balochistan Province, Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir, and most areas outside of Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi
- U.S. government personnel working in Pakistan must obtain special authorization from the host government to travel to most areas outside of Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi
- Additional restrictions on movements can occur suddenly and at any time
- This depends on local circumstances and security conditions
- U.S. government employees working in Pakistan are generally prohibited from attending most large gatherings, such as political rallies or religious ceremonies
Dual nationals The U.S. embassy and consulates have a limited ability to provide consular services to dual U.S.-Pakistani citizens who have been arrested or detained. Pakistani law considers such individuals to be exclusively citizens of Pakistan.
Start planning your move
Choose a scenario to get started: