Until 2026 the Pakistan visa was a free document for citizens of Azerbaijan that came through in a day or two. On 1 January Pakistan halted the free simplified regime it applied to 126 countries, and Azerbaijan was on that list. Now an Azerbaijani going to Lahore or Islamabad gets a standard electronic visa: the fee is paid and the answer is waited for in weeks rather than, as before, in hours. The good news is that the process is entirely online and there are direct flights from Baku to Islamabad and from Lahore to Baku.
In this article we explain the new rule, the steps of the online application, the fee, the documents, the direct flights and the extra permits needed for Pakistan’s northern route.
Pakistan visa: brief facts
| Visa type | Online tourist eVisa |
| Where to apply | Pakistan’s official online visa portal; no need to go to the embassy |
| Fee | Varies by citizenship and is shown on the portal; usually 35–60 dollars |
| Answer time | 7–20 working days |
| Validity | 3 months; the length of stay is stated on the visa |
| Passport | Valid for at least 6 months |
| Direct flight | Baku–Islamabad (AZAL), Lahore–Baku (PIA, Airblue) |
Pakistan visa: what has changed?
Since 2019 Pakistan had given citizens of 126 countries a free, 90-day, multiple-entry permission called a «visa before arrival», and the answer came in 24–48 hours. From 1 January 2026 that programme and the visa at the border were halted together. The information you see in older articles that «Pakistan issues citizens of Azerbaijan a free visa» is now in the past. Now there is one and the same route for everybody: a standard electronic visa, with a fee and a longer processing time.
How is the Pakistan visa obtained online?
The application is made on the official portal run by Pakistan’s NADRA authority: you open an account, choose the tourist visa, fill in the form, upload the documents and pay the fee by card. The answer comes by email, and the confirmation is printed and shown at the border. The official address is the Pakistan Online Visa System; intermediary sites do the same process for an extra charge and sometimes upload the documents wrongly.
Documents for obtaining a Pakistan visa
On a tourist visa you can go to the northern regions, that is Hunza, Skardu and Gilgit, but for some border zones a separate permit is required on the spot. Those permits are obtained through local tourism agencies and the route has to be planned in advance.
Read next: Do you need a visa for Iran? 15 days visa-free, the Astara crossing and Iran’s own rules
How do you fly from Baku to Pakistan?
In recent years the air links between the two countries have widened considerably. AZAL flies the Baku–Islamabad route four times a week, while Pakistan International Airlines and Airblue have opened Lahore–Baku flights, with PIA flying on Sundays and Wednesdays. The flight takes about 3.5 hours. Ticket prices to Islamabad rise quickly in season because the flow of tourists between the two countries has grown. To Karachi you fly via Dubai or Doha.
Pakistan’s main tourist route is the north: the Hunza valley, Skardu, the Karakoram Highway and the Nanga Parbat base camp. Pakistan tour programmes are usually organised in the months from May to October, because in winter the mountain roads close.
Points to know before the trip
- Money. The Pakistani rupee. Dollars are changed everywhere, cards work in the big cities, and in the north you need cash.
- Season. May–October for the north, November–March for Lahore and Karachi.
- Insurance. For the mountain routes insurance covering evacuation is essential.
- Safety. For some regions look at the advice of Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry and do not go beyond the tourist route.
- Language. Urdu is the official language, and English works everywhere in the cities.
Frequently asked questions about the Pakistan visa
Can you get a visa at the border?
No. The visa at the border was halted on 1 January 2026, and the visa is obtained only online in advance.
How many days does a Pakistan visa take?
The official period is 7–20 working days, and in practice you can wait 3–4 weeks. Apply at least 5–6 weeks before the trip.
Does the Pakistan visa leave a trace in the passport?
The electronic visa is not stuck into the passport, but entry and exit stamps are put in. For those planning a trip to India this sometimes leads to extra questions.
In closing
The Pakistan visa is no longer free, but it is still entirely online and does not require going to the embassy. The main change is the waiting time, so prepare for the trip a month or two ahead. The Viza.az team helps with filling in the online application, uploading the documents and planning the permits for the northern route.
You can read more about the Pakistan destination and the service fees or fill in the application form.
Note: the information here is as of the publication date. The fees and the visa rules can change, so look at the official portal once more before applying.
