The Government of Pakistan, through the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), has updated its official list of countries with visa-free access for 2026. The list features 55 countries whose citizens can enter Pakistan visa-free for durations ranging from one to three months. However, there is a major catch: for almost all the listed nations, the visa waiver is strictly limited to specific conditions.
Visa Waiver Details and Conditions
The Ministry of Interior of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan published its updated bilateral "Visa Abolition List" on the Pakistan Online Visa System (POVS). While the list offers a gateway for hassle-free entry into Pakistan, prospective travellers are urged to pay close attention to the passport categories specified under the bilateral agreements.
A careful look at the newly highlighted NADRA guidelines reveals that the visa-free entry privilege does not apply to regular tourists or ordinary passport holders from the vast majority of the listed countries. Instead, the visa waiver is a bilateral arrangement reserved primarily for government officials, diplomats, and individuals holding service or official passports.
Countries with Full Visa-Free Access for Ordinary Citizens
Under this specific bilateral abolition list, there are only two countries whose ordinary citizens can travel to Pakistan completely visa-free:
- Maldives: All nationals of the Maldives can enter Pakistan visa-free and stay for a maximum period of three months.
- Nepal: All nationals of Nepal are permitted visa-free entry into Pakistan for a period of one month.
List of Countries with Restricted Visa-Free Access
Below is a list of other countries whose citizens are permitted to stay under the bilateral agreements, with their respective conditions attached. For most, the waiver applies only to diplomatic, official, or service passport holders:
- Argentina
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (Only for Pakistani diplomatic/official passport holders entering B&H visa-free, not vice versa)
- Brazil
- Brunei Dar-us-Salam
- China (including Hong Kong)
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Egypt
- Finland
- Georgia
- Germany
- Hungary
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyz Republic
- Lao PDR
- Luxemburg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mexico
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Philippines
- Poland
- Romania
- Russian Federation
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Slovak Republic
- South Korea
- Sri Lanka
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Yemen
Nigeria Not Included
Unfortunately, Nigeria is not included on this specific bilateral visa abolition list. For this, Nigerian citizens, including diplomatic and official passport holders, do not enjoy automatic visa-free entry under these bilateral agreements.
Context: Other Visa-Free Lists
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that Russia published its full list of countries that qualify for visa-free entry, with only a handful of African nations making the cut. Most African countries on the list are restricted to diplomatic and service passport holders only, leaving ordinary travellers out.
