Service overview
Foreign employees with a qualifying Pakistani job or assignment apply for the relevant work-visa category through the official Pakistan E-Visa process.
SEZ, STZA and EPZA permissions involve different regulators, zones and tax rules; obtaining one status never substitutes for another.
Who qualifies for Foreign Employee Work Visa Application?
A foreign national must have a genuine eligible offer or engagement and a sponsoring employer able to substantiate the post and its lawful activities.
Work authorisation is not granted by company incorporation alone; an entry visa and extension have distinct supporting records.
Records to prepare for Foreign Employee Work Visa Application
Prepare the following information for foreign employee work visa application. The relevant regulator may require further forms or certified evidence, depending on the applicant and chosen procedure.
- Valid passport and current visa status
- Employment contract or sponsor guarantee
- Employer registration and NTN particulars
- Employee CV and photograph
- Evidence of legal residence if applying from a third country
How to apply for Foreign Employee Work Visa Application in Pakistan — step-by-step guide
- 01Identify the appropriate application route and eligibility
First determine whether the proposed applicant and activity fall within this procedure. A foreign national must have a genuine eligible offer or engagement and a sponsoring employer able to substantiate the post and its lawful activities. Review the separate conditions and exclusions in the eligibility section before submitting any form or payment.
- 02Prepare the application documents and evidence
Start with the particulars listed for this service: Valid passport and current visa status; Employment contract or sponsor guarantee; Employer registration and NTN particulars; Employee CV and photograph; Evidence of legal residence if applying from a third country. Ensure the names, applicant identity and documents are consistent. The authority may require further supporting material under its current checklist.
- 03Check the current regulator instructions before filing
Refer to the regulator resource identified on this page (NADRA E-Visa / Government of Pakistan / BOI official procedure and resources ↗). Reconfirm the currently prescribed forms, online or physical submission method, supporting evidence, fee and any current amendments. Do not assume that historic processing times or fees remain applicable.
- 04Classify the work-visa request
Determine entry versus extension, applicant nationality, employer entity and proposed duration of the role.
- 05Prepare employer sponsorship records
Gather the employment letter, company certificate, salary and assignment details, guarantee and identity documents.
- 06File through NADRA E-Visa
Submit through the official work-general-visa online application system and upload the supporting employer and applicant records.
- 07Respond to case observations
Supply any further governmental checks or clarifications; after decision verify visa conditions and lawful entry or continued stay.
- 08Keep the approval record and track ongoing obligations
After the authority has made its decision, retain the acknowledgement, correspondence, evidence of approval and any conditions attached to it. Ensure actual duties, sponsoring entity and visa status remain lawful; apply for extension before expiry where applicable. Check whether separate approvals, renewals or reporting duties apply to the actual business.
Use the current regulator checklist to confirm that every listed item is still required and that any activity-specific conditions have been met. The items below are drawn from the document requirements identified on this page, not a representation that the checklist is exhaustive.
- Valid passport and current visa status
- Employment contract or sponsor guarantee
- Employer registration and NTN particulars
- Employee CV and photograph
- Evidence of legal residence if applying from a third country
Before signing or paying, reconcile the particulars across Valid passport and current visa status and Employment contract or sponsor guarantee; check the applicant and business classification, identify the person authorised to submit, and retain a copy of the final application and official correspondence. Official instructions control if the portal or law has changed.
Regulator resource: NADRA E-Visa / Government of Pakistan / BOI official procedure and resources
After registration or approval
Ensure actual duties, sponsoring entity and visa status remain lawful; apply for extension before expiry where applicable.
Foreign employee work visas: company sponsorship, entry and extension
Primary-source research. The following procedural analysis is based on the identified government or regulator sources. Confirm enacted amendments, applicable forms, fees and filing requirements on the date of submission. A consultation draft is not operative law merely because it has been published. This note does not represent final legal-editor certification of the entire guide.
Distinguish the right visa category from a visit
The Board of Investment's current Work Visa page directs employers of expatriates to the Government's Pakistan Online Visa System. An employee performing work should be assessed under the applicable work visa category rather than relying on a general business visitor permission. The online route distinguishes an initial entry visa from extension by a person already lawfully present with a valid visa.
Prepare the right sponsor and applicant records
For a company employer, BOI specifies a passport, photograph and an employment letter from an SECP-registered company showing salary and intended assignment duration, or company sponsorship/guarantee. Its more extensive optional evidence includes SECP and FBR certificates, company profile, employee CV, agreement, focal person and confirmation of credentials. A sole-proprietor employer faces different identity and tax evidence, so do not substitute the company form.
Check location and extension evidence
An applicant applying from a third country may need proof of legal residence there. A person seeking extension while present in Pakistan should provide the current Pakistani visa and entry-stamp record as the official instructions describe. BOI publishes a general multiple-entry duration and processing expectation, but individual issuance, permitted activity and duration remain discretionary and subject to security and immigration review.
Application and subsequent changes
File the applicant's genuine employment and corporate information on the authorised online portal, respond to review requests and preserve the final visa. Monitor expiry, passport changes, employer changes and any sector-specific restrictions before work begins. BOI may recommend work visas, but the Government issues them; employer sponsorship or an application receipt is not a work authorisation.
Official legal and regulatory sources
Governing law & official references
Pakistan visa policy and immigration rules, as administered by the Ministry of Interior and NADRA, with BOI work-visa guidance.
The links below lead to government or official regulatory sources relevant to this service. Use the currently consolidated Act, regulations, statutory checklist and official portal when making an application.
How Chambers can assist
Chambers can review the legal route, identify regulatory constraints, prepare or review the supporting corporate and legal documents, manage the prescribed submission and correspond with the competent authority where instructed. The scope of the engagement will be determined by the applicant’s particular circumstances.
For an initial enquiry, identify the proposed activity, applicant entity and current stage, and provide the available documents indicated above. Please avoid sending confidential or identity-sensitive records through an unencrypted first contact.
Common questions about Foreign Employee Work Visa Application
Who is eligible for Foreign Employee Work Visa Application in Pakistan?
A foreign national must have a genuine eligible offer or engagement and a sponsoring employer able to substantiate the post and its lawful activities.
What documents are needed for Foreign Employee Work Visa Application?
Valid passport and current visa status; Employment contract or sponsor guarantee; Employer registration and NTN particulars; Employee CV and photograph. Additional requirements can apply to the actual business or regulator.
How do I apply for Foreign Employee Work Visa Application in Pakistan?
Classify the work-visa request: Determine entry versus extension, applicant nationality, employer entity and proposed duration of the role. Prepare employer sponsorship records: Gather the employment letter, company certificate, salary and assignment details, guarantee and identity documents. File through NADRA E-Visa: Submit through the official work-general-visa online application system and upload the supporting employer and applicant records. Respond to case observations: Supply any further governmental checks or clarifications; after decision verify visa conditions and lawful entry or continued stay.
This guide is general information, not advice on your facts. Check the applicable law, notifications, updated regulator checklists and jurisdiction before acting. The authority alone determines eligibility, acceptance and approval; no outcome or processing period is guaranteed.