Developments that affect Pakistani passport holders: visas, document checks before departure, and flights to the countries families and pilgrims travel to most. Earlier updates stay on record under the latest.
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Iraq and Iran (Ziyarat)
Updated · 4 updates
Iran: avoid unnecessary travel
Pakistan advises against all unnecessary travel to Iran. Pilgrims to Iraq must travel with a licensed group organiser and keep strictly to their visa conditions.
Tour operators told to enforce Iraqi visa conditions
The Ministry of Religious Affairs directed pilgrimage tour operators to strictly enforce visa conditions for travellers to religious sites in Iraq. Violations can lead to entry being refused and to deportation. Source: Arab News Pakistan (Hasaan Ali Khan).
Foreign Office advisory for the Gulf region
After hostilities broke out in the region, the Foreign Office advised Pakistani nationals in the Gulf to exercise utmost caution and avoid unnecessary travel, and opened a crisis management unit on +92 51 9207887. Source: Dawn (News Desk).
Earlier updates (2)
Avoid all unnecessary travel to Iran
The Foreign Office advised Pakistani nationals to avoid all unnecessary travel to Iran until conditions improve, and urged those already there to exercise extreme caution and stay in contact with Pakistan's missions. Source: Dawn (News Desk and AFP).
Group travel only for pilgrims to Iraq
Pakistani pilgrims may no longer travel to Iraq on their own: they must travel with a registered group organiser, who is responsible for their return. The informal Salar system has been replaced by licensed operators. Source: The News (APP) and Arab News Pakistan (Waseem Abbasi).
United Arab Emirates
Updated · 9 updates
Open, documents checked closely
Visit visas are being issued to ordinary passport holders through registered travel agents, with close checks on documents. UAE airports are open, but some flights between Pakistan and the UAE are still cancelled at short notice, and flydubai's Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar flights are suspended until 26 October.
Abu Dhabi to Faisalabad flights cancelled
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi listed its flights between Abu Dhabi and Faisalabad as cancelled on 18 October. It was the only Pakistan route among the cancellations Gulf News reported that day; no other Pakistani airport appeared in the list. Cancellations on individual routes have been announced at short notice for two weeks, so confirm your flight with the airline before leaving for the airport. Source: Gulf News (Lekshmy Pavithran).
flydubai flights from Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar suspended
flydubai's flights between Dubai and Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar have been cancelled since at least 7 May for operational reasons, and the airline's flight inquiry office in Pakistan said the suspension would run until 26 October. Its Karachi flights were not affected, and its Faisalabad, Multan, Quetta and Sialkot services also continued when the suspension was announced. Passengers who plan to fly with flydubai from these three cities on or after 26 October should confirm with the airline or their travel agent that the flight is operating before paying for a ticket. Source: Dawn (Mohammad Asghar) and The National (David Tusing and Farah Andrews).
Earlier updates (7)
Karachi, Quetta and Multan flights cancelled
Air Arabia cancelled its Sharjah flights to and from Karachi and Quetta on 14 October, and Etihad listed an Abu Dhabi to Multan flight as cancelled. UAE airports remain open, so the cancellations affect individual services rather than travel as a whole. Confirm your flight with the airline before leaving for the airport, and keep your contact details up to date with the airline so that you receive any change of schedule. Source: Gulf News (Lekshmy Pavithran).
Some Pakistan to UAE flights cancelled
Air Arabia cancelled its Sharjah flights to and from Karachi and Islamabad and its Abu Dhabi flights to and from Faisalabad on 11 October. An airblue Dubai to Lahore flight was cancelled on 9 October and an Emirates Peshawar to Dubai flight on 7 October. Confirm your flight with the airline before leaving for the airport. Source: Gulf News (Lekshmy Pavithran) and Gulf News (Dhanusha Gokulan) and Gulf News (Lekshmy Pavithran).
UAE airports operating close to normal
Dubai International, Al Maktoum and Abu Dhabi's Zayed International airports are open and operating at near-normal levels, with delays on some regional routes. A flydubai Dubai to Karachi service was cancelled on 4 October, and flydubai asks passengers to arrive four hours before departure. Source: Gulf News (Jay Hilotin) and Gulf News (Dhanusha Gokulan).
Document checks before immigration at Pakistani airports
FIA, passport and Protector of Emigrants staff now check travel documents before passengers reach the immigration counter at international airports, for travellers going abroad for work, tourism, Umrah and religious travel. Source: The Express Tribune (Talib Fareedi).
Foreign Office rejects reports of a UAE visa ban
Pakistan's Foreign Office said the UAE issues 40,000 to 50,000 employment visas to Pakistanis a year, against 7,000 to 8,000 repatriations, most of them for overstaying or minor offences. Source: Arab News Pakistan (Waseem Abbasi).
Visit visas resume through registered travel agents
An official at the UAE embassy in Pakistan confirmed that visit visas are being issued to ordinary passport holders applying through registered travel agents, and agents reported smoother processing for families. Source: Arab News Pakistan (Waseem Abbasi).
Business groups report a visa freeze
Business leaders in Pakistan reported that UAE visas were not being issued in any category, while UAE officials maintained that no ban was in place. Source: The Express Tribune (Usman Hanif).
The notice closing Riyadh's airport ran out on 17 October and reports on 18 October differ on whether it has reopened. PIA's Riyadh flights remain suspended with no date to resume, while other flights from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia operate; confirm your flight and your routing to Makkah before travelling.
Riyadh notice expires; PIA flights still suspended
The notice to airmen that closed King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh ran to the end of 17 October. On 18 October, The National reported that the airport had reopened, while Gulf News said airline advisories still listed it as suspended; neither cited a reopening announcement from Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority. PIA's Riyadh flights, suspended since 9 October, have no date to resume, and the Pakistan Airports Authority says PIA's other Saudi services continue. A Karachi Umrah operator told Arab News that demand has fallen by about 70 per cent since the attacks, and operators report disruption for passengers bound for Jeddah. Pilgrims should confirm their flight and their routing to Makkah with the airline or their operator before leaving for the airport. Source: The National (Evelyn Lau) and Gulf News (Lekshmy Pavithran) and Arab News Pakistan (Ismail Dilawar).
Saudi airlines cancel close to half their flights
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh remains suspended through 17 October, and more than 81 per cent of its scheduled departures were cancelled or did not operate on 15 October. Across the Kingdom, 552 of 1,178 departures did not operate that day, according to Cirium data, including 57.1 per cent of Saudia flights, 44 per cent of flynas flights and 45 per cent of flyadeal flights. Dammam lost 45.8 per cent of its departures and Jeddah 22.6 per cent. Pakistani pilgrims booked with a Saudi airline, or with a connection inside the Kingdom, should confirm their flight with the airline before leaving for the airport. Source: Gulf News (Dhanusha Gokulan).
Earlier updates (6)
Riyadh to stay closed until at least 17 October
A notice to airmen keeps King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh closed until at least 17 October while Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority completes its safety checks. Other airports in the Kingdom are affected too: on 13 October about half of scheduled departures from Dammam and more than a quarter from Jeddah were cancelled or did not fly, against about a fifth at Madinah. Pilgrims travelling from Pakistan should confirm their flight and their onward transport to Makkah before leaving for the airport. Source: Gulf News (Dhanusha Gokulan) and Gulf News (Lekshmy Pavithran).
Riyadh closure extended, with no reopening date
Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority extended the closure of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh while safety checks continue, and has not said when it will reopen. Flights to Jeddah and Dammam are also being cancelled. The Houthis have warned airlines and travellers against every Saudi airport except those of Makkah and Madinah, and Pakistan's embassy in Riyadh is assisting injured Pakistani nationals. Source: The National (William Mullally and Evelyn Lau) and ABC News (Reuters, AFP and AP).
Riyadh airport closed again after a fatal attack
Operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh were suspended on 10 October after an attack that Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority said killed 12 people and injured 309. Umrah pilgrims waiting for flights to Makkah were among the injured. The closure was extended on 11 October, so pilgrims with a connection through Riyadh should confirm their routing before they travel. Source: Gulf News (Khitam Al Amir) and Gulf News (Lekshmy Pavithran).
PIA suspends its Riyadh flights
PIA temporarily suspended its Islamabad to Riyadh service after attacks on Riyadh and Abha airports, and gave no date for its return. The Pakistan Airports Authority said flights to the rest of Saudi Arabia are operating as usual. PIA asks passengers to call 111-786-786 before leaving for the airport. Source: The Express Tribune (Waqas Ahmad) and Geo News (Tariq Abul Hasan).
One-year, multiple-entry Umrah visa launched
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah launched an Umrah visa valid for 365 days, allowing several entries and up to 90 days in the Kingdom in total. Each visit requires a service package from an approved provider on the Nusuk platform and an Umrah permit before arrival, and the visa cannot be used during the Hajj season. Source: Gulf News (Lekshmy Pavithran) and Dawn (News Desk).
Umrah visa entry validity cut to one month
An Umrah visa must now be used within one month of issue, or it is cancelled automatically after 30 days. The permitted stay after arrival remains three months. Source: Gulf News (Lekshmy Pavithran).
Visa on arrival for Pakistani nationals is suspended. Obtain the appropriate visa before travelling, and allow extra time for processing.
Processing may take longer
Pakistan's Foreign Office said it was not aware of any visa ban on Pakistanis by Qatar, but that processing may take longer because of regional tensions. Source: Arab News Pakistan (Waseem Abbasi).
Visa on arrival suspended for Pakistanis
The Embassy of Pakistan in Doha announced the temporary suspension of visa on arrival for Pakistani nationals because of the prevailing situation, and advised travellers to obtain a visa before travel. Source: Khaleej Times (Nithin Belle).
United States
Updated · 1 update
Immigrant visas paused
Immigrant visa processing for Pakistan is paused. Visit, business and student visas are not affected by the pause.
Immigrant visa processing paused for 75 countries
The United States paused immigrant visa processing, for employment and family reunification, for 75 countries including Pakistan from 21 January. Non-immigrant visas, such as tourist and student visas, are not affected. Source: The Express Tribune (AFP, Reuters and Web Desk).
Sri Lanka
Updated · 1 update
Free tourist ETA
Pakistani nationals are among 40 nationalities who receive Sri Lanka's tourist ETA free of charge for a 30-day stay. It must still be applied for before travel.
Free tourist ETA for Pakistan and 39 other countries
Sri Lanka waived the fee for the tourist Electronic Travel Authorisation for nationals of 40 countries, including Pakistan, India and the UAE. It allows a 30-day stay with double entry; longer stays need a paid extension. Source: Khaleej Times (Poojaraj Maniyeri) and Gulf News (Dhanusha Gokulan).
Malaysia and Thailand
Updated · 2 updates
Return ticket and arrival card
Visit visa travellers to Malaysia and Thailand, as to Dubai, need a return ticket with the same airline, and Thailand requires its online arrival card before landing.
Thailand makes its digital arrival card mandatory
From 1 May 2025, every foreign visitor to Thailand must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 72 hours before arrival and show the confirmation at immigration. Source: Gulf News (Dhanusha Gokulan).
Two-way ticket with the same airline required
The FIA and the Civil Aviation Authority require passengers travelling on visit visas to Dubai, Bangkok and Malaysia to hold a two-way ticket with the same airline. Source: Dawn (Mohammad Asghar).
This is general information, not legal advice. Each destination sets its own requirements and can change them without notice; confirm them for your trip with your airline and with our team before you fly from Pakistan.
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