Travel to Pakistan from the USA: Visa, Flights and Safety in 2027

Every Pakistan visa is applied for online, through the government's Pakistan Online Visa System at visa.nadra.gov.pk; US citizens are eligible. A single-entry tourist visa for up to three months costs about $60 (the figure the Pakistani consulate in Houston gives), and the official processing time is 7–10 working days, so allow longer. You'll need a passport valid for at least six months after arrival with two blank pages, a photo, and a hotel booking or an invitation letter.

In August 2024 Pakistan made its pre-arrival visa free for 126 countries, the US among them, but that scheme and visa on arrival have been reported suspended since 1 January 2026, without an official announcement. Apply and pay online before you fly, check the fee in the portal's calculator, and don't plan on getting a visa at the airport.

Restricted-zone treks such as K2 Base Camp and the Gondogoro La need the Mountaineering & Trekking visa rather than a tourist visa. It requires a sponsor letter from a tour operator authorised by Pakistan's Department of Tourist Services and a restricted-area trekking application, and it normally takes about four weeks. Once it's granted, the operator files your trekking permit in Gilgit-Baltistan, where the government fees are paid: in 2025 they were $150 per trekker in summer plus a $190 national-park fee for restricted zones.

Start two to three months before you travel: the permit needs a security clearance, and the visa comes first.

There are no nonstop flights between the US and Pakistan. The usual route is one stop via Doha (Qatar Airways), Dubai (Emirates), Abu Dhabi (Etihad), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Bahrain (Gulf Air) or Jeddah and Riyadh (Saudia), about 20–24 hours from New York. Gulf routes can be disrupted by regional tension, so check with your airline close to departure.

From Islamabad, PIA flies to Skardu, and AirSial announced flights on the route from May 2026; the flight takes about an hour. It only operates in clear weather and is often delayed or cancelled, so build at least one spare day into your plans.

Every road from Islamabad to Gilgit-Baltistan runs through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which the State Department lists as Do Not Travel; the UK and Canada also advise against the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas. So for American guests, plan to fly to Skardu or Gilgit and keep spare days for weather rather than relying on the road.

The US advisory, issued 16 June 2026, rates Pakistan Level 3, Reconsider travel, because of armed conflict, terrorism, crime and kidnapping. Its Level 4 Do Not Travel areas are Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (including the former tribal areas) and the immediate vicinity of the Line of Control. Gilgit-Baltistan is not named as a Do Not Travel area. The State Department also says the US government's ability to help outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi is limited, and that emergency rescues in the Karakoram start at $15,000, paid before the search begins.

The UK, which had warned against all but essential travel to Gilgit-Baltistan in spring 2026, lifted that warning on 15 April. Foreigners must register with the local authorities in Gilgit-Baltistan, which your operator can arrange. Read the current advisory yourself before you book, and again before you fly.

Bring cash. Cards are rarely accepted in Gilgit-Baltistan, and city ATMs that take US cards are often out of service or limit withdrawals. There's no limit on the cash you bring in, but you can take out no more than $5,000 per trip. You can't buy a SIM card at Islamabad airport, only at a mobile operator's official store, and international roaming is expensive.

The State Department notes that GPS devices with tracking aren't permitted in Pakistan and that drones may be confiscated at customs. Ask us before you pack a satellite messenger or a drone.