Good news for Pakistani passport holders as visa free entry has been announced to a new destination.
Holders of diplomatic and official passports from Bangladesh and Pakistan will now no longer need visas to travel between the two countries, officials said.
The Advisory Council of Bangladesh’s interim administration, led by Muhammad Yunus, approved a mutual visa exemption agreement, his press secretary Shafiqul Alam told a news conference in Dhaka.
“The agreement will be for five years. Those who have diplomatic and official passports will be able to travel to Pakistan without a visa,” Alam said. He noted that Bangladesh already has similar arrangements with 31 other countries.
After the deal, Pakistani officials will also be granted visa-free entry into Bangladesh.
It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan passport visa requirements allow entry to 31 destinations without a pre-approved visa through visa-free access, visas on arrival, or eTAs, though fees and stay limits vary by country.
Visa-free countries for Pakistan passport holders
Pakistan citizens can visit 11 destinations visa-free including Barbados, Cook Islands, Dominica, The Gambia, Haiti, Micronesia.
Additionally, Montserrat, Rwanda, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vanuatu.
Visa-free does not mean unrestricted. Each country sets its own stay duration, entry conditions, and permitted activities.
Similarly, some of these countries check return ticket rules, proof of funds, vaccination needs, and any registration requirements on arrival.
For longer stays or work and study, a visa is usually required.
Visa on arrival for Pakistan passport holders
Eighteen countries issue visas on arrival to Pakistan passport holders which includes Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Comoros, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau.
In addition, Madagascar, Maldives, Nepal, Niue, Palau, Qatar, Samoa, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste, and Tuvalu.
At the airport or border, travelers complete a short form, pay the fee, and present a valid passport, onward ticket, hotel details, and sometimes proof of vaccination or funds.
VOA stay lengths differ widely such as Maldives and Nepal typically allow longer tourist stays than smaller island states.
However, always keep USD cash or a working card and confirm whether photos or biometrics are taken on site.
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) for Pakistan citizens
Two countries require an eTA before departure; Kenya and Sri Lanka.
Applications are submitted online with basic personal details, passport data, travel dates, and a card payment.
Approval is linked electronically to the passport and often allows multiple entries within a set validity window.
Remember, an eTA is not a full visa and can be refused if information is incomplete.
