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Updated January 2023
Even before the pandemic, travelling from Pakistan to India (and vice versa) has always been a complicated affair. The visa process for residents of both countries is strict, to say the least, and involves a ton of paperwork.
Now that the pandemic is over, would Pakistani residents be able to travel to their neighbouring country? What are India’s travel restrictions for Pakistani residents? Here is all you need to know about travelling to India from Pakistan in 2023.
Can I travel to India from Pakistan?
Yes, so long you are able to obtain the right Indian visa.
India does not issue tourist visas to Pakistani nationals, which means entry to India would depend on the nature of their visit. Those looking to travel to India for essential, business, or religious purposes may apply for the relevant visa as facilitated by the Indian government.
India entry requirements
India’s COVID-19 entry requirements have been recently updated to follow a risk-based approach.
Pre-departure testing
As of now, Pakistan is not on the list of high-risk countries. Therefore, travellers coming to India directly from Pakistan do not need to undergo a pre-departure COVID-19 test.
However, if any Pakistani resident is travelling to India from China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Thailand or Japan, or has transited through any of these countries, they will be required to self-declare and submit a negative RT-PCR test report on Air Suvidha.
Post-arrival testing
According to the latest guidelines, 2% of arrivals in every flight are being tested on a random basis. If chosen, Pakistani passengers will have to take a COVID-19 test at the airport, and if found symptomatic or tested positive, they will have to follow the standard protocol.
Quarantine requirements
India has done away with quarantine requirements for all arriving passengers, regardless of the destination of departure. Pakistani residents, therefore, do not have to quarantine upon arrival in India (unless they test positive in the randomized testing).
Visa requirement
As mentioned, Indian tourist visas are not being issued to Pakistani travellers. As such, Pakistani residents planning on travelling to India must obtain one of the following visas:
- Diplomatic visa
- Non-diplomatic visa
- Official visa
- Visitor visa
- Business visa
- Three-year business visa for Pakistani businessmen
- Transit Visa
- Student Visa
- Medical Visa
- Visa on Arrival, only available for 65-year-olds travelling on foot
Please note that the mentioned visas would require a set of documents and may also require sponsorship by an Indian referee.
Flights from Pakistan to India
Pakistan International Airline, Emirates Airline, FlyDubai, SriLankan Airlines are operating flights from Pakistan to India for the month of November. Flights are departing from Lahore, Karachi to cities in India the likes of Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai.
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