Pakistan (PK)
Pakistan is South Asia's second-largest country and a land of extraordinary contrasts — from the towering Karakoram peaks in the north to the bustling port city of Karachi on the Arabian Sea.
Capital: Islamabad
Region: Asia
Language: Urdu
Currency: PKR (₨)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 20)
Emergency: 15
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Citizenship & Permanent Residency
Long-term settlement options in Pakistan.
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Permanent Residency
Name
Long-Term Residence / Pakistan Origin Card (POC)
Eligibility
Pakistan has no general points-based permanent-residency route for ordinary foreign workers. Most expats maintain long-term presence through employer-sponsored renewable visas. A Pakistan Origin Card (POC) provides a functional near-permanent status for eligible persons of Pakistani descent and qualifying family members. Foreign spouses of Pakistani citizens and qualifying investors may obtain stable long-term status through separate routes.
Duration
POC: 7 years renewable (lifetime validity for those aged 60+); investor/spousal permits: approval-specific and renewable
Requirements
- ✓POC route: proof of Pakistani origin (former Pakistani citizen, or child/grandchild/great-grandchild of a Pakistani national), or status as a foreign spouse of a Pakistani citizen; citizens of India, Israel, Taiwan or countries designated hostile are excluded
- ✓Investor route: qualifying investment through a Board of Investment (BOI)-approved channel with State Bank of Pakistan confirmation
- ✓Spousal route: valid marriage to a Pakistani citizen; application to NADRA and the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports
- ✓Clean criminal record and no adverse security history
The POC confers practical long-term rights including visa-free entry, indefinite stay, the right to own property, open bank accounts and work in Pakistan. It does not give voting rights. It is not citizenship. Commonwealth citizens who invest PKR 5 million with the State Bank of Pakistan qualify for an accelerated path.
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Citizenship
Name
Pakistani Citizenship by Naturalisation
Eligibility
Foreign nationals who have resided continuously and lawfully in Pakistan for at least 5 years may apply for naturalisation. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in at least one vernacular language of Pakistan, good character, and an intention to remain in Pakistan. The process is discretionary and government approval is required. The Pakistan Citizenship Amendment Act 2024 formalised an expanded dual-citizenship arrangement.
Duration
Permanent
Requirements
- ✓5 years of continuous lawful residence in Pakistan
- ✓Proficiency in at least one vernacular language of Pakistan (Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi, or other recognised languages)
- ✓Good character — no serious criminal record
- ✓Intention to remain resident in Pakistan
- ✓Cannot hold citizenship of a country that prohibits its citizens from taking Pakistani citizenship
- ✓Government of Pakistan approval from the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports
Naturalisation in Pakistan is discretionary and relatively rare for ordinary foreign workers. The Pakistan Citizenship Amendment Act 2024 was formally signed into law in March 2026, expanding and formalising dual citizenship with 22 nations. The Act also provides that Pakistanis who had previously renounced citizenship may resume it by formal declaration. Female spouses of Pakistani citizens are eligible to apply under a separate spousal naturalisation provision.
Other Routes to Residency & Citizenship
Marriage to a Pakistani Citizen (Spousal Route)
Eligibility
Foreign women married to Pakistani citizens (where the Pakistani citizenship was acquired by birth or descent, not by naturalisation) are eligible to apply for Pakistani citizenship without the standard 5-year residence wait. The marriage must be genuine and the couple must intend to live in Pakistan.
Duration / Outcome
Permanent citizenship if approved
Requirements
- ✓Valid marriage certificate with a Pakistani citizen (whose citizenship was acquired by birth or descent)
- ✓Application to NADRA and the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports
- ✓Good character and no adverse immigration or security record
- ✓Government discretionary approval
Reciprocal rights for foreign male spouses of Pakistani women are more limited. Get legal advice from an immigration lawyer in Pakistan before relying on the spousal route.
Pakistan Origin Card (POC)
Eligibility
Former Pakistani citizens who have taken foreign nationality, and their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren (up to the third generation). Also includes foreign spouses of Pakistani citizens. Citizens of India, Israel, Taiwan or countries designated as hostile by Pakistan are excluded.
Duration / Outcome
POC validity: 7 years renewable; lifetime for holders aged 60 and above
Requirements
- ✓Proof of Pakistani origin (birth certificate, CNIC records, NADRA verification) or relationship to a Pakistani citizen (marriage certificate)
- ✓Valid foreign passport
- ✓Application to the nearest Pakistani mission abroad or to NADRA in Pakistan
- ✓Application fee and biometric enrollment
The POC provides broad practical rights — visa-free access, indefinite stay, employment, property ownership and banking — without granting citizenship or voting rights. It is the most practical long-term status for the Pakistani diaspora and their foreign-born descendants.
🌍 Dual Citizenship
✓
Dual citizenship is allowed — Pakistan permits dual citizenship with 22 approved countries: UK, USA, Canada, Australia, France, Italy, Belgium, Iceland, New Zealand, Finland, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Sweden, Ireland, Bahrain, Denmark, Germany, Norway and Luxembourg (Turkey under discussion as of 2026). The expanded list was formalised by the Pakistan Citizenship Amendment Act 2024. Pakistani citizens who naturalise in a non-approved country lose their Pakistani citizenship. Nationals of India, Israel, Taiwan or countries designated as hostile are ineligible for POC or dual-citizenship arrangements.
Citizenship & Permanent Residency
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