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Immigration law refers to the statutes, regulations, and legal precedents governing immigration into and deportation from a country, whereas the citizenship is a legal status that means a person has a right to live in a state and that state cannot refuse them entry or deport them.
Immigration law is distinct from other matters such as naturalisation and citizenship, although they are sometimes immixed. On the other hand, the legal status of citizenship may be conferred at birth, or, in some states, obtained through naturalisation.
Our services extends right around the world, with association of emigration consultants and lawyers for providing emigration services for entry to USA, UK, Canada, European Countries, Middle East, Australia and Newzeland etc. We provide a wide range of services for many visas types and categories. Our global emigration services are specifically tailored to assist our clients in traveling or migration to another country. Our qualified migration consultants are ready and willing to provide our clients with valuable emigration advice.
Over the years, we have assisted many satisfied customers with their emigration applications and helped them to make their emigration goals reality. Our team is highly trained and a dedicated group of professionals who are devoted to providing excellent services to our customers. Apart from the emigration services for other countries we also have the clients all over the world who intends to come to Pakistan on Tourist, Business or Work Visas. We also arrange extension of their stay in Pakistan and help them to solve their other relating problems. We render this service to the Consultants and Experts of many Telecommunications, Oil & Gas, Agriculture, SMEs, Infrastructure, Chemicals, IT, Energy, Mining, Tourism and Engineering sectors.
Our dedicated and experienced Attorneys and Staff provide effective and quality legal services to our clients and we are committed to represent Employees, Employers, Companies, Corporations and Individuals - the full spectrum of those who need us. We also handle Appeals for every facet of emigration law to the relevant Appeal Department in each country and handle every kind of emigration problem through Immigration Law Firms in the respective country. It is the mission of our Law offices of Kakakhel Law Associates to serve our clients, our community and our country.
It is through the use of technology that we are able to make our services more affordable then other Migration Services Organizations or Consultants. Using the power of internet communications we have streamed lined the information gathering and assessment process and in turn pass the corresponding costs savings on to our customers. We like to add that we are not part of any Government but are a Private Company and do not have the authority to grant you a visa of any kind. We can only assist and advice people who want to emigrant to any country. The final decisions on all visa applications rest with the appropriate Government Authority in the Country to which some is seeking to migrate.
Today Kakakhel Law Associates is a truly global company having association with Immigration Law Firms in all countries which are largest Immigration Firms worldwide and are clear leaders in technology and service innovation thus we offer a unique concept of providing global capabilities and locally responsive service. Our dynamic team of International Emigration Experts takes an innovate approach to their work that results in the formulation of highly successful emigrant strategies and the delivery of real value to clients.
To facilitate travel to and staying in Pakistan for foreign business persons and investors, government business visa policies have been considerably relaxed. Missions abroad are authorized to grant five years validity (Multiple) visa within 24 hours to businessmen of 66 countries of Business Visa List (BVL), with the duration of each stay would be restricted for three months, on production of any of the following documents: Recommendation letter from Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CC&I) of the respective country of the applicant. Invitation letter from business organization duly recommended by the concerned Trade Organization/Association, in Pakistan. Recommendatory letter by Honorary Investment Counselors of BOI. Recommendatory letter from Pakistani Commercial Attache posted in Pakistan High Commissions / Embassies / Consulates General abroad.
Missions abroad can grant one month validity and stay (Multiple) entry visa to the businessmen of remaining 123 countries (except countries not recognized by Government of Pakistan) subject to the production of afore-mentioned requisite documents. Such applicants can apply from their own country or place of legal residence to Pakistani Ambassador / High Commissioner / Head of Mission.
Visa on Arrival for 30 days validity and stay will be given to the businessmen of 66 countries of Business Visa List (BVL) mentioned above on production of any of the documents as for entry business visa by Missions for businessmen.
Work visas will be granted to foreign technical and managerial personnel for the purpose of transferring skills and know-how. Companies requiring employment of foreign nationals or extension in their visa should submit the request on the prescribed application form to the Board of Investment (IF Wing) Islamabad, enclosing the following documents:
Work Visa Application Form; Passport Photocopies (Information / Entry / Visa Pages); Six Photographs; Company Covering Letter Stating the Period of Visa Required; Company Profile; Employment Agreement; and Company's Incorporation / Registration Certificate.
A Committee under the Chairmanship of the Secretary of BOI periodically considers and decides the cases of granting or extending work visas to foreign personnel. The entry Work Visas will be issued by BOI recommended to the Ministry of Interior for authorization of visa to concerned Mission abroad on the receipt of application alongwith the confirmation / guarantee of the credentials of the expatriates by the company. However the extension / conversion of business visas into Work visas will be authorized and issued by the Ministry of Interior on the basis of the decision of the Committee.
The work visa may be issued for a period up to 2 years with multiple entries by Pak Missions abroad on the recommendation of BOI or for the life of the applicant's passport, which one is earlier. Whereas extension in work visa will be endorsed by the Regional Passport Office of the city where the expatriate is working after the recommendation of BOI upon authorization by the Ministry of Interior.
The extension / conversion of business visa into work visa applications will be processed expeditiously by BOI within 4 weeks. Extension of three months provisional work visa, on application, recommended by BOI would be endorsed by the RPOs instead of Ministry of Interior. In case of multiple entry visas, the number of entries will not be restricted.
It has been decided by the Government to exempt all foreigners who have been issued work visas from registration with the police, except for nationals of countries on the negative list. Even in the case of countries on the negative list (except for Indians and foreigners of Indian origin), foreign nationals in the managerial category who are issued work permits/visas will also be exempted from police registration.
Indian passport holders working in World Bank/ADB/IMF/UN Agencies and Multinational Companies would be facilitated visa by the respective Pakistan's Ambassador after clearing with Link Offices.
Embassies are empowered to grant short term visa for one month to the expatriates working with Non Government Organizations in Pakistan. For long term visa, the NGO is required to be registered with Government of Pakistan. In such cases, Mission abroad refers the applications for prior clearance from Ministry of Interior before granting visas. In case of extension of visa, the registered NGOs may apply to Ministry of Interior which in turn authorizes the concerned RPOs for grant of extension of visa, if all the formalities are met.
Pakistan Missions abroad are authorized to grant visit / tourist visa for three months validity and stay with double entry to foreigners of 175 countries. RPOs have been authorized to extend tourist visa up to a maximum period of six months including the initial visa period and condone overstay up to 15 days on payment of visa fee. For Northern Areas, the Deputy Commissioners Gilgit & Skardu have been authorized to allow extension in visa for three months and one re-entry to the tourists in Northern Areas, charging visa fee as per policy.
Visa On Arrival (VOA) will be allowed for one month validity and stay (Multiple) to Group Tourists of 24 Tourists Friendly Countries (TFC) through designated Tour Operators in Pakistan subject to the following conditions:
The case will be submitted through designated / authorized tour operators only; The concerned tour operator will also submit undertaking to the effect that the tourists will be their responsibility and that they will not illegally overstay beyond validity of visa; If required, the same tour operators will apply, before expiry of visa for further extension up to 30 days; and The concerned tour operators will submit a confirmation about exit of the said tourists, after their actual leaving the country.
Entry visa to work as housemaid / domestic servant in Pakistan will be granted by Missions abroad only with prior approval of the Ministry of Interior. Applications for grant of fresh visa as housemaid/domestic servant etc., to a foreigner will be forwarded by the employers in Pakistan to Ministry of Interior with following documents:
Visa application form duly completed with two photographs of the applicant; Computer clearance Performa; NOC and Acknowledgement from the foreign mission concerned (in Pakistan) about proposed employment of the foreigner by the said employer; Employment Contract on stamp paper, duly signed by the employee and employer and two witnesses; Photostat copies of passport pages; and Passport photostat copy of the employer (in case the employer is a foreigner). Extension in Housemaid Work/Domestic servant visa cases is granted by the Ministry of Interior on year to year basis subject to the validity of passport of the applicant with one or two re-entries per year.
The applications for grant of initial visa/extension for missionary work Christian Missionaries in Pakistan is processed by the Ministry of Interior. Entry visas are not granted to foreign missionaries desirous of opening new missions or strengthening existing one engaged in proselytizing activities. Foreign missionaries can apply for entry visa through Pakistan missions abroad who will refer the cases to Ministry of Interior with following documents of the applicants:
The Ministry of Interior after obtaining the views of the Provincial Government Clearance authorizes missions abroad for entry visa for one year with one re-entry. Missionary workers shall apply for extension in visa one month before expiry of visa to the nearest Regional Passport Office. In case, the documents furnished are in order, visa extension for two years with 2 re-entries per year (not valid for India) will be granted by RPO concerned.
Gratis Visa of diplomats / non-diplomats assigned to the foreign missions and expatriate staff of UN agencies working in Pakistan and their families are granted by the Ministry of Interior on the recommendations of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Visa to domestic servants of diplomats is issued free of charge, on the principle of reciprocity. All foreign missions are required to furnish their applications for visa extension, well before the expiry of their visas, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Visa extension authorization will be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for onward transmission to the foreign mission concerned.
Request of the students is received by the MOI and Ministry of Education. Student visa is granted after obtaining NOC from Ministry of Education / Economics Affairs Division/Ministry of Health (as the case may be) and foreign Mission in Pakistan of the respective country and security clearance. NOC is granted of the security cleared students for entry visa to the Mission abroad for three months with single entry. Foreign Students studying in Pakistan on proper student visa are granted visa/visa extension for one year with one re-entry. The same procedure is applied to foreign teachers of International Islamic University, Islamabad.
Afghan nationals holding Afghan passport, living in Pakistan since long are allowed visa/visa extension for a period of six months with one re entry. Afghan origin / third country passports holders are initially granted 45-days visa by our missions abroad except Pakistan Mission in Afghanistan. They are allowed further extension for 45-days. Afghan nationals coming from Afghanistan are granted six months visa with one re-entry by Pakistan Mission in Afghanistan.
Pakistan Missions abroad are authorized to grant visa to the journalists accredited and based in Pakistan for duration of assignment in consultation with Press attached & and verification of the credentials except for Indian journalists without referring to the Ministries of Interior or Information and Broadcasting for Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. If they wish to travel to other cities, they will apply through Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Missions abroad will grant three months validity and stay (Multiple) visa for Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi after verification of the credentials of the journalist. Non based foreign Journalists for short visits are allowed one-month visa extension with two re-entries by RPOs on the recommendation of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Their requests to visit additional places received through Ministry of Information and Media Development are considered on case to case basis.
Foreigners of Pak Origin are granted visa with multiple entries up to one year or validity of their passport, whichever is less by Missions abroad. RPOs may grant Extension in visa to foreigners of Pak Origin for one year with multiple entries and up to 5 years without entries, subject to validity of their passport. A period of overstay up to six months can be condoned by RPOs in such cases. Foreign wives of Foreigner of Pak Origin are also issued the same visa extension as to Pak Origin foreigners, subject to production of copy of Nikkah Nama / Marriage Certificate and NIC of husband.
Landing Permit for 72 hours can be granted by Airport Immigration staff, with prior approval of the Zonal Director (FIA) concerned, to the foreigners of Pak Origin and their families only in emergency cases on production of documentary proof of Pak Origin.
Sikhs of foreign passport holders (other than the Indian passports) are granted entry visa by the Missions for a fortnight for the following places: Lahore, Sheikhupura (Nankana Sahib), Rawalpindi / Hasan Abdal (Punja Sahib).
All foreigners are exempted from registration with the Police except the nationals of Algeria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Nigeria, P.L.O, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Serbia, Tanzania, Uganda and Yemen; as well as such other foreign nationals who are directed by the immigration authorities to report to FRO for registration and a stamp is affixed to this effect, on their passports. However, nationals in the managerial category, who are issued work permit/visa from these countries, will be exempted from Police registration except Indians and foreigners of Indian origin.
All Indians wishing to visit Pakistan must obtain a valid visa. The basic requirements for obtaining a visa are as follows:
For business visa, a letter from the company/organization in Pakistan sponsoring the applicant stating the purpose of visit is required. The Embassies/High Commissions for Pakistan deal with visa matters on all the working days of the week (Monday to Friday). While in Gulf countries, the Pakistani Missions remain open from Saturday to Wednesday. None of the Missions is however open on any of the Gazetted holidays of the government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The following types of visas are granted to the resident/Non-resident Indian by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan:
Visitors visa are issued to Indian Nationals to meet relatives, friends or for any other legitimate purpose. This type of visa is also issued to bonafide Indian businessmen for six months with three entries.
Transit visa valid for up to two entries for stay in the city/port of entry for 72 hours issued to Indian nationals, proceeding to Indian by air or sea through Pakistan.
A non-extendable tourist visa valid for 14 days is issued by Pakistan High Commission, New Delhi through approved tour operators/travel agents.
Following are the designated entry/exit check posts for Indian nationals, coming to Pakistan:
1. Citizenship to Old parents of Pakistani nationals residing in India
Emergency certificate is granted followed by Pakistan Citizenship Certificate. 2. Pakistani Citizenship to Commonwealth Citizens who transfer Rs.5 million worth of foreign exchange:
3. Pakistani Citizenship to the nationals of countries other than Commonwealth after they have resided in Pakistan for a period of five years under the Naturalization Act, 1926. i.e. 12 months continuous stay preceding to the date of application and four years aggregate stay during the 7 years preceding to the said twelve months:
4. Pakistani Citizenship to Foreign Ladies Married to Pakistani Nationals:
All of the mentioned documents may be attested by Notary public/Oath Commissioner except the photographs which have to be attested in a manner specified.
6. Children born to Pakistani mother and foreign national father after 18.04.2000 are to be treated automatically as citizens of Pakistan 7. Grant of Pakistan Citizenship to Foreign Nationals (Investors) Any person of a country recognized by Pakistan may obtain Pakistani Citizenship by investing a minimum of US$ 0.75 million in tangible assets and $ 0.25 million (or equivalent in major foreign currency) in cash on a non-repatriable basis and by fulfilling the conditions of the Pakistan Citizenship Law. Investment on a non-repatriable basis means that the amount is brought to Pakistan through normal banking channels, converted into rupees, and never remitted back through the free market.
Government of Pakistan has dual nationality arrangements with the following 16 countries:
Any citizen of Pakistan residing outside Pakistan, who is not a minor and is also a citizen or national of another country or has been given by the competent authority of another country any valid document assuring him/her of the grant of citizenship or nationality of that other country, shall make a declaration of renunciation of citizenship of Pakistan in Form X (in duplicate) to the Directorate General Immigration & Passports Islamabad through Pakistan Mission abroad.
The person concerned will cease to be citizen of Pakistan from the date of such registration of renunciation of Pak citizenship. Where a male person ceases to be a citizen of Pakistan under Section 14-A (I) of Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951 Every such minor child of that person as is residing outside Pakistan shall thereupon cease to be a citizen of Pakistan provided any such child may, within one year of his completing the age of 21 years, make a declaration that he wishes to resume the citizenship of Pakistan and shall upon making of such declaration become a citizen of Pakistan. Every such minor of that person as is residing in Pakistan shall continue to be a citizen of Pakistan. The fee for renunciation applications is Rs. 500/- only.
Registration of Birth of a Child of Citizen of Pakistan Born in Country Outside Pakistan. The birth of such children may be reported by the parents or guardians on Form S to the Pakistan Mission abroad within a period of six months. Annual Registration by a Citizen of Pakistan Resident Abroad Citizens of Pakistan are required to get themselves registered with Pakistan Mission abroad annually on form I.
Legalisation of Documents and Attestation Kakakhel Law Associates also provides the legal services to our multinational clients for making the legalization of educational certificates, Marriage Certificates, Birth Certificates and any other document by the Foreign Embassies after the attestation of Higher Education Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other related Ministries. We also make the translation of such documents into English or into any other language, if required by any Embassy. Click here to find our full scope of services.