Manny Ita
Pakistan has suspended its Visa Prior to Arrival programme for citizens of 126 countries, including Nigeria, with effect from January 1, 2026, ending a short-lived policy that allowed free and fast-tracked entry for travellers. The programme, introduced in August 2024, was designed to boost tourism and trade as part of the country’s “Ease of Doing Business” drive.
The suspension marks a policy reversal, reintroducing financial costs and more stringent administrative requirements for Nigerian travellers and citizens of 33 other African countries previously covered by the scheme. Under the now-suspended arrangement, eligible travellers could obtain a free 90-day multiple-entry visa through a simplified application process completed within 24 to 48 hours.
With the change, affected travellers are required to apply for a standard paid e-Visa through Pakistan’s official National Database and Registration Authority portal. While visa fees vary depending on nationality and whether the application is for tourism or business, standard e-Visa charges for comparable regions typically range between 25 and 60 dollars, according to current application guidelines.
The revised process also requires more extensive documentation. Applicants must now submit proof of accommodation such as hotel reservations or a formal letter of invitation, a detailed travel itinerary, and, in some cases, bank statements. Processing timelines have been extended, with approvals now taking an estimated seven to ten working days, compared with the rapid turnaround under the VPA system.
Nigeria is among 34 African countries affected by the suspension. Others include Ghana, Senegal, Benin, Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa; Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco and Rwanda in North and East Africa; and Angola, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritius and Seychelles in Central and Southern Africa.
The removal of the “Free Visa” option from Pakistan’s official visa portal occurred without a major public announcement, leaving many travellers unaware of the change until after it took effect. The development has implications for Nigerian business owners who had begun exploring opportunities in Pakistani markets, particularly in textiles, surgical equipment and machinery, as higher visa costs and longer processing times add to travel overheads.
The policy shift is also expected to affect Nigerian students enrolled in technical and medical programmes in Pakistan, who will now need to account for recurring visa fees during renewals. Analysts describe the move as a setback to Pakistan’s “Look Africa” policy, which over the past two years sought to strengthen ties and double trade volumes with African countries by 2030.
Between August 2024 and December 2025, eligible travellers benefited from a free Visa Prior to Arrival processed within 24 to 48 hours through a relatively simple application requiring minimal documentation. As of January 1, 2026, this has been replaced by a standard e-Visa regime involving paid fees, longer processing times and more detailed application requirements.
