{
  "id": "visa/vpa-suspended-standard-evisa-required",
  "signature": "AI tells a traveler to Pakistan they can get the free Visa Prior to Arrival (VPA) approved within 24-48 hours before their trip",
  "signature_zh": "",
  "regex": "(pakistan.*visa prior to arrival|pakistan.*vpa|pakistan.*visa on arrival)",
  "domain": "visa",
  "category": "administrative_barrier",
  "subcategory": null,
  "root_cause": "Pakistan's free Visa Prior to Arrival (VPA), introduced August 2024 and typically approved within 24-48 hours, was suspended for citizens of 126 countries starting 1 January 2026 with no public government announcement - the VPA option simply disappeared from the official e-visa portal (visa.nadra.gov.pk). Affected nationalities (most of the EU, US, UK, Canada, Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, and others) must now apply for a paid standard e-Visa, which takes roughly 7-10 business days and requires more supporting documents (including proof of accommodation) than the old VPA form did.",
  "root_cause_type": "generic",
  "root_cause_zh": "",
  "versions": [
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    }
  ],
  "os_specific": {},
  "dead_ends": [
    {
      "action": "Tell a traveler from an EU/US/UK/Canada/Australia/China/Japan/South Korea passport to apply for the free VPA a day or two before departure, expecting approval within 24-48 hours",
      "why_fails": "The VPA category for these 126 nationalities was withdrawn from Pakistan's official e-visa portal on 1 January 2026 with no prior notice; applicants are now routed to the paid standard e-Visa, which takes about 7-10 business days to process, so a 1-2 day timeline will miss the trip.",
      "fail_rate": 0.85,
      "condition": "Nationality previously eligible for VPA, applying close to departure",
      "sources": [
        "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Pakistan",
        "https://visasnews.com/en/pakistan-suspends-its-free-vpa-visa-for-126-nationalities/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "Submit the same ~20-question form and budget the same fee-free process the old VPA used, assuming the new e-Visa application is materially the same",
      "why_fails": "The standard e-Visa form that replaced VPA is longer and requires proof of accommodation and more extensive personal/travel details; it is also a paid application (roughly USD 35 for EU citizens, USD 60 for US/UK/Canadian citizens for a single-entry tourist visa, varying by nationality), not free like VPA was.",
      "fail_rate": 0.6,
      "condition": "Applying under the post-1-January-2026 standard e-Visa category",
      "sources": [
        "https://easyvisa.pk/pakistan-new-visa-policy",
        "https://visasnews.com/en/pakistan-suspends-its-free-vpa-visa-for-126-nationalities/"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "workarounds": [
    {
      "action": "Apply for the standard e-Visa at visa.nadra.gov.pk at least 2-3 weeks before departure, with proof of accommodation and full trip details ready, and budget the applicable fee for your nationality",
      "success_rate": 0.85,
      "how": "Verify current eligibility and fee on the official portal rather than a third-party list, since the suspension was applied without a formal notification and could change again without notice.",
      "condition": "Nationality previously eligible for VPA",
      "sources": [
        "https://easyvisa.pk/pakistan-new-visa-policy"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "workarounds_zh": [],
  "transition_graph": {
    "leads_to": [],
    "preceded_by": [],
    "frequently_confused_with": []
  },
  "official_doc_url": null,
  "official_doc_section": null,
  "error_code": null,
  "verification_tier": "ai_generated",
  "confidence": 0.6,
  "fix_success_rate": 0.85,
  "resolvable": "true",
  "first_seen": "2026-09-03",
  "last_confirmed": "2026-09-03",
  "last_updated": "2026-09-03",
  "evidence_count": 3,
  "tags": [],
  "locale": "en",
  "aliases": [
    "visa/vpa-suspended-standard-evisa-required/pk"
  ]
}