Visa updates! Winter destinations to explore for Pakistani passport holders

Pakistani travellers looking to spend their winter holidays abroad have several international destinations to consider, with different entry options available for ordinary passport holders. From visa-free islands and tropical beaches to countries offering visas on arrival, these travel opportunities could make international trips easier to plan.

Recent visa developments involving Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia have also brought attention to travel arrangements for Pakistani citizens. However, not all these changes apply to ordinary passport holders, making it important for tourists to understand the conditions before making travel plans.

Qatar Offers a 30-Day Arrival Visa Facility

Qatar remains one of the Gulf destinations available to eligible Pakistani tourists through a 30-day visa-on-arrival facility. Travellers must fulfil certain requirements, including booking their stay through Discover Qatar and purchasing health insurance worth QR50 for at least one month.

Visitors must also present their hotel booking and insurance documents at the designated Discover Qatar counter at Hamad International Airport before completing immigration formalities.

The facility provides an option for Pakistani tourists interested in visiting Doha during the winter season, although entry remains subject to the country's rules.

New Gulf Agreements: What Pakistani Tourists Need to Know

Pakistan has signed visa exemption agreements with Oman and Saudi Arabia, but these arrangements are limited to specific official passport categories.

The agreement signed with Oman on October 14, 2026, covers diplomatic, special, service and official passport holders. Similarly, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed an exemption agreement on September 22, 2026, for diplomatic and special passport holders.

Ordinary Pakistani passport holders are not covered by these exemptions and must follow the existing visa procedures when travelling to either country.

International Destinations Without Advance Visa Applications

According to the Henley Passport Index, Pakistani passport holders have access to 29 destinations without obtaining a traditional visa before departure. The list includes countries and territories across several regions, offering different options for those considering an overseas winter break.

The destinations include Barbados, Dominica, Haiti, Rwanda, Micronesia, The Gambia, Vanuatu, Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Cook Islands and Montserrat.

These locations offer opportunities to explore different cultures, beaches and natural attractions without going through a conventional visa application process before travelling.

Countries Offering Visa on Arrival

For travellers who are comfortable completing visa formalities after reaching their destination, 15 locations are listed under the visa-on-arrival category in the Henley Passport Index.

These include the Maldives, Nepal, Cambodia, Madagascar, Burundi, Senegal, Samoa, Palau Islands, Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Niue, Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste and Tuvalu.

The Maldives and Nepal may be among the destinations considered by Pakistani tourists looking for a winter holiday. However, visa fees, permitted stays and entry conditions differ between countries.

Electronic Travel Authorisation for Pakistani Citizens

Some destinations require electronic permission before travellers begin their journey. This process allows eligible visitors to apply for travel authorisation online rather than following a conventional visa application route.

Under the Henley Passport Index, Kenya, Seychelles and Sri Lanka are included in this category for Pakistani passport holders.

The Passport Index, meanwhile, lists four destinations under its eTA category: Kenya, Sri Lanka, Seychelles and Ivory Coast.

Travellers should remember that electronic travel authorisation is not the same as visa-free entry. Approval must generally be secured before departure.

Why Passport Rankings Show Different Numbers

Pakistan's passport mobility figures vary depending on the index being consulted. The Henley Passport Index places Pakistan at 103rd globally, with 29 destinations accessible without a traditional visa in advance.

The Passport Index gives Pakistan a Passport Power Rank of 93, an Individual Power Rank of 195 and a mobility score of 43. Its dashboard lists nine visa-free destinations, 30 visa-on-arrival destinations, four eTA destinations and 155 destinations requiring a visa.

These differences reflect the separate methods used by the two organisations to classify international travel access. Their figures should therefore be considered independently.

Important Checks Before Booking a Winter Trip

Although these travel arrangements provide more choices, Pakistani tourists should not assume that every destination allows entry without additional checks.

Travellers are advised to confirm passport validity, return-ticket requirements, accommodation bookings, financial documents and health insurance conditions. They should also check whether an online authorisation or visa fee is required.

Entry policies can change without notice, and final admission remains at the discretion of immigration authorities.

For Pakistani passport holders planning an international winter holiday, checking the latest requirements through official embassy and immigration sources before purchasing tickets can help avoid unexpected travel problems.