Pakistan is hands down one of my favourite countries to go backpacking in the world, unfortunately, this is a country with fairly strict visa rules and you almost always need a Letter Of Invitation (LOI) to apply for a Pakistan tourist visa.
Although it remains the decision of the individual embassy at which you apply; some are more liberal than others, it is almost certain you will be required to submit a Letter Of Invitation as part of your visa application to visit Pakistan as a tourist, so be prepared.
First up, a letter of invitation to Pakistan can only officially be issued by a registered tour company within Pakistan.
If you book a tour, an LOI will be included in the cost, but for all my fellow solo backpackers out there, you’ll have to pay for one.
Luckily, there are numerous companies issuing letters to solo travellers – but in some cases, are charging a fee as high as one hundred euros per person. That said, there may be hope for you yet. Read on for everything you need to know about getting a Letter of Invitation for Pakistan.
*Updated May 2024*
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Conditions for LOI Issue
- Please note that LOIs will only be issued for the purposes of tourism in Pakistan. If you are visiting Pakistan to visit a boyfriend, to work on a charity project, or to do anything other than tourism you will need an invitation written by that person/organization.
- No business or private visa support is possible with the below companies. Their services are for tourist visas only.
- No LOI is possible for Indian citizens for tourism at this time. As of 2024, travellers of Indian descent who hold Western nationalities have been able to obtain visas though.
If you need a letter of invitation to Pakistan, these are the four best options that I know of…
- Contact Alex from Lost With Purpose to get one for a fee of $50. She also runs numerous tours that include them.
- Book a tour with Samantha at Intentional Detours, or contact her as she lives in Pakistan and has many local contacts.
- Book a full or partial tour with Lizzy and Shah at Karakoram Bikers.
- You can contact Adventure Planners and get an LOI for a fee of $75 without booking a tour. They do require that you book a night at their hostel, Backpackers Islamabad or rent a motorbike from them though.
You can pay for your LOI from all of the above using Transferwise or a direct bank transfer.
Want to save money on accommodation?
We got you. For reals.
Buying an LOI Without Booking a Tour
Luckily, as of 2024, you can find numerous companies that are keen to let you pay for an LOI without booking a tour.
My friend and fellow adventurer Alex Reynolds from Lost With Purpose offers them for the cheapest price at our friends at just $50, or $90 for two. Alex and her local partner also run an awesome hostel in Islamabad called Coyote Den, where you can meet other backpackers and rent some hand-painted motorbikes.
Photo: Lost With Purpose
As is standard practice, you’ll have to provide some basic details about your itinerary, and of course your passport information and other demographic details. You’ll then be issued the actual letter, a government ID card, and the official government registration certificate from the company.
Adventure Planners can also sort you out. Please contact our good friend Haris Ali Shah for the details regarding purchasing a Letter of Invitation without booking a tour. As mentioned, the cost is $75 USD.
Contact Haris via Whatsapp @ +92 332 9072922 for your LOI needs.
They do offer free LOI’s if you book an actual tour with them as well. Other Adventure Planners services include motorbike rentals for epic Karakoram Highway journeys! Broke Backpacker readers can get a 10% discount on motorbikes or a tour by mentioning our website.
Photo: Karakoram Bikers
In addition, they also own and operate two backpacker hostels; one is in Islamabad (Backpackers Hostel Islamabad) and one is in Minapin (Backpackers Hostel Minapin).
When you reach out to Adventure Planners don’t forget to mention that the Broke Backpacker sent you as they may be able to offer you a special discount! Good luck indy backpackers!!
Another option is to contact our friends at Karakoram Bikers. It’s possible to get the LOI and a short Lahore (or Gilgit) tour from Karakoram Bikers for $125 USD. Their Food on Foot tour in the Old City of Lahore is very well-loved and travellers genuinely feel they get more than their money’s worth.
Please leave a review of your experience getting your Pakistan letter of invitation in the comments below.
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