INDIAN VISA AND TRAVEL GUIDE for PAKISTANIS

This Blog is about my travel to INDIA during APRIL-2025, by Wahga Border – Lahore

1. INDIAN VISA FOR PAKISTANIS

Getting an Indian tourist visa for Pakistanis can be challenging and has specific requirements. Pakistan nationals are not eligible for tourist visas, but they can apply for a visit visa, which allows them to visit family, friends, or for other legitimate purposes

To apply for a visit visa, you’ll need to provide documentation, such as:

– Sponsorship Certificate: An original sponsorship certificate duly attested by a gazetted officer in India, along with a self-attested official ID copy of the concerned officer
– Identity Proof: A copy of your CNIC card, or driving license.
– Address Proof: A copy of your electricity bill, gas bill, or landline telephone bill.
– Invitation Letter: A notarized invitation letter from your sponsor in India, mentioning your relationship, passport details, and purpose of visit.

The application process can take anywhere from 15 to 90 days, depending on the requirement of prior clearance from the Indian government .

Pakistan nationals can visit a maximum of five places in India

2. HOW TO APPLY PILGRIM VISA FOR INDIA

For those who has no relations in India and are unable to get any Invitation, can visit India for Religious Purpose.

Ministry of Religious Affairs arrange 6~ 7 Group tours annually on the occasions of URS of Sufi Saints in India

I have been applying for this Visa from last 3 years and finally got my name in Lucky draw this year in 2025

1. CHECK SCHEDULE OF RELIGIOUS GROUP TOURS

Check visa schedule at Ministry Of Religious Affairs (MORA) Website

As per schedule, I applied my application for Hazrat Amir Khusro Urs in October 2024

2. SUBMIT THE APPLICATION TO RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS

Download the Visa Application Form below link, fill it with hand, Submit the fees in National Bank and Send all the documents to the address mentioned on the form: https://mora.gov.pk/SiteImage/Misc/files/20230210_Ziarat_Form.pdf

3. WAIT FOR LUCKY DRAW

After around 50~60 days, lucky draw is done and 100~200 people are selected. All those who are selected receive a congratulation letter and further details are mentioned on that letter.

After 3 years, this was the first time I go selected in Lucky draw and received the below letter at my address. Previously I used to receive a message on my mobile that “Your name was not included in Lucky Draw result”

3. SUBMISSION OF PASSPORT and TRAVEL FEES

1. FILL THE INDIA VISA FORM ONLINE at https://india.org.pk

2. MAKE BANK DRAFT of 58,000 Rs for Ministry of Religious Affairs

3. SENDING DOCUMENTS TO MINISTRY

Send all your documents through TCS along with your original Passport. They will keep your passport for around 3 ~ 4 months

4.SECURITY CLEARANCE

Security agencies will call you and will visit your home or might ask you to visit your nearby Police station for an interview. Once they clear you, then your passport will be submitted in Indian Embassy for visa processing

5. LATE PASSPORT SUBMISSION (my personal case)

Since I planned Philippines and Malaysia tour in February so I took special permission to submit my passport 1 month late. Everyone had to submit passport by 15th Jan 2025, but due to my trip, i submitted my passport on 17th Feb 2025 after returning from Philippines

6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PASSPORT SUBMISSION

Once your passport is submitted in Indian embassy, you receive a letter from Ministry again which includes the below instruction. Keep in mind that it is not 100% sure that your visa will be approved. It all depends on Indian authorities whether they would grant you visa or not

4. APPROVAL OF VISA

I got my visa approval call on 11th April 2025 and was told that next day 12th April group will depart at 06:00 hrs from Haji Camp, Lahore (near Orange Metro -Railway station terminal)

It was seen on news that almost 188 Pakistanis got the religious visa this time which was almost double the number as compared to past. Last time only 75 people were issued visa

Our passports were handed over to us at Haji Camp mosque on 12th April 2025 morning

USING INTERNET/ MOBILE/ WHATSAPP IN INDIA

As a Pakistani, you can not buy mobile SIM and can not use any local india number. But thanks to technology and e-Sims. I purchased AIRALO e-Sim that  gives you only Internet Data package hence Whatsapp and other social apps work smoothly.

I got my indian internet signals at Wahga Border where even Pakistani netwroks does not work

You can use discount code “BILAL2813” to get 3 USD discount on your first purchase.

Further details of E-Sim and Packages are explained in below video

5. DEPARTURE FROM LAHORE TO WAHGA BORDER

6. WAHGA BORDER TO AMRITSAR

7. AMRITSAR TO DELHI BY TRAIN

8. 1ST DAY WASTED IN DELHI

9. NIZAMUDDIN AULIA/ AMEER KHUSRO/ MIRZA GHALIB/ TABLEEGHI MARKAZ

10. TOMB OF HAMAYUN – 2ND MUGHAL EMPEROR

11. OLD DELHI JAMA MOSQUE AND STREET FOOD

12. RED FORT and CHANDNI CHOWK FOOD

13. DELHI METRO and QUTUB MINAR

14. LOTUS TEMPLE and PAHARGANJ NIGHT FOOD STREET

15. RETURNING FROM DELHI TO PAKISTAN VIA WAHGA BORDER

EXPENSES OF MY INDIA TRIP

1. Initial Deposit to Ministry of Religious affair = 58000 PKR (Includes Visa Fee, Trains, Buses, Hotel expense)
2. Food = 8761 PKR
3. Auto = 1662 PKR
4. Entry tickets = 245 PKR
5. E-Sim + Misc = 5739 PKR

TOTAL EXPENSE = 74,407 PKR (excluding personal shopping)