UAE Not Issuing Visas To Pakistanis Current Situation Explained December 2025

Publish Date: 02, Dec 2025

Published BY: Admin

Pakistanis planning to travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are facing uncertainty over visa issuance. According to recent statements from Pakistan’s Interior Ministry, the UAE has stopped issuing visas for most Pakistani passport holders, except for those holding blue (official) and diplomatic passports.

While UAE officials deny any formal ban, practical restrictions have made obtaining regular tourist, work, or business visas extremely difficult. This blog explains the current situation, the reasons behind it, and what it means for Pakistani travelers and businesses.

What the Interior Ministry Told the Senate

During a meeting of the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights, Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry revealed:

UAE has halted visa issuance for ordinary Pakistani passport holders.
Diplomatic and official passport holders continue to receive visas without difficulty.
Although the UAE has not imposed an official “ban” on Pakistani passports, Chaudhry warned that a formal ban would be difficult to reverse.

Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri confirmed that the restriction is linked to UAE concerns about some Pakistanis engaging in criminal activities after traveling on visit visas.

UAE Embassy Denies Any Ban

Contradicting these reports, UAE officials have stated that there is no formal ban on visas for Pakistani citizens.

A senior UAE diplomat clarified that:

Visa services continue for Pakistanis.
The perceived “halt” is due to heightened vetting, stricter documentation requirements, and high application volumes.
Appointments and processing times have become longer, creating a backlog.

This has resulted in a de facto restriction — where visas are still available in principle but are very difficult to obtain for ordinary applicants.

Recent Visa Facilitation Efforts

Despite current difficulties, the UAE has introduced new reforms to simplify visa processing for Pakistanis:

Online visa applications and e-visas without passport stamping
System-to-system linkages for faster processing
The newly established UAE Visa Centre in Pakistan reportedly processes nearly 500 visas daily
Emphasis on boosting trade, investment, and cultural ties between Pakistan and the UAE

These reforms aim to make the process more efficient, though regular passport holders still face delays due to stricter background checks.

History of Visa Challenges

Visa restrictions for Pakistanis are not entirely new:

April 2025: UAE announced resolution of prior issues and introduced a five-year multiple-entry visa for Pakistanis.
July 2025: Increased visa rejections prompted Pakistan’s Interior Minister to engage UAE authorities for relaxation in policies.
January 2025: Some visa categories were “unofficially closed” due to concerns about misuse and overstaying.

The current situation appears to be a continuation of UAE’s heightened security and immigration screening measures.

Why the Restrictions Exist

The UAE has cited several reasons for stricter visa issuance to Pakistanis:

Incidents of illegal immigration and overstaying
Cases where visa holders engaged in criminal activity
Concerns over misuse of visit visas for work or other unauthorized purposes
General security and immigration vetting measures

Officials emphasize that these steps are preventive and procedural, not a reflection of Pakistan-UAE relations.

Impact on Pakistanis

The visa restrictions affect Pakistani citizens in several ways:

Employment: Job seekers face delays in travel to UAE-based workplaces.
Family visits: Families cannot easily travel for personal events.
Business travel: Trade and B2B meetings in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and other cities face hurdles.
Tourism: Leisure travel has become challenging due to processing delays.

Only holders of official or diplomatic passports enjoy smooth visa access.

Key Notes

As of December 2025, Pakistani travelers face significant challenges in obtaining UAE visas, though no formal ban has been issued. The situation reflects stricter vetting and procedural delays, rather than a complete closure of visa services.

Travelers and businesses are advised to:

Monitor updates from the UAE Embassy and Pakistani Ministry of Interior
Prepare all documents thoroughly for visa applications
Consider alternative travel plans if urgent travel is required

The UAE-Pakistan relationship remains strong and cooperative, and recent visa facilitation reforms indicate a willingness to restore smoother travel over time.