Australia’s Collaboration with Pakistan on Exit Permit Issues

Pakistan Exit Permits

The Government of Pakistan has issued an ‘Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan’. This tells people residing without a valid visa for Pakistan to leave voluntarily by 1 November 2023 or face deportation.

People residing in Pakistan without a valid visa for Pakistan need to either:

pay exit fees to depart to a different country, or
face deportation back to their country of origin.
Australian visa applicants and visa holders who are residing in Pakistan without a valid visa for Pakistan are subject to the new exit permission requirements. This may impact their ability to travel to Australia regardless of if they are granted an Australian visa.

Pakistan’s new exit permission requirements will not impact people residing lawfully in Pakistan, and who maintain their lawful status.

The Department is processing on-hand applications for humanitarian and family visas as quickly as possible. All visa criteria must be met before we can grant a visa. We cannot provide specific advice on how long it will take to assess each application.

Any person who believes they meet the requirements for a humanitarian visa, and wishes to seek Australia’s assistance, can apply. People should be aware that they may be subject to Pakistan’s exit permit requirements if they are residing unlawfully in the country. This could impact their ability to travel to Australia.

The Department is working closely with the Government of Pakistan to raise issues impacting the departure of refugees, including Afghan refugees with Australian visas. We are engaging with other like-minded countries, Non-Government Organisations, including United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

This matter is a high priority for the Australian Government.

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