TEHRAN: Iran has reportedly issued a new special 10-day free visa facility for Pakistan nationals who would like to travel to attend the funeral and mourning ceremonies of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to the official news agency.
Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) quoted Iran’s consulate in Peshawar as saying Saturday. Under the special arrangement, visa-free access will not be granted, but Iran is said to waive the fee that is normally associated with obtaining a visa to the country, the APP quoted its sources as saying. Pakistani travelers who wish to attend would need to formally apply and obtain an approved visa for traveling.
It has been reported that Iran is utilizing its e-visa system, where the applicant is required to choose the appropriate entry visa category and also mention their purpose as attending the mourning and funeral ceremonies.
Thousands of mourners and official delegations from various countries, including Pakistan, are expected to arrive in Iran to attend the religious leader’s funeral events.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed earlier this month that Pakistan would send a delegation to attend the funeral services.
Documentation
Pakistani nationals need to upload documents like a copy of a valid CNIC, Employment Card, Business Card, or Student ID card (as applicable), a latest passport-size picture with a white background, a copy of the passport information page, and a passport that is valid for at least six months.
In addition to the mentioned documents, applicants have to specifically state their purpose of travel accurately in the online eVisa application form to avoid rejection of the request and any delays.
In normal cases, Pakistani nationals need to have a passport that has at least six months of validity, besides upload of some supporting documents that show the nature of work/business/education, or social standing.
Fee Waived but No Prior Approval
A top official from Iran’s consulate told TheNews.pk on Saturday that the facility does not guarantee free travel. “While we have done a special relaxation on the visa fee for all the Pakistani citizens who want to attend the funeral and mourning ceremonies, one has to follow the regular application process to get the visa.
The approval part still has to be processed by relevant authorities, so the Pakistani nationals should not buy non-refundable flight tickets beforehand; they should wait until they get an approved visa”.
Some reports suggested medical and travel insurance costs might still be applied separately, so one might still incur costs apart from the waived fee, and that the policy concerning the travelers through the Pakistan-Iran border, including Taftan crossing, remains unclear.
It has been advised to verify the information on traveling from the Iranian consular offices before initiating the visa process. Experts recommended visiting the official websites and using official sources only for any information related to the visa.
