Pakistanis do not need a permit to visit Gilgit-Baltistan. Your CNIC is all the identification required at road checkposts and hotel check-in across Hunza, Skardu, Gilgit, Astore, Ghizer and every other district open to tourism. Two things sometimes get confused with a permit: the entry fee charged at Khunjerab and Deosai national parks, and a genuine trekking permit that applies only to a specific high-altitude zone beyond Askole, in the Baltoro region.
This guide sets out what a checkpost actually asks for, where fees apply instead of permits, and the one situation where Pakistani trekkers do need paperwork arranged in advance.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Permit for ordinary tourist travel | None. CNIC only |
| ID needed | CNIC for adults; a child's Form-B or passport |
| National park entry | A cash fee at the checkpoint, not a permit |
| Where a real permit applies | The restricted Baltoro zone beyond Askole, and any peak above 6,500 metres |
| Who arranges it | Usually the trekking or expedition operator |
| Checkposts | Routine ID checks on the highway, not paperwork stops |
What Pakistanis actually need to carry
For the entire standard tourist route, no application, no NOC and no advance paperwork is required. What you need in your pocket is:
- Your original CNIC, for every adult in the group.
- A child's Form-B, issued by NADRA, or a passport if they have one, since children don't hold a CNIC.
- Vehicle registration papers, plus a note from the owner if the car isn't registered to anyone travelling in it.
That covers Hunza, Karimabad, Gilgit, Skardu, Astore, Ghizer, Shigar, Khaplu and the road all the way to the Khunjerab Pass. No separate travel permit sits behind any of it.
What checkposts actually ask for
Police and army checkposts along the Karakoram Highway and at national park entrances are routine ID checks, not permit stops. Expect to show your CNIC, and be asked where you are coming from, where you are headed, and sometimes who arranged your transport or where you are staying that night. Having the name of your hotel or driver ready speeds this up. None of it involves paperwork you need to have organised in advance; it is verification, not approval.
National park fees are not permits
Khunjerab National Park and Deosai National Park both charge an entry fee at their checkpoints, paid in cash on the spot, with different rates for Gilgit-Baltistan residents, other Pakistanis and foreign nationals. This is a fee, not a permit: you don't apply for it beforehand, and there is nothing to arrange except carrying enough cash. Our guide to the national parks of Gilgit-Baltistan sets out what each park charges for and how the fee has changed in recent years.
The one real exception: the restricted Baltoro zone
A genuine trekking permit applies to a defined high-altitude zone in the Karakoram, beginning at Askole in the Shigar valley and covering the approach to the Baltoro Glacier, K2, Broad Peak, the Gasherbrums and Gondogoro Pass. Entering this zone requires a trekking permit issued through the Gilgit-Baltistan authorities, and it applies to Pakistani citizens exactly as it applies to foreign nationals; being a CNIC holder does not exempt you. A separate permit from the GB Council covers any peak above 6,500 metres anywhere in the region, restricted zone or not.
This has no bearing on the ordinary itinerary. Hunza, Skardu, Deosai, Fairy Meadows, Naltar and the rest of the region's open areas need nothing beyond a CNIC. It only matters if your trip includes a trek deep into the Baltoro zone, such as to K2 base camp, or a mountaineering expedition on a major peak.
Who arranges the trekking permit
If your trip goes into the restricted zone, the trekking or expedition operator running it normally handles the permit as part of planning, well ahead of the trip rather than at the roadhead in Skardu. If you are organising an independent trek into that zone without an operator, contact the Gilgit-Baltistan tourism authorities directly, since the application process is separate from anything to do with an NOC and can take time to clear.
Where the picture is different: foreign nationals
The rules above are for Pakistani citizens. Foreign nationals travelling with you may face different requirements: since 2019 they generally don't need an NOC for Gilgit-Baltistan either, but there are exceptions closer to sensitive borders, and their documentation (passport and visa) is checked separately at the same checkposts. Our wider guide to whether an NOC is required for the northern areas covers the foreign-national picture and the belts near the Line of Control and the Afghan border where different rules apply.
Paperwork isn't the same as the road being open
Not needing a permit doesn't guarantee a checkpost will wave you through without delay. Roads and checkposts can close at short notice for reasons that have nothing to do with permits: weather, a landslide, a security incident or a local protest. Check the current situation before you set out, particularly if your route touches the more sensitive parts of the region; our guide to whether Gilgit-Baltistan is safe for tourists covers the current picture.
Frequently asked questions
Do Pakistanis need an NOC to visit Hunza or Skardu?
No. Pakistani citizens travel to Hunza, Skardu and the rest of Gilgit-Baltistan's open tourist areas on their CNIC alone, with no NOC or advance permit required.
Is the Khunjerab Pass entry fee a permit?
No. It is a cash fee paid at the Dih checkpoint entering Khunjerab National Park, the same as Deosai's entry fee. There is nothing to apply for in advance.
Do Pakistanis need a permit to trek to K2 base camp?
Yes, for the restricted zone beyond Askole that covers the Baltoro Glacier and K2. This applies to Pakistani citizens as well as foreign nationals, and is normally arranged by the trekking operator.
What ID should children carry if they don't have a CNIC?
A copy of their Form-B from NADRA, or a passport if they have one. Either satisfies checkposts and hotels that ask for identification.
Can a checkpost still turn me back even without a permit requirement?
Yes. Weather, landslides, security incidents or local protests can close a road or checkpost regardless of paperwork. Check current conditions before travelling.
