Overseas Pakistanis do not need any special permit to visit Gilgit-Baltistan beyond what any Pakistani citizen needs: proof of identity and a domestic flight or road connection north from Islamabad. A NICOP (National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis) or a valid CNIC works as identification throughout the trip, at airports, checkpoints and hotel check-in, the same as it would anywhere else in Pakistan.
This guide covers the identity documents to carry, flight connections from abroad, and how to plan a trip if you are arriving in Pakistan specifically for it.
Which documents you need
Pakistan's Airport Security Force requires photo identification, a CNIC or passport, on domestic flights within Pakistan, which includes the Islamabad–Gilgit and Islamabad–Skardu routes. If you hold dual nationality and travel on your foreign passport, carrying your NICOP or CNIC alongside it covers you for domestic flights and any identity check along the way.
Since 2026 the entry rules for overseas Pakistanis travelling on a foreign passport have tightened: a valid NICOP is now required for visa-free entry into Pakistan itself, and travellers whose NICOP has expired need a Pakistani visa before boarding their flight into the country. This applies to entering Pakistan, not to travel within Gilgit-Baltistan once you are here, but it is worth checking your NICOP's validity well before you book, since airlines have been directed to deny boarding without a valid document.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| ID needed in GB | NICOP or CNIC, alongside your foreign passport if you carry dual nationality |
| Entry to Pakistan | Valid NICOP required for visa-free entry; expired NICOP needs a visa |
| NOC for GB | Not required for Pakistani citizens, including overseas Pakistanis |
| Main gateway | Fly into Islamabad, then connect domestically to Gilgit or Skardu |
| Domestic flight time | About 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes from Islamabad |
Flight connections from abroad
Islamabad International Airport is the practical gateway for a Gilgit-Baltistan trip from overseas, with PIA and other airlines running international routes from the Gulf, UK, Europe and North America into Islamabad. From there, PIA operates domestic flights on to Gilgit and Skardu, each taking roughly an hour to an hour and a quarter in the air.
Domestic flights to both airports are weather-dependent, since Gilgit and Skardu need clear visibility of the surrounding mountains to land, and cancellations happen even in good months. If your international connection has landed after a long flight, build in at least a night in Islamabad before the domestic leg rather than booking a tight same-day connection; a missed or delayed domestic flight is a common cause of lost days on trips planned from abroad. Our guide to flight cancellations to Gilgit and Skardu covers how often this happens and what to do if it does.
The road alternative, Islamabad to Gilgit or Skardu by car or NATCO bus, takes twelve hours or more each way, and is worth keeping as a backup plan if flights are cancelled during your trip, or as the outbound or return leg if you'd rather see the Karakoram Highway on the ground.
Planning around jet lag and altitude together
Arriving from a long-haul flight and heading almost immediately into the mountains stacks two kinds of fatigue on top of each other. A day or two in Islamabad to recover before flying or driving north makes a real difference, particularly if your itinerary includes Khunjerab Pass, Deosai or any of the higher trekking routes, where altitude is easier to manage when you aren't already exhausted from travel. Our altitude sickness guide has more on this.
Booking and money
Pack for a longer, more independent trip than you might in Pakistan's cities: cash is still the main way to pay outside the larger hotels in Hunza and Skardu, and ATMs are limited once you leave the main towns. Our ATM guide for Gilgit-Baltistan covers where to rely on cards and where you need cash in hand. If you are booking hotels or a driver from abroad, verify any property or operator directly by phone rather than through a social media page alone; our guide to avoiding hotel booking scams covers the warning signs.
Travelling with a foreign spouse or family member
If anyone in your group holds a foreign passport rather than Pakistani nationality or a NICOP, different documentation applies to them, including Pakistan's tourist visa and, for a small number of restricted areas, an NOC. Our guide to NOC rules for foreigners travelling with a Pakistani group covers what changes when your travelling party is mixed nationality.
Is a package tour or independent travel better from abroad?
If you are visiting from overseas on a fixed number of days off work, a planned tour removes a lot of the risk that eats into a short trip: booked hotels, a set itinerary and a driver who knows the current road and weather situation. Our Gilgit, Hunza and Khunjerab tour and Skardu and Deosai tour are both built around this kind of visit. Independent travel works well if you have more flexible time and family or friends in Pakistan who can help with local arrangements.
Frequently asked questions
Do overseas Pakistanis need an NOC to visit Gilgit-Baltistan?
No. Pakistani citizens, including overseas Pakistanis, do not need an NOC for the open areas of Gilgit-Baltistan, which cover the vast majority of tourist destinations. A CNIC or NICOP is sufficient identification.
Is a NICOP accepted at hotels and checkpoints in Gilgit-Baltistan?
Yes, a NICOP functions the same as a CNIC for identification purposes within Pakistan, including hotel check-in and any checkpoint along the way.
How do I get from Islamabad Airport to Gilgit-Baltistan?
By a domestic PIA flight to Gilgit or Skardu, roughly an hour to an hour and a quarter in the air, or by road via the Karakoram Highway, which takes around twelve hours or more depending on the destination.
Should I book flights straight through from abroad to Gilgit or Skardu?
Avoid a tight same-day connection. Domestic flights to Gilgit-Baltistan are weather-dependent and cancel more often than international routes, so build in a buffer day in Islamabad if your schedule allows it.
What if my NICOP has expired?
You will need a valid Pakistani visa to enter the country under current 2026 rules, since an expired NICOP no longer qualifies for visa-free entry. Check its validity and renew it well ahead of booking flights.
