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South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands visit visa for Pakistan passport holders
VisitVisaInfo Editorial Team
Our South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands guide is built from official government and embassy sources.
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South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands · Grytviken and King Edward Cove · Liam Quinn · CC BY-SA 2.0
Summary
Not confirmed on the official source. The current South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands rule for Pakistan passport holders could not be confirmed on an official page. Check the official portal linked below before you book travel or pay any fee.
- Visa type
- Visitor entry permit under the Entry Control Ordinance 2022 (all nationalities); visa for the departure port where required
- Stay limit
- 40 days, extendable once by 30 days
- Entries
- Valid for the permit period
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands have no nationality-based visa list: every visitor, Pakistanis included, needs an entry permit under the Entry Control Ordinance 2022, applied for online and paid at least 8 days before arrival. The islands can only be reached by ship, so travellers also need the right visa for the port where the voyage starts.
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands form a remote British Overseas Territory in the Southern Ocean, roughly three days' sail east of the Falklands. Glaciated peaks, huge king penguin colonies, elephant seals and the abandoned whaling stations at Grytviken draw around 15,000 visitors a year, nearly all on expedition ships.
The territory has no visa system based on nationality. Instead, the Entry Control Ordinance 2022 requires every visitor and worker, unless specifically exempted, to hold an entry permit. Pakistani passport holders follow exactly the same process as any other traveller.
Permits are issued through an online portal, and cruise operators often apply in bulk for their passengers. The visitor fee is £250 per person from 1 July 2026, with published increases to £275 and £300 in the next two seasons. Payment must reach the government at least 8 days before arrival, or a £50 late fee applies.
A visitor permit lasts 40 days and can be extended by 30 days where justified. Applicants give their passport details, nationality, contact email, the vessel name and dates, and confirm health insurance covering evacuation and repatriation. The passport needs four weeks of validity beyond the permit.
The bigger visa question for Pakistanis is the starting port. Ships depart from the Falkland Islands or South America, and the Falklands list Pakistan among nationalities needing a visa, so sort out the departure-country visa first. There are no medical facilities or rescue services ashore, so choose an operator with full onboard support.
Checklist
Document requirements
- Online visitor permit application at eta.entry.gov.gs (Chrome or Edge), made by you or by your cruise operator or agent
- Pakistani passport valid for the whole permit period plus 4 weeks
- Name, date of birth and nationality exactly as in the passport
- Email address (and preferably a phone number) for the permit or refusal notice
- Confirmation of health insurance covering emergency evacuation and repatriation of remains
- Vessel name and intended dates of arrival and departure
- Visitor permit fee of £250, paid at least 8 days before arrival
- Regulated Activity Permit if you plan camping, drones, submersibles or non-tourism work
No rule singles out Pakistan; the same entry permit applies to all nationalities. Ships usually sail from the Falkland Islands or South America, and the Falkland Islands Government lists Pakistan among nationalities that need a visa to visit, so a Falklands visa is needed if your voyage starts or calls in Stanley.
Money and time
Fees and timeline
Fees
Only where a visa or permit is required.
Official fee
£250
Visitor permit fee of £250 per person from 1 July 2026, rising to £275 from 1 July 2027 and £300 from 1 July 2028. A £50 late fee applies to applications submitted or still unpaid 8 days or less before arrival. Permits are non-refundable.
Fee source
Timeline
Processing and appointments
Apply and pay at least 8 days before the first intended arrival date. Applications made 14 days or less before arrival are accepted only where earlier application was not reasonably practicable, and none is approved 3 days or less before arrival.
Official links
How to apply
You will leave VisitVisaInfo for an official government or designated VAC website.
Check another passport
Not travelling to South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands on a Pakistani passport? Pick other countries and the flight animation takes you to that guide.
Official statistics
Visa ratio
Not officially published
The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands does not publish permit refusal figures by nationality.
A percentage is shown only when an official source published one for this route. Blog tables and estimates are left out.
Quick answers
FAQ
Do Pakistanis need a visa for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands?
There is no visa, but you need an entry permit. Since 2025 everyone entering for a visit or for work, unless exempted, must hold one, whatever their nationality.
How do I apply for the permit?
Online at eta.entry.gov.gs, using Chrome or Edge. You can apply yourself, or your cruise operator, travel agent or a family member can apply for you, singly or in a group.
How much is the visitor permit?
£250 per person from 1 July 2026, £275 from 1 July 2027 and £300 from 1 July 2028. There are no refunds for unused permits.
When is the deadline?
Apply and pay at least 8 days before you first arrive. Later applications carry a £50 late fee, and nothing is approved 3 days or less before arrival.
How long is the permit valid?
A visitor permit is valid for 40 days from its start date and can be extended once by 30 days where justified. The government suggests using your departure date as the start date in case the itinerary shifts.
What passport validity is required?
Your passport must be valid for the full permit period plus another four weeks.
What insurance do I need?
Cover for emergency evacuation to the nearest country with adequate treatment, including transport and care in transit, and for repatriation of remains. Do not apply without it.
How do people get there?
Only by sea. There is no airport and no visitor accommodation ashore, so almost everyone comes on an expedition cruise ship or a yacht, mostly with IAATO member operators.
Do I need any other visa?
Yes, for wherever the ship leaves from. Voyages usually start in the Falkland Islands or South America; the Falklands list Pakistan as needing a visa, so check the rules for your departure port well ahead.
Can I change my permit dates later?
No. An issued permit cannot be amended. If your dates change so that the permit no longer fits, you need a new application and a new fee.
Are there medical facilities on the islands?
No medical facilities exist for visitors and there is no search and rescue service. Vessels must be fully self-sufficient, including medical cover.
Can I fly a drone or camp ashore?
Not on a standard visitor permit. Drones, submersibles, overnight camping and non-tourism projects need a Regulated Activity Permit, and some activities, such as using aircraft, are not allowed at all.
Checked against
Official sources
- GSGSSI: Entry Control Order, permit applicationSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands source: gov.gs/entry-control-order-permit-application/
- GSGSSI: visitor permit fee update, 3 June 2026South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands source: gov.gs/visitor-permit-fee-update/
- GSGSSI: how to visitSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands source: gov.gs/how-to-visit/
- GSGSSI: visitor policy and risk awarenessSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands source: gov.gs/visitor-policy-risk-awareness/
- GSGSSI: frequently asked questionsSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands source: gov.gs/frequently-asked-questions/
- South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands entry permit portalSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands source: eta.entry.gov.gs
- Falkland Islands Customs & Immigration: visitor permit and visa-required nationalitiesSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands source: www.gov.fk/customs/visitor-permit/
Last checked for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands visas on 30 October 2026. Rules change without notice, so confirm on the official pages before you apply or travel.
Compare South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands with other countries: Visa-free, visa on arrival and eVisa countries for Pakistanis · Visa fees for Pakistani passports, country by country
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