Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs confirmed on 11 April 2026 that 2,800 visas have been granted to Indian Sikh devotees attending Baisakhi celebrations from 10–19 April. According to Dawn newspaper, the first batch of 2,238 pilgrims crossed the Attari–Wagah border on Friday and proceeded under police escort to Nankana Sahib and Hasanabdal.
![Pakistan Issues 2,800 Visas to Indian Sikh Pilgrims for Baisakhi Despite Kartarpur Closure]()
For pilgrimage organizers and individual devotees who find the paperwork daunting, VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) streamlines the entire visa process by offering up-to-date requirement checks, digital form preparation, and courier options for passport submission. Its dedicated customer support team can also advise on police verification letters, insurance clauses, and other nuances specific to faith-based travel, reducing the risk of last-minute complications.
The visas were issued under the 1974 India–Pakistan Protocol on Religious Pilgrimages, which mandates facilitation of Sikh, Hindu and Muslim visits. This year’s approvals come amid frosty bilateral relations and the continued closure—by India—of the visa-free Kartarpur Corridor. Pakistani officials used the hand-over ceremony to urge New Delhi to reopen the corridor to ease congestion at Wagah. For mobility managers, the development underscores that group visas remain possible even when normal tourist channels are shut. Travel-security consultants, however, flag logistical challenges: pilgrims must carry hard-copy invitation letters, follow prescribed bus routes and clear airport-style baggage scans at each gurdwara. Mobile-phone SIM registrations and currency-exchange caps also apply. Should India keep the corridor closed, both governments may need to negotiate additional visa quotas before peak pilgrimage season around Guru Nanank Jayanti in November. Companies sponsoring faith-based CSR visits are advised to file group manifests at least eight weeks in advance and arrange insurance that covers travel to Punjab province.
For pilgrimage organizers and individual devotees who find the paperwork daunting, VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) streamlines the entire visa process by offering up-to-date requirement checks, digital form preparation, and courier options for passport submission. Its dedicated customer support team can also advise on police verification letters, insurance clauses, and other nuances specific to faith-based travel, reducing the risk of last-minute complications.
The visas were issued under the 1974 India–Pakistan Protocol on Religious Pilgrimages, which mandates facilitation of Sikh, Hindu and Muslim visits. This year’s approvals come amid frosty bilateral relations and the continued closure—by India—of the visa-free Kartarpur Corridor. Pakistani officials used the hand-over ceremony to urge New Delhi to reopen the corridor to ease congestion at Wagah. For mobility managers, the development underscores that group visas remain possible even when normal tourist channels are shut. Travel-security consultants, however, flag logistical challenges: pilgrims must carry hard-copy invitation letters, follow prescribed bus routes and clear airport-style baggage scans at each gurdwara. Mobile-phone SIM registrations and currency-exchange caps also apply. Should India keep the corridor closed, both governments may need to negotiate additional visa quotas before peak pilgrimage season around Guru Nanank Jayanti in November. Companies sponsoring faith-based CSR visits are advised to file group manifests at least eight weeks in advance and arrange insurance that covers travel to Punjab province.
