The Kartarpur Corridor lets you cross from India to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, where Guru Nanak spent his final years, and return the same day, without a visa.
You register in advance, free, on the official Government of India site, prakashpurb550.mha.gov.in, run by the Ministry of Home Affairs. There are fake registration sites that ask for money, so use only the government site. It is a deeply moving day for Sikh pilgrims and for many overseas Indians.
Who can go
You can go if you are an Indian passport holder, and overseas Indians who hold an OCI card can also go, subject to the current rules. You cross in the morning and return the same evening, so it is a single day visit, not an overnight stay. Children and elders can go too, with their own registration.
How the corridor works, in plain words
The corridor is a special road from Dera Baba Nanak, near Gurdaspur in Punjab, straight to the gurdwara across the border, a few kilometres away. You do not need a Pakistan visa for this one journey. You register online first, reach the Indian terminal in the morning, complete the checks, cross to Darbar Sahib, spend time there, and come back the same day.
How to sign up, step by step
Sign up on the official Government of India site, prakashpurb550.mha.gov.in, before your travel date. Give your details and upload what the site asks for, such as your passport or identity. You get a confirmation for your chosen date, sometimes called a travel pass. Carry a print of it and your passport on the day. The registration is free on the government site. [The exact documents and any fee charged on the Pakistan side are shown on the official site. Last checked 14 September 2026.]
On the day
Reach the Kartarpur passenger terminal at Dera Baba Nanak in the morning with your confirmation and your passport. Clear the Indian checks, then cross to the gurdwara. There may be a small service charge on the Pakistan side, which the official site explains. Spend your time at Darbar Sahib in prayer and seva. Then return through the terminal the same evening. Follow the timings and the rules, because it is a border crossing.
For overseas Indians
If you hold an OCI card, you can register too, subject to the current rules, so this is a rare chance to visit a holy site in Pakistan without a full visa. Carry your foreign passport and your OCI card. Check the latest position on the official site before you plan, because the rules for OCI and foreign nationals can change. [Confirm the current OCI and foreigner rule on the official site. Last checked 14 September 2026.]
Watch out for fake sites
Fake Kartarpur sign up websites have appeared, and they ask pilgrims for money. The official sign up is free and only on the Government of India site, prakashpurb550.mha.gov.in. Do not pay any other website to register you, and do not share your details on a site that is not the government one.
Common mistakes to avoid
- The biggest mistake is signing up on a fake site and paying for something that is free on the government site. The next is reaching the terminal late, because it is a border crossing with fixed timings. Do not travel without a print of your confirmation and your passport. Do not plan an overnight, because it is a same day visit.
Questions people ask
Do I need a visa for Kartarpur?
No. The corridor lets Indian passport holders cross to Darbar Sahib and return the same day without a visa, after registering.
Where do I register?
Only on the official Government of India site, prakashpurb550.mha.gov.in. It is free.
Can overseas Indians (OCI) go?
Yes, subject to the current rules. Confirm on the official site.
Is there any charge?
Registration is free on the government site. There may be a service charge collected on the Pakistan side, which the official site explains.
Is it a day trip?
Yes. You cross in the morning and return the same evening.