App Store disappeared from my iPad

Perhaps your iPad is centrally managed by an Educational establishment or Business/Enterprise? If so, restrictive policies may have been applied that inhibit access to some Apps or services - such as the App Store.

If your iPad is not centrally managed, the App Store should remain accessible to you. Check for the App Store in your App Library; from your Home Screen, swipe to the left through each of your Home Screens - the last page being the App Library from which you can access all Apps installed on your iPad:

Find your apps in App Library on iPad - Apple Support

Should you still have difficulty locating the App Store on your iPad or are experiencing difficulties with adding, updating or removing Apps from your iPad, check your ScreenTime restrictions:

• Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > iTunes & App Store Purchases > Adding Apps - set to Allow
• Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > iTunes & App Store Purchases > Deleting Apps - set to Allow
• Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > iTunes & App Store Purchases > In-app Purchases - set to Allow

Otherwise, if your iPad is not operating as expected, try a forced-restart - as this will often clear an isolated software issue:

Force restart iPad (models with Face ID or with Touch ID in the top button)

If your iPad doesn’t have the Home button, do the following:

1. Press and quickly release the volume button nearest to the top button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button.
3. Press and hold the top button.
4. When the Apple logo appears, release the top button.

If the problem persists after performing the restart, it may be necessary to reset your iPad settings. While this reset will not cause any loss of data, as a precaution, it is always wise to ensure that you have a current iCloud or iTunes backup before performing the reset:

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

When you are happy to proceed, you can perform the reset from iPad settings:

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings

If the problem still doesn’t clear, the next step is to reset the iPad to factory settings:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support

Otherwise, you would be best advised to seek assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page. Alternatively and perhaps easier, you can initiate and manage your support cases using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed on your iPad, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044

You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to assist:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Have you searched the App Library to see if perhaps the icon was just removed from the Home screen? The App Store app itself can't be removed from the iPad. If you find it in the App Library, you can just drag it back to whatever Home Screen you wish.

Regards.