Applying for a UK visa from Pakistan follows the same basic path for every route: choose the right visa, complete the online form on GOV.UK, pay the fee (and the health surcharge if you are staying more than 6 months), book and attend a biometrics appointment at a VFS Global centre, then wait for a decision. Since 1 July 2026, successful applicants get an eVisa rather than a sticker in their passport.
The process at a glance
| Step | What you do | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Choose your visa | Match your purpose to the right route on GOV.UK | Before anything else |
| 2. Prepare route-specific items | CAS, certificate of sponsorship, English test, TB test | Weeks to months ahead |
| 3. Apply online | Complete the GOV.UK form honestly and fully | Up to 3 months before travel for visits; 6 months before your course for students |
| 4. Pay | Visa fee, plus the IHS if staying more than 6 months | When you submit the form |
| 5. Book and upload | Book with VFS Global and upload your documents | After paying |
| 6. Biometrics | Give fingerprints and a photo at the centre | On your appointment date |
| 7. Decision | Wait for the decision email | 3 weeks for visit, study and work; 12 weeks for family |
| 8. eVisa | Set up your UKVI account and check your eVisa | Before you travel |
Step 1: Choose the right visa
Your purpose decides the route: a Standard Visitor visa for tourism, family visits and business meetings; a Marriage Visitor visa to marry in the UK and return; a Student visa for a course longer than 6 months; a Skilled Worker visa for a sponsored job; a family visa to live with a British or settled partner. Pakistani nationals always need a visa in advance. The new ETA scheme is only for visa-free nationalities.
Step 2: Prepare what your route needs
- Students: a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your university, and proof of funds.
- Skilled workers: a certificate of sponsorship from your UK employer.
- Many longer-stay routes: an approved English test. See our sister site’s guide to UK visa English requirements.
- Anyone coming for 6 months or more: a TB test, covered below.
Step 3: The TB test
You need a TB test if you are coming to the UK for 6 months or more and have lived in Pakistan for at least 6 months, and were living there within the last 6 months. Fiancé(e) applicants need one even for a shorter stay. The test must be done at a Home Office-approved clinic, and the certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of your chest x-ray.
GOV.UK’s list for Pakistan (updated February 2026) includes:
- IOM Migration Health Assessment Centres in Islamabad (two clinics), Lahore, Karachi and Mirpur (AJK);
- AMC clinics in Islamabad and Lahore.
Check the GOV.UK list for current addresses before you book, and time your test so the certificate is still valid when you apply.
Step 4: Complete the online form and pay
You apply online through the “apply” link on the GOV.UK page for your visa. Answer every question honestly, including previous refusals and travel history, and make sure every date and figure matches your documents.
You then pay the visa fee and, if your visa will last more than 6 months, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). At the time of writing the IHS is £1,035 a year for most applicants and £776 a year for students and under-18s. Visitors staying 6 months or less do not pay it. For current visa fees, see our sister site’s UK visa price in Pakistan guide.
Step 5: Book your appointment and upload documents
GOV.UK’s visa application centre finder directs applicants in Pakistan to VFS Global, which runs the UK visa application centres there, with centres in the main cities; check the current list of centres and services when you book. You book your appointment through VFS, usually upload your supporting documents at the same stage, and can choose priority or super priority where it is offered.
You cannot skip the appointment by using the UK Immigration: ID Check app. It is only open to certain passports, such as those from EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, and it is not available to Pakistani passport holders.
For help choosing documents, see the UK visa supporting documents guide.
Step 6: Attend your biometrics appointment
Bring your passport and appointment confirmation. The centre takes your fingerprints and photograph, and checks your identity. Arrive on time, follow the centre’s rules on phones and bags, and do not bring people who are not applying unless you have to.
Step 7: Wait for the decision
The clock starts at your appointment. The Home Office’s standards are 3 weeks for visit, study and work visas, and 12 weeks for family visas. Priority usually gives a decision within 5 working days (up to 30 working days for family visas), and super priority usually by the end of the next working day. Our sister site explains what happens after biometrics.
Step 8: Your decision and eVisa
UKVI stopped issuing visa stickers to new successful applicants on 1 July 2026. Instead, you get an eVisa, a digital record of your permission linked to your passport. You will be told how to create a free UKVI account. Use it to check that your details and dates are correct, and travel on the passport you linked. If you renew your passport later, update it in your UKVI account before you travel, or you could have problems at check-in.
Common mistakes we see from Pakistan applications
- Wrong visa for the purpose. Coming to marry on a Standard Visitor visa, or studying a long course on a visit visa.
- TB certificate expired or from a non-approved clinic. Only clinics on the GOV.UK list count.
- Form and documents that do not match. Salary, dates of employment and addresses must be consistent.
- Undeclared refusals. Always declare previous refusals, including from other countries.
- Using unofficial appointment sellers. Book directly through the official VFS Global service.
- Not checking the eVisa. Mistakes in your name or passport number should be fixed before you fly.
FAQ
Do I have to attend the visa centre in person?
Yes. Pakistani passport holders give their biometrics at a VFS Global centre, because the ID Check app is not available to them.
Will I get a visa sticker in my passport?
No. Since 1 July 2026, successful applicants receive an eVisa instead of a vignette sticker.
Do visitors need a TB test?
Not for a normal visit of less than 6 months. The test is for people coming for 6 months or more, and for fiancé(e) applicants.
When should I apply?
Visitors can apply up to 3 months before travel, students up to 6 months before the course starts, and Skilled Workers up to 3 months before their start date.
Applying from Pakistan? Send us a few lines about your case and we will tell you which route fits and what to prepare.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Rules and fees change; check GOV.UK before you apply.