Chapter 01
UK visit visa at a glance (2026)
| Visa | Official fee | Processing | Stay | Apply via |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Visitor, 6 months | GBP 135 (≈ PKR 49,400) | Usually 3 weeks | Up to 6 months | GOV.UK + VFS Global |
| Long-term visitor, 2 years | GBP 506 (≈ PKR 185,000) | Usually 3 weeks | Up to 6 months per visit | GOV.UK + VFS Global |
| Long-term visitor, 5 years | GBP 903 (≈ PKR 331,000) | Usually 3 weeks | Up to 6 months per visit | GOV.UK + VFS Global |
| Long-term visitor, 10 years | GBP 1,128 (≈ PKR 413,000) | Usually 3 weeks | Up to 6 months per visit | GOV.UK + VFS Global |
Official fees from the Home Office fees table effective 8 April 2026, checked 13 October 2026. Our service fee is separate and shown under "How Visit Visa Specialists helps".
Chapter 02
Can Pakistanis get a UK visit visa in 2026?
Yes. Pakistani passport holders need a visa to visit the UK, and the route is the Standard Visitor visa, applied for online on GOV.UK. There is no ban on Pakistani visitors as of 13 October 2026. The same visa covers tourism, visiting family or friends, attending a wedding, and permitted business meetings. There is no separate "family visit visa" or "tourist visa"; those are search terms for the Standard Visitor visa.
The honest picture: the UK refuses many Pakistani visitors. A ProPakistani report (12 July 2026, citing a Gallup Pakistan analysis) put the 2025 refusal rate for Pakistani short-term UK visa applicants at about 44%, around 72,000 refusals. That figure is news reporting, not an official Home Office table. Either way, a weak or inconsistent file is likely to fail. A strong file is truthful, consistent and shows a settled life in Pakistan.
Working on a visit visa is illegal in the UK and in Pakistan can lead to prosecution under the Emigration Ordinance. We only assist genuine visitors.
Chapter 03
How much is the UK visit visa fee for Pakistanis?
The UK Standard Visitor visa costs GBP 135 for up to 6 months, from 8 April 2026 (it was GBP 127 before). Long-term visit visas cost GBP 506 (2 years), GBP 903 (5 years) and GBP 1,128 (10 years), and each visit can still last up to 6 months. Optional faster decisions cost extra: priority is GBP 500 and super priority GBP 1,000 on top of the visa fee, where offered.
The visa fee is paid online in pounds when you submit the GOV.UK form, and it is not refunded if you are refused. If you ask for a long-term visa, the Home Office can give you a shorter one without refunding the difference. Full breakdown, including VFS optional services and family totals: UK visit visa fee from Pakistan.
Chapter 04
What documents do Pakistanis need for a UK visit visa?
The only mandatory document for a standard tourist or family visit is a valid passport; everything else is evidence you choose to prove you are a genuine visitor. The UKVI supporting documents guide (updated 8 October 2026) suggests evidence of your finances, your employment or business, and the purpose of your trip. Documents not in English need a full certified translation.
Core documents for every Pakistani applicant:
- Current passport, plus old passports showing travel history.
- CNIC and, for families, the NADRA Family Registration Certificate (FRC) to prove relationships.
- Bank statements showing where your money came from. The Home Office sets no fixed period (it only says statements older than 1 year are not useful); 6 months of history is a sensible minimum for a Pakistani file.
- Evidence of income: salary slips, FBR income tax returns, business records.
- An invitation letter if you are visiting someone, with their UK status evidence.
The full checklist by applicant type, with the documents not to send, is on our UK visit visa requirements page. Short versions follow.
If you are employed
Employer letter on company letterhead stating your role, salary, start date and approved leave dates; the last 6 months' salary slips; a salary account statement showing the same salary credits; FBR tax return or withholding certificate. Government employees also need a departmental NOC, which FIA asks to see in original at departure.
If you run a business
Business registration (FBR NTN certificate, SECP incorporation or partnership deed, or Chamber of Commerce membership); business bank statement and personal statement; last two years' FBR income tax returns; recent invoices or contracts. The Home Office suggests registration documents or recent invoices for self-employed people.
If you are a student
Letter from your school, college or university on headed paper confirming enrolment and approved leave; sponsor's (usually a parent's) finances and a letter of support; FRC to show the relationship.
If you are a housewife or dependent
Your spouse's employment or business evidence and bank statements; nikah nama (marriage certificate, with certified English translation) and FRC; a short letter from your spouse confirming they are funding the trip. If you have your own savings or property income, include it.
If you are retired
Pension book or pension bank credits; bank statements; property ownership papers if you rely on rental income; evidence of family ties in Pakistan.
If you are a freelancer
FBR tax returns and NTN; foreign remittance records (PRCs or bank credit advices showing the source); contracts or platform earnings statements that match your bank credits. Freelancers are refused when income looks irregular or cannot be traced, so explain the pattern in a cover note.
Tip: tap an item to tick it off. Your ticks stay on this device.
Chapter 05
How much bank balance do you need for a UK visit visa?
There is no fixed minimum for a UK visit visa. The Home Office caseworker guidance (published 8 October 2026) says "there is no set level of funds" and tells officers to check that your income or savings, minus your commitments in Pakistan such as rent and dependants, are sufficient for the likely costs of the trip and "reasonable expenditure in light of their financial situation".
What this means in practice:
- Source matters more than size. The guidance says that where most funds "have not been held in their account for long", officers may make further checks on the origin of the money. A sudden large deposit before applying is a classic refusal trigger.
- The form and the documents must match. Since January 2025 the guidance stresses a "correlation" between income declared on the application form and the financial documents.
- Someone else can pay (a relative in the UK or Pakistan), but the relationship must be genuine, they must be lawfully in the UK if they live there, and they must be able to support you as well as themselves. Undeclared third-party money is not counted.
We never "arrange" bank balances. We help you present your genuine finances clearly.
Chapter 06
How to apply for a UK visit visa from Pakistan, step by step
- Check the timing. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before travel.
- Fill in the Standard Visitor form on GOV.UK. You will be asked for travel dates, trip cost, income, employer, 10-year travel history, family details and any refusals or offences anywhere. Answer every question truthfully; omissions count as deception.
- Pay the visa fee online (GBP 135 for 6 months) and any optional priority fee if offered.
- Book biometrics with VFS Global. GOV.UK's centre finder sends Pakistani applicants to VFS Global. Centres are widely reported in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi .
- Upload or scan your supporting documents and attend the appointment for fingerprints and photo.
- Keep your passport. VFS Global says that from 25 February 2026 most UK visa customers no longer leave their passport while the decision is made.
- Receive the decision by email. If approved, set up your UKVI account and check that your eVisa is linked to the passport you will travel on.
Chapter 07
How long does a UK visit visa take from Pakistan?
UK Visas and Immigration says a Standard Visitor decision usually takes 3 weeks from the biometrics appointment (UKVI processing times, updated 9 September 2026). Some applications take longer when checks are needed. GOV.UK says the priority service usually gives a decision within 5 working days (GBP 500 extra) and super priority by the end of the next working day (GBP 1,000 extra), but you are only told whether these are available when you apply. Plan for at least 4 to 6 weeks between starting the form and your flight, and do not buy non-refundable tickets first.
Chapter 08
Why UK visas get refused (and how to avoid it)
UK visit visas for Pakistanis are mostly refused because the officer is not satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that you are a genuine visitor under paragraph V 4.2 of Appendix V. The common patterns:
| Refusal reason | What it usually looks like | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Funds not shown to be genuinely yours | Large deposit weeks before applying; balance far above declared income | Show 6+ months of normal account history; document any large deposit (property sale deed, gift with donor's evidence) |
| Weak ties to Pakistan | No employment, studies or business; most family in the UK | Show what brings you back: employment and leave approval, business, property, children's school, dependants |
| Purpose not credible | Vague itinerary; 6-month trip on a 2-week leave letter | Ask only for the time you need; make purpose, leave dates and budget agree |
| Inconsistency | Form says one salary, slips show another; sponsor's letter contradicts you | Check every number against your documents before submitting |
| Undeclared refusals or history | Hiding a past refusal from any country | Always declare; hiding it can trigger a deception refusal and a 10-year ban |
Deception is the most serious risk. Under Part Suitability, an application must be refused if false documents or false statements are used, and a visit visa refusal for deception can carry a 10-year re-entry ban (SUI 12.1). The rules also allow refusal where a third party, such as an agent, supplied false information, even without your knowledge. Never use an agent who offers bank statements, bookings or letters.
What to do after a refusal (reapply vs administrative review): UK visit visa refusal: reasons, reapply and review.
Chapter 09
What happens at the airport? (FIA and UK arrival checks)
At a Pakistani airport, FIA immigration can check that you are a genuine visitor before you board. The FIA FAQ lists a valid passport, a return ticket, a confirmed hotel booking with advance payment, sufficient funds and a "sound profile". Government servants must show their departmental NOC in original.
Note the tension: the Home Office says hotel and flight bookings are not useful for the visa application, but FIA may ask for them at departure. So: get the visa first, then make a real, refundable booking (or carry your host's address and invitation letter if staying with family) before you fly. Carry printed copies of your bank statement, employer letter and invitation.
In the UK, Border Force can ask about your plans, where you are staying and how you are paying. Your answers should match your application. Full checklist: FIA offloading checklist for visit visas.
Chapter 10
Pakistanis living in the UAE or Saudi Arabia
If you live legally in the UAE or Saudi Arabia, you can apply for the UK Standard Visitor visa from there and give biometrics at the UK visa application centre in that country. The fee and form are the same. The Home Office supporting documents guide suggests evidence of your legal residence if you are not a national of the country where you apply, so include your Emirates ID or Iqama and residence visa (valid well beyond your trip), your UAE/KSA employer letter and salary statements, and evidence of family or property in Pakistan if relevant. Your ties are judged where you actually live.
Chapter 11
UK vs. Schengen vs. USA: which visit visa suits a Pakistani?
| UK Standard Visitor | Schengen short-stay | USA B1/B2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | GBP 135 (6 months) | EUR 90 | See our USA page |
| Interview | No interview as standard | No interview as standard | Interview required |
| Stay | Up to 6 months per visit | Up to 90 days in any 180 | Set at entry |
| Bank balance rule | No fixed amount | Set per country, no single EU figure | See our USA page |
| Long-term option | 2, 5, 10 years | Multiple-entry "cascade" after good visa history | See our USA page |
A UK visa does not let you enter Schengen countries, and a Schengen visa does not let you enter the UK. See our Schengen visa from Pakistan, USA visit visa and Canada visit visa guides, or check your profile with our eligibility checker.
Chapter 12
Frequently asked questions
How much is the UK visit visa fee from Pakistan in 2026?
The UK Standard Visitor visa fee is GBP 135 for a visa valid up to 6 months, from 8 April 2026. Long-term visit visas cost GBP 506 (2 years), GBP 903 (5 years) and GBP 1,128 (10 years). The fee is paid online to the Home Office and is not refunded if you are refused.
How long does a UK visit visa take from Pakistan?
UK Visas and Immigration says a Standard Visitor decision usually takes 3 weeks after you attend your biometrics appointment. You can apply up to 3 months before travel. Priority (about 5 working days, GBP 500 extra) or super priority may be offered when you apply.
How much bank balance is needed for a UK visit visa?
There is no fixed minimum. Home Office caseworker guidance says there is no set level of funds; your income or savings, minus your commitments in Pakistan, must comfortably cover the trip. Large recent deposits with no clear source can lead to refusal.
Is a hotel booking or flight ticket required for a UK visit visa?
No. The Home Office supporting documents guide lists hotel bookings, flight bookings and travel insurance as documents that are not useful evidence. Do not buy non-refundable tickets before your visa is decided.
Can I visit my family in the UK on a Standard Visitor visa?
Yes. Visiting family or friends is a permitted activity under the UK Standard Visitor route. Your relative can host or fund you if the relationship is genuine, they are lawfully in the UK and they can afford it. There is no separate family visit visa.
Is the UK visa open for Pakistanis in 2026?
Yes. As of 13 October 2026 Pakistani passport holders can apply for a UK Standard Visitor visa through GOV.UK and the VFS Global centres in Pakistan. There is no ban on Pakistani visitors, but refusal rates are high, so file quality matters.
Do I get a visa sticker in my passport?
Most new UK visit visas are now issued as eVisas, not passport stickers. VFS Global says that from 25 February 2026 most UK visa customers keep their passport and receive eVisa access instructions by email. Check your eVisa details in your UKVI account before you fly.
Can I appeal a UK visit visa refusal?
Usually not. Visit visa refusals normally carry no right of appeal and visitor routes are not on the administrative review list in Appendix AR. Most people reapply with a stronger file that answers each reason in the refusal letter.
Can I work on a UK visit visa?
No. Working in the UK on a visit visa is illegal, and in Pakistan it can lead to prosecution under the Emigration Ordinance. A Standard Visitor visa is for tourism, family visits, permitted business meetings and similar short visits only.
Which UK visa is best for a first-time Pakistani visitor?
For most first-time visitors, the 6-month Standard Visitor visa (GBP 135) is the sensible choice. The Home Office can give a shorter visa than you ask for without refunding the difference, so long-term visas suit people with a strong UK travel record.
Chapter 13
How Visit Visa Specialists helps
We are a private consultancy. You apply and pay the Home Office yourself or with our guidance, and the decision is made only by UK Visas and Immigration. Our service covers:
- A profile review before you pay any visa fee, with an honest view of your file's strengths and gaps.
- A document checklist built for your situation (employed, business, student, dependent, retired, freelancer, UAE/KSA resident).
- Checking every figure on the GOV.UK form against your bank statements, salary slips and tax returns.
- A clear cover letter and itinerary based on your genuine plans.
- Departure-day preparation for FIA checks.
Official fee: GBP 135 for 6 months, paid to the Home Office (source, as of 13 October 2026) + our service fee Quote on WhatsApp = your total. For 2-, 5- or 10-year visas our fee is Quote on WhatsApp plus the relevant official fee. See all prices on our fees page.
Every fact, checkedSources+
- GOV.UK Standard Visitor: apply — fees, 3-week decision, apply up to 3 months before travel, application details asked, long-term visa rules (gov.uk, checked 13 October 2026)
- Home Office fees table from 8 April 2026: visit visa GBP 135 / 506 / 903 / 1,128; priority GBP 500; super priority GBP 1,000 (gov.uk, checked 13 October 2026)
- UKVI processing times outside the UK: Standard Visitor 3 weeks (page updated 9 Sep 2026) (gov.uk, checked 13 October 2026)
- GOV.UK priority (5 working days, GBP 500) and super priority (next working day, GBP 1,000) services; availability shown when you apply (gov.uk, checked 13 October 2026)
- UKVI guide to supporting documents for visitors (updated 8 Oct 2026): suggested evidence, translations, minors, documents not to send (gov.uk, checked 13 October 2026)
- Home Office Visit caseworker guidance (published 8 Oct 2026): genuineness factors, no set level of funds, source of funds checks, third-party support (gov.uk, checked 13 October 2026)
- Immigration Rules Appendix V: Visitor — V 4.2 genuine visitor, V 4.3 third-party support, V 4.4 prohibited activities (gov.uk, checked 13 October 2026)
- Immigration Rules Part Suitability: deception refusals (SUI 9.1, 10.1) and re-entry bans including 10 years for deception (SUI 12.1) (gov.uk, checked 13 October 2026)
- GOV.UK visa application centre finder: Pakistan centres operated by VFS Global (gov.uk, checked 13 October 2026)
- VFS Global media release (26 Feb 2026): eVisas replace vignettes for most UK visa customers from 25 Feb 2026; no passport retention (vfsglobal.com, checked 13 October 2026)
- FIA FAQ: visit-visa departure conditions (return ticket, confirmed hotel with advance payment, sufficient funds, sound profile); NOC for government servants (fia.gov.pk, checked 13 October 2026)
- News (ProPakistani, 12 Jul 2026): about 72,000 UK short-term visa refusals for Pakistanis in 2025, 44% refusal rate, citing Gallup Pakistan analysis (propakistani.pk, checked 13 October 2026)
We are an independent private agency, not affiliated with any government. Visa decisions are made solely by the relevant authority.
