UK Skilled Worker visa from Pakistan
To work in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa, you need a job offer from an employer on the Home Office register of licensed sponsors, a Certificate of Sponsorship, a salary that meets the rules for your job, and English at the required level. Applicants who have lived in Pakistan also need a TB test certificate. The main fee is £819 (about PKR 300,000). Decisions usually take 3 to 8 weeks.
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At a glance
- Main fee
- £819 (about PKR 300,000)
- Processing time
- 3 to 8 weeks
- Documents
- 10 on the list
- You need a job offer and a certificate of sponsorship from a Home Office licensed sponsor.
- The job and salary must meet the rules for your occupation. Thresholds change, so check the current figures on GOV.UK.
- You usually need to prove your English and may need to show funds to support yourself.
- Applicants resident in Pakistan usually need a TB test from an approved clinic.
Fees
| Fee | Official amount | About in PKR |
|---|---|---|
| Visa fee, up to 3 yearsFees as published from 8 April 2026; lower fees apply to Health and Care Worker visas and to Immigration Salary List occupations. | £819 | PKR 300,000 |
| Visa fee, more than 3 years | £1,618 | PKR 593,000 |
| Immigration health surcharge | £1,035 per year | PKR 379,000 |
| Maintenance funds (unless certified by the sponsor)Must be held for 28 consecutive days; this is not a fee. | £1,270 | PKR 465,000 |
Rupee amounts are a guide only, at the mid-market rate on October 8, 2026 (1 GBP = PKR 366.3). Your bank and the visa centre use their own rates.
Check the amount on the official source.
Official fee pages:Skilled Worker visa: how much it costsImmigration health surcharge: how much you have to pay
Processing time
Usually 3 to 8 weeks
Usually about 3 weeks from biometrics; longer if more checks are needed.
Official source: Visa processing times: applications outside the UKDocuments you need
From our draft document list for this visa. Your own list depends on your situation, so check the official source.
Usually needed
Passport
Valid passport with a blank page for the vignette.
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference
Certificate of Sponsorship reference number from your employer.
Needed in some situations
English test result (IELTS TRF, PTE, CELPIP, TOEFL)
Approved SELT result (IELTS for UKVI, PTE Academic UKVI, LanguageCert SELT, Trinity SELT or PSI Skills for English) at the required CEFR level, unless exempt. Standard IELTS, TOEFL and CELPIP results do not count.
Degree certificate
If relying on a degree taught in English: the degree certificate plus Ecctis confirmation.
Bank statement / proof of funds
Savings held for 28 consecutive days, ending within 31 days of applying (not needed if the sponsor certifies maintenance). Dependants applying with you need their own maintenance amounts.
Tuberculosis test certificate (UK-approved clinic)
TB certificate from a Home Office approved clinic (needed if you have lived in Pakistan and the visa is for more than 6 months).
Nikah Nama / Marriage Registration Certificate
If your partner applies as your dependant.
Birth certificate (NADRA CRC or union council)
For dependent children applying with you.
Polio vaccination certificate (NIMS/NADRA)
Pakistan exit requirement, not a visa document: when you leave Pakistan you must show a NIMS/NADRA vaccination certificate including polio (the old paper card is no longer accepted, and since 14 September 2026 airports check a NADRA-integrated vaccination record). Verify current rules.
Can support your application
Police character certificate
Criminal record certificate: required for some jobs in education, health and social care.
How to apply, step by step
Get a job offer from a licensed sponsor
Find a UK employer on the Home Office register of licensed sponsors with an eligible job at the required skill level.
Register of licensed sponsors: workersReceive your Certificate of Sponsorship
The employer assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number with your job title, occupation code and salary.
Skilled Worker visaMeet the English requirement
Take an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) for UKVI, for example IELTS for UKVI or PTE Academic UKVI, at the required CEFR level unless you are exempt (for example a degree taught in English confirmed by Ecctis). Standard IELTS, TOEFL and CELPIP results are not accepted.
Prove your English language abilities with a secure English language test (SELT)Get a TB test
Applicants who have lived in Pakistan need a tuberculosis test certificate from a Home Office approved clinic for visas over 6 months.
Tuberculosis tests for visa applicantsApply online and pay
Apply on GOV.UK, pay the visa fee and the immigration health surcharge (IHS) for each year of the visa.
Skilled Worker visa: how much it costsGive biometrics
Book an appointment at a visa application centre in Pakistan to give fingerprints and a photo, and submit documents.
Skilled Worker visaWait for a decision
Decisions from outside the UK usually take about 3 weeks; priority services may be available.
Visa processing times: applications outside the UK
Questions people ask
How much does a UK Skilled Worker visa cost from Pakistan?
Visa fee, up to 3 years: £819 (about PKR 300,000); Visa fee, more than 3 years: £1,618 (about PKR 593,000); Immigration health surcharge: £1,035 (about PKR 379,000) per year; Maintenance funds (unless certified by the sponsor): £1,270 (about PKR 465,000). Fees change, so check the official fee page before you pay.
Skilled Worker visa: how much it costs (opens in a new tab)How long does a UK Skilled Worker visa take from Pakistan?
Decisions usually take 3 to 8 weeks. Usually about 3 weeks from biometrics; longer if more checks are needed.
Visa processing times: applications outside the UK (opens in a new tab)What documents do I need for a UK Skilled Worker visa from Pakistan?
The usual documents are: Passport and Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference. Depending on your situation, you may also need: English test result (IELTS TRF, PTE, CELPIP, TOEFL), Degree certificate, Bank statement / proof of funds, Tuberculosis test certificate (UK-approved clinic), Nikah Nama / Marriage Registration Certificate, Birth certificate (NADRA CRC or union council), and Polio vaccination certificate (NIMS/NADRA).
Do I need a job offer before I apply?
Yes. The employer must hold a sponsor licence and assign you a Certificate of Sponsorship with your job title, occupation code and salary. You can look the employer up on the Home Office register of licensed sponsors.
Register of licensed sponsors: workers (opens in a new tab)Is normal IELTS accepted for a UK Skilled Worker visa?
No. Only IELTS for UKVI and the other Secure English Language Tests (SELTs), such as PTE Academic UKVI or LanguageCert SELT, count. Standard IELTS, TOEFL and CELPIP results do not. You may be exempt, for example with a degree taught in English that Ecctis confirms.
Prove your English language abilities with a secure English language test (SELT) (opens in a new tab)Do I need a TB test for a UK work visa from Pakistan?
Yes, if you have lived in Pakistan and the visa is for more than 6 months. The certificate must come from a clinic approved by the UK Home Office.
Tuberculosis tests for visa applicants (opens in a new tab)