The Badshahi Mosque in Lahore at sunset
Guide Pakistan → United Kingdom · moving · checked 1 Nov 2026

Moving from Pakistan to the UK

A plain checklist: what to sort before you go, and your first weeks in Britain.

Photo: Pexels
First: can you move?

You need a visa first

To live, work or study in the UK, Pakistani citizens need a visa. Most people come for a sponsored job, to study or to join family.

Job
A job offerFrom a UK employer that can sponsor you: the Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa.
Uni
A study placeAt a UK university or college, with a student visa.
Fam
Family hereJoining a partner or close family member who lives in the UK.

Which visa fits you: gov.uk/check-uk-visa. Most visas also need the Immigration Health Surcharge, paid when you apply, which gives you NHS care. We don't give visa advice.

Just visiting first? Pakistani citizens need a Standard Visitor visa for a visit, even a short one. You can't work on a visit.

Before you go

Your checklist in Pakistan

  1. Your visa approved. It's digital now (an eVisa), linked to your passport in your UKVI account.
  2. A TB test at a UK-approved clinic in Pakistan, if you're coming for 6 months or more: you need the certificate for your visa application.
  3. Documents in a folder: birth and marriage certificates, degree certificates, driving licence, references from work.
  4. Money for the start: the first month's rent, a deposit (in England at most 5 weeks' rent) and a few weeks of living costs.
  5. Your ID card: overseas Pakistanis can get a NICOP from NADRA, the ID card for Pakistanis living abroad.
  6. Set up your home TV before you go, so it works on day one (how to watch Pakistani TV in the UK).
A cosy living room in the evening with a TV and warm shelf lights
Day one in the UK

Home TV, ready when you land

The first weeks abroad are the hardest. The news from home and your dramas make the new flat feel like home.

How to watch Pakistani TV in the UK →
Advertisement: 157 Pakistani channels, live, with VOLTIX →
Photo: Pexels
Your first weeks

Your checklist in the UK

  1. Phone: a pay-as-you-go SIM works at once, with no checks.
  2. Proving your status: employers and landlords check it online. You give them a share code from gov.uk.
  3. Bank account: banks often ask for proof of address; app banks are usually quicker to open.
  4. National Insurance number: you need one for tax. Apply online if you don't have one; you can start work while you wait.
  5. Doctor: register with a GP surgery near you. It's free to register.
  6. Council tax: tell your local council you moved in.
  7. Driving: a Pakistani licence usually lets you drive for up to 12 months after you become resident. After that you need a UK provisional licence and the UK driving test.
Quick answers

Questions people ask

Do I need a visa to move from Pakistan to the UK?

Yes. The usual ways in are a sponsored job (Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa), study or family. Check which visa fits you on gov.uk.

Do I need a visa just to visit?

Yes. Pakistani citizens need a Standard Visitor visa, even for a short visit. You can't work on a visit.

Do I need a TB test?

Yes, if you're coming for 6 months or more: you take it at a UK-approved clinic in Pakistan and need the certificate for your visa application.

What is the Immigration Health Surcharge?

A fee most visa applicants pay when they apply. It lets you use the NHS like a UK resident during your visa.

How big is a rent deposit in England?

At most 5 weeks' rent, when the rent is under £50,000 a year. Your landlord must protect it in a government-backed scheme.

Can I drive with my Pakistani licence?

Usually for up to 12 months after you become resident. After that you need a UK provisional licence and to pass the UK driving test.

Can I watch Pakistani TV in the UK?

Yes. Our Pakistani TV in the UK guide shows every option, from ARY Digital on Sky and free dramas on YouTube to all-in-one subscriptions.

More for Pakistani people in the UK

Guides for you

Pakistani TV in the UKEvery way to watch Pakistani channels and dramas in the UK, compared.The Pakistani community in the UKWhere Pakistani people live, community life and where people meet online.Moving from Pakistan to the UKA plain checklist: before you go and your first weeks.
Sources