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UK work visa requirements for Pakistani citizens

For Pakistan passport holders · Checked 2026-08-15

Route with conditions

The UK has a real employer-sponsored Skilled Worker route that Pakistani citizens can use, but only for degree-level jobs that pay roughly £41,700 a year or more, and only if the employer already holds a Home Office sponsor licence.

What the employer must have

  • Must hold a Home Office sponsor licence and issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for a job on the eligible occupations list
  • Must pay at least £41,700/year or the official 'going rate' for the job, whichever is higher (limited lower cases from £33,400, e.g. PhD-relevant roles)
  • Cannot sponsor new care workers or senior care workers from outside the UK since 22 July 2025

What you must do before you leave

  1. Before flying, get your passport 'protected' at a BEOE Protector of Emigrants office (registration + Overseas Employment Certificate) — Pakistani airport staff will not let you board without it
  2. If a recruiter is involved, use only a BEOE-licensed Overseas Employment Promoter, never an unlicensed agent
  3. Check your employer's name on the UK government's public register of licensed sponsors before signing or paying anything
  4. Prove English ability (speak, read, write, understand) as part of the visa application

Things to watch

  • Salary thresholds rose sharply in 2024-25 (now £41,700 standard since 22 July 2025) and change often — recheck GOV.UK at application time
  • Since 22 July 2025 the job must normally be at degree level (RQF6-equivalent); a limited Temporary Shortage List of below-degree roles remains sponsorable only until 31 December 2026, and workers in those roles cannot bring dependants — many mid-skill roles that qualified before 2025 no longer do
  • The care worker / senior care worker route is closed to new applicants from outside the UK
  • Some occupations have 'going rates' higher than £41,700 — the higher figure always applies

What you may lawfully be charged

THE MOST A LICENSED AGENT MAY LAWFULLY CHARGE YOU as a service charge is PKR 15,000 (PKR 6,000 if you found the job yourself and only need the paperwork done). You do not hand it over — you deposit it in a bank and the agent is paid only after the Protector of Emigrants confirms you reached the job. Anything he spends on your ticket, medical or visa must come with a signed, stamped receipt.

Rule 15 and 15A, Emigration Rules 1979 (SRO 1058(I)/2023). Charging more is punishable by up to 14 years — Section 22(a), Emigration Ordinance 1979.

⚠️ Never pay anyone for a job offer or a visa on this route. Legitimate employers and licensed agents do not charge workers for jobs.

Official sources

This describes the immigration system, not your personal case, and not this specific vacancy.

Common questions

Can a Pakistani passport holder work in the UK?

The UK has a real employer-sponsored Skilled Worker route that Pakistani citizens can use, but only for degree-level jobs that pay roughly £41,700 a year or more, and only if the employer already holds a Home Office sponsor licence.

What does an employer in the UK need before hiring a Pakistani worker?

Must hold a Home Office sponsor licence and issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for a job on the eligible occupations list Must pay at least £41,700/year or the official 'going rate' for the job, whichever is higher (limited lower cases from £33,400, e.g. PhD-relevant roles) Cannot sponsor new care workers or senior care workers from outside the UK since 22 July 2025

What must a Pakistani citizen do before leaving to work in the UK?

Before flying, get your passport 'protected' at a BEOE Protector of Emigrants office (registration + Overseas Employment Certificate) — Pakistani airport staff will not let you board without it If a recruiter is involved, use only a BEOE-licensed Overseas Employment Promoter, never an unlicensed agent Check your employer's name on the UK government's public register of licensed sponsors before signing or paying anything Prove English ability (speak, read, write, understand) as part of the visa application

What should Pakistani workers watch out for with the UK job offers?

Salary thresholds rose sharply in 2024-25 (now £41,700 standard since 22 July 2025) and change often — recheck GOV.UK at application time Since 22 July 2025 the job must normally be at degree level (RQF6-equivalent); a limited Temporary Shortage List of below-degree roles remains sponsorable only until 31 December 2026, and workers in those roles cannot bring dependants — many mid-skill roles that qualified before 2025 no longer do The care worker / senior care worker route is closed to new applicants from outside the UK Some occupations have 'going rates' higher than £41,700 — the higher figure always applies

Should I pay an agent for a job in the UK?

No. Never pay anyone for a job offer, a visa, or a place on a list. Legitimate recruitment for this route does not require the worker to pay for the job itself. Verify any agent against the official registers linked on this page.

Other countries Pakistani citizens can work in

All work visa guides

2,579 live UK vacancies for Pakistani workers

From job boards and overseas-employment registers. We do not yet hold Pakistan's own national register for this country, so these are not nationality-filtered.

See all jobs and apply