🇬🇧 United Kingdom tourist visa for Pakistanis 2026
Tourism, visiting family and friends, conferences and business trips. Facts verified against United Kingdom's official pages; see the source at the end.
Yes. Pakistanis need a visa before a short visit to United Kingdom. Pakistani citizens must hold a Standard Visitor visa before travelling to the UK for any short visit; the UK ETA is only for visa-exempt nationals.
Quick facts
- Visa
- Standard Visitor visa (6 months)
- Maximum stay
- up to 6 months
- Government fee
- about $181
- Processing time
- 3–8 weeks
- Paid work
- Not allowed
- Business or conference
- Covered
Where Pakistanis apply
Apply online on gov.uk no earlier than 3 months before travel, pay £135 (about USD 181), then attend a VFS Global centre in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore or Mirpur to give fingerprints and a photo; your passport comes back the same day and since 25 February 2026 the visa is issued as an eVisa on your UKVI account.
Fee and processing time
The published target is 3 weeks, but Pakistani applications are often referred for further checks, so plan for 4 to 8 weeks.
That is about $181 in US dollars at the time of verification; the official fee is set in local currency.
Travelling for business or a conference?
Organiser or host letter with event, dates and who pays, plus an employer letter confirming you remain paid in Pakistan.
Documents and steps
- Check your passport is valid for the whole tripPassport valid for the whole stay with a blank page; keep old passports that show earlier visas and timely returns.
- Collect six months of bank statements and income evidenceSix months of stamped statements with regular credits matching your income; large recent deposits trigger refusal.
- Prove your ties to Pakistan and your reason to returnEmployer leave letter with role, salary and return date or FBR and business papers, plus property and NADRA family evidence.
- Prepare your itinerary and accommodation evidenceHost letter with UK address, status proof and council-tax bill, or refundable hotels; trip length must match your leave.
- If travelling for business or a conference: get an invitation letterOrganiser or host letter with event, dates and who pays, plus an employer letter confirming you remain paid in Pakistan.
- Apply online on gov.uk and pay the £135 feeApply online up to 3 months ahead; £135 each; declare every past refusal to avoid a 10-year deception ban.
- Attend your VFS Global biometrics appointmentFingerprints and photo at VFS Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore or Mirpur; passport back the same day; book early before Eid and summer.
- Wait for the decision and set up your UKVI accountDecision by email, target 3 weeks but often longer; approved visas are eVisas linked to your UKVI account.
- At the UK border: respect the 6-month limit and visitor rulesOfficer queue, not eGates; up to 6 months, no UK work or public funds; back-to-back visits get refused.
The full checklist with timing, dependencies and personalised due dates is part of the paid plan. Start with the free quiz and pick “Visit” as your purpose.
Planning a trip to United Kingdom?
Answer 6 questions, choose “Visit”, and get a dated checklist for your travel dates — free.
Plan my visitFrequently asked questions
- Do Pakistanis need a visa for United Kingdom?
- Yes. Pakistanis need a visa before a short visit to United Kingdom. Pakistani citizens must hold a Standard Visitor visa before travelling to the UK for any short visit; the UK ETA is only for visa-exempt nationals.
- How long can Pakistanis stay in United Kingdom as a visitor?
- Up to 6 months under the Standard Visitor visa (6 months). Paid work is not allowed on a visitor stay.
- How much does the United Kingdom Standard Visitor visa (6 months) cost for Pakistanis?
- Apply online on gov.uk no earlier than 3 months before travel, pay £135 (about USD 181), then attend a VFS Global centre in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore or Mirpur to give fingerprints and a photo; your passport comes back the same day and since 25 February 2026 the visa is issued as an eVisa on your UKVI account.
- How long does the United Kingdom Standard Visitor visa (6 months) take for Pakistanis?
- The published target is 3 weeks, but Pakistani applications are often referred for further checks, so plan for 4 to 8 weeks.
- Can Pakistanis attend a conference or business meeting in United Kingdom on this visa?
- Organiser or host letter with event, dates and who pays, plus an employer letter confirming you remain paid in Pakistan.
- Can Pakistanis work in United Kingdom on a visitor stay?
- No. Visitor entry covers tourism, family visits, business meetings and conferences only. To take a job, study or settle, Pakistanis need one of the longer-stay routes compared in our United Kingdom visa guide for Pakistanis.
Thinking of staying longer?
A visitor stay never allows paid work. Pakistanis who want to work, study or settle in United Kingdom have 2 main routes, compared in the United Kingdom visa guide for Pakistanis.
United Kingdom for Pakistanis, in depth
Visiting other countries as Pakistanis
Visiting United Kingdom from elsewhere
Always confirm entry rules with the official government source. Fees and stay limits change; this guide is general information, not legal advice.