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United Kingdom · Standard Visitor visa

UK Visit Visa from Pakistan

Pakistani passport holders need a Standard Visitor visa before travelling to the UK for a holiday or to see family and friends. You apply online, then give fingerprints and a photo at a visa application centre in Pakistan. The decision turns on whether you are a genuine visitor who will leave at the end of the trip and can pay for it.

Last reviewed 8 October 2026

At a glance

Official name
Standard Visitor visa
Purpose
Tourism, visiting family or friends, and some other short activities
Length of stay
Usually up to six months per visit
How to apply
Online on GOV.UK, then biometrics at a visa application centre in Pakistan
Work
Not allowed, paid or unpaid
Regular visitors
Long-term visit visas are available

Who this is for

  • Parents and relatives visiting family members settled in the UK
  • Tourists planning a holiday in London, Scotland or elsewhere in the UK
  • Families attending a graduation, wedding or other family event
  • Frequent visitors with a good UK travel record who may want a long-term visit visa

When another route fits better

  • Getting married or giving notice of marriage in the UK: apply for a Marriage Visitor visa instead.
  • Moving to live with a spouse, partner or parent in the UK: that needs a family visa, not a visit visa.
  • Studying a course longer than the visitor rules allow: apply for a Student visa.

Documents to prepare

Everyone

  • Current passport, plus old passports that show your previous travel
  • Bank statements showing a steady history of income and savings
  • Employer letter confirming your job, salary and approved leave, with recent salary slips
  • If self-employed: business registration, tax returns and business bank statements
  • Evidence of ties in Pakistan, such as property papers, family responsibilities or ongoing studies

If you are visiting family or friends

  • Invitation letter from your host explaining your relationship and plans
  • Copy of your host's passport or proof of their UK immigration status
  • Proof of relationship, such as a NADRA Family Registration Certificate or birth and marriage certificates
  • Your host's address details, and evidence they have room if you are staying with them

If someone else pays

  • A signed letter from the sponsor saying what they will cover
  • The sponsor's bank statements and proof of income

Step by step

  1. 1

    Check the visit fits the rules

    Confirm that what you plan to do is allowed for a Standard Visitor. Read the supporting documents guide on GOV.UK so you know what the caseworker expects.

  2. 2

    Gather your evidence

    Collect financial, employment and family documents. Anything not in English or Welsh needs a certified translation.

  3. 3

    Apply online

    Fill in the form on GOV.UK, pay the fee and choose a visa application centre in Pakistan. Answer every question about past travel and refusals in full.

  4. 4

    Attend your biometrics appointment

    Give your fingerprints and a photo at the centre, and submit or upload your documents as the centre instructs.

  5. 5

    Wait for the decision

    Avoid buying non-refundable tickets until you have a decision. You can follow progress through the visa application centre.

  6. 6

    Check your visa

    When your passport is returned, check your name, dates and visa type. Report any mistake straight away rather than travelling with it.

  7. 7

    Travel and carry key papers

    Keep your invitation letter, return booking and proof of funds in your hand luggage. The Border Force officer may ask about your plans.

Costs to plan for

  • The visa application fee, which is higher for long-term visit visas. Check the current fee on GOV.UK.
  • Optional faster decision services, where the visa application centre offers them.
  • Visa centre extras, such as document scanning or courier return of your passport.
  • Certified translations of documents in Urdu or another language.
  • Travel insurance, since visitors are charged for most NHS hospital treatment.
  • Flights and accommodation, which your finances should clearly cover.

Why applications get refused

  • Large or unexplained deposits made shortly before applying.
  • Declared income that does not match the bank statements or the cost of the trip.
  • Weak evidence of ties to Pakistan, such as no settled job, business or family responsibilities shown.
  • Past immigration problems, including overstays or refusals that were not disclosed.
  • Inconsistencies between the form, the invitation letter and the supporting documents.
  • A trip length that looks out of step with your leave from work or your stated purpose.
  • False or altered documents, which can lead to a ban on future applications.

Tips before you apply

  • Declare every previous visa refusal from any country. The caseworker may already know about it.
  • If your income is irregular, for example from farming or a family business, explain it in a short cover letter with evidence.
  • Keep the length of your stay proportionate to your job and family commitments in Pakistan.
  • Use an account in your own name that shows regular income, rather than borrowed funds parked for the application.

Questions people ask

A Standard Visitor can usually stay up to six months per visit. The caseworker will still judge whether such a long trip makes sense alongside your job, home and family in Pakistan, so explain your plans clearly.

It is a Standard Visitor visa with longer validity for people who visit the UK regularly. Each visit is still limited to the usual length of stay, and you must keep meeting the visitor rules every time you travel.

Yes. A family member can cover your costs, but you should show their financial evidence and explain your relationship. Your own ties to Pakistan still matter, because you must show you will return.

There is usually no right of appeal against a visitor visa refusal. You can apply again, but only once you have dealt with the reasons given in the refusal letter.

Official sources

Fees, fund requirements and processing times change. Check the current figures on the official site before you apply.

Last reviewed 8 October 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. VisaWala is not affiliated with any embassy or government, and only the issuing authority decides a visa application.