Guidance

Living in Pakistan

Information about moving to, living or retiring in Pakistan – including visas, working, healthcare and driving.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
5 December 2013
Last updated
7 November 2025 — See all updates

Getting help with living in Pakistan

Help from the Pakistani government

For any questions about moving to or living in Pakistan, you may be able to get help from the:

The UK government and the British High Commission in Islamabad cannot give personalised advice on moving to, living or retiring in Pakistan.

Professional help in Pakistan

You can also get help from English-speaking professionals in Pakistan, including:

  • lawyers
  • translators
  • funeral directors

Help from the UK government

Read the travel advice for Pakistan to understand the risks you may face if you live in or visit Pakistan. This includes the latest information on:

  • visas and entry requirements
  • laws and cultural differences
  • safety and security

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad.

Get help from the UK government abroad, including in an emergency.

Visas, residency and citizenship

Make sure you meet the entry requirements for Pakistan before you travel.

Visas

Check which visa category you need to live in Pakistan.  

You can get a visa to:

  • work
  • study
  • volunteer or do charity work
  • visit family
  • invest or do business in Pakistan

If you want to extend your visa:

You do not need a visa if you have a National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) or Smart National Identity Card Overseas Pakistanis (SNICOP).

Registering as a foreigner

Once you arrive, you may need to register with the police in Pakistan.  

Permanent residency

You may be able to apply for a Pakistan Origin Card if you have family links to Pakistan.

This allows you to enter Pakistan without a visa and stay indefinitely.

To find out if you’re eligible and how to apply, read the Pakistani National Database and Registration Authority’s guidance on the Pakistan Origin Card.   

Citizenship

Pakistan recognises dual citizenship. This means that you do not have to give up (renounce) your British citizenship to become a Pakistani citizen.

To find out if you’re eligible for Pakistani citizenship:

Help with visa and residency applications

The British High Commission in Islamabad cannot help with Pakistani visa and residency applications.

For any questions or issues, contact:

Passports

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • apply for a British passport from abroad
  • travel urgently without your British passport

Healthcare in Pakistan       

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • plan your healthcare
  • take medicine abroad

Pakistan does not have a reciprocal health agreement with the UK.

Make sure you have appropriate health insurance to cover any healthcare costs. You can get insurance from Pakistani or international providers.

To find out how to get medical treatment:

Working in Pakistan

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers working abroad, including documents you may need from the UK government.

To work in Pakistan, you need a work visa.

The Department General of Immigration and Passports explains the different work visas available to you.

You do not need a work visa if you have a National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) or Smart National Identity Card Overseas Pakistanis (SNICOP).

Recognition of qualifications

If you want to work in Pakistan, you may need to get your foreign qualifications recognised. Most British qualifications will be recognised in Pakistan.

Driving in Pakistan

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • drive abroad legally
  • take your UK vehicle abroad
  • get driving licence letters

You can drive in Pakistan for up to 6 months using a valid UK driving licence in combination with an international driving permit.

To continue driving after this time, you must get a Pakistani driving licence. Contact the traffic police office in the province where you live to check the requirements and arrange for a driving test.

Third party liability insurance is compulsory in Pakistan, but many drivers are uninsured. Make sure that you have adequate insurance for your needs.   

If you want to take your vehicle with you to Pakistan, read the Federal Board of Revenue’s guidance on taking vehicles into Pakistan.

For more information:

Tax

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers tax, including paying UK tax and National Insurance.  

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Pakistan so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. 

Contact the Federal Board of Revenue for any questions about double taxation relief.

You will need to pay annual property tax on any property that you own.

Consider getting professional advice on paying tax in Pakistan. To do this, find an English-speaking lawyer in Pakistan.

Pensions

Claiming your UK pension

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

  • how to claim your UK State Pension
  • where the UK government pays an annual increase in the State Pension

Claiming a Pakistani pension

Contact the Employees Old Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) to find out whether you can claim a Pakistani pension.

Benefits  

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to claim UK benefits abroad, including Child Benefit.  

Buying and renting property in Pakistan

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers buying and renting property abroad.  

You may need to attend court in Pakistan to:

  • buy or sell property
  • resolve issues around inheritance

Consider your safety before travelling to Pakistan to deal with property.

You will need to pay annual property tax on any property that you own in Pakistan. 

Restrictions on buying and owning property

Contact an English-speaking lawyer in Pakistan if you’re considering buying property or land.

If you have a National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) or Smart National Identity Card Overseas Pakistanis (SNICOP), you have the same property ownership rights as any Pakistani citizen.

If you’re not a Pakistani citizen, there may be more restrictions on buying or owning property.

Property disputes

Disputes over property ownership are common in Pakistan and have been known to become violent.

Contact an English-speaking lawyer in Pakistan if you’re involved in a property dispute.

If you’re involved in a dispute related to property in Punjab, you can contact the Overseas Pakistani Cell of the Lahore High Court. They deal with legal cases involving Pakistani citizens living outside Pakistan.   

The British High Commission cannot help in property disputes. Consular staff are not legally trained and cannot give legal advice.

If you’re concerned for your safety, contact the police. You may also choose to use the services of a private security company.    

Voting in Pakistan

UK elections

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad . This covers how to:

  • vote in UK elections from abroad
  • register as an overseas voter

Pakistani elections

You can only vote in Pakistani elections if you’re a Pakistani citizen and are resident in Pakistan.

Studying in Pakistan

If you plan to study in Pakistan and do not have Pakistani citizenship, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel.

For more information:

Children

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers moving abroad with children, including:

  • getting permission to take your child abroad
  • claiming UK Child Benefit abroad
  • child maintenance payments if a parent lives abroad

Schools and education

All children aged 5 to 16 must attend school or home school in Pakistan.

Federal and provincial education departments are responsible for free government schools in Pakistan. Many British nationals living in Pakistan also choose to send their children to private schools.

Childcare     

Formal childcare in Pakistan is limited. Most parents arrange and pay for childcare privately.

Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships

Births

If your child is born in Pakistan, register the birth with the Pakistani authorities. You will first need to register the birth with the Union Council, who will issue a birth certificate.

If at least one of your child’s parents is a Pakistani national, you can then also apply for a child registration certificate.      

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • register the birth with the UK authorities to get a UK birth certificate
  • apply for your child’s first British passport

Deaths

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

  • what to do after someone dies abroad
  • how to register the death with the UK authorities

If someone dies in Pakistan, read guidance on:

Marriages and civil partnerships 

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get married or get a civil partnership abroad.  

Same sex marriages and civil partnerships are not legally recognised in Pakistan. For information about LGBT+ rights in Pakistan, read guidance on safety and security in the travel advice for Pakistan.  

Divorce and separation 

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get a divorce or end a civil partnership.  

If you plan to divorce in Pakistan, consider taking legal advice from an English-speaking lawyer in Pakistan.

Documents for British people in Pakistan

Read our guidance on documents for British people abroad. This covers: 

  • legalising and certifying UK documents
  • marriage and civil partnership documents
  • affirmations and affidavits
  • witnessing signatures

Lawyers, translators and notaries

To find an English-speaking lawyer, translator or notary in Pakistan, read guidance on professional services if you’re abroad.

Pets

If you want to bring your pet with you to Pakistan, read guidance on taking your pet dog, cat or ferret to a non-EU country.

You must apply to the Animal Quarantine Department for an import permit:

Animal Quarantine Department Head Office
Malir Halt Flyover, Gulshan E Amna Faisal Cantonment
Karachi
Telephone: +92 (0)21 99248052

You can also contact the Animal Quarantine Department offices in:

  • Islamabad - telephone: +92 (0)51 9255955
  • Lahore - telephone: +92 (0)42 36631062

There are no strict quarantine rules, but you should contact a clearing agent for help and advice.

Returning to the UK

Read returning to the UK permanently. This includes information on bringing family members back to the UK, tax and access to services.

Disclaimer

We provide this information as a guide only.  For definitive information, contact the Pakistani authorities.

Read our consular information disclaimer.

Updates to this page

Published 5 December 2013
Last updated 7 November 2025 show all updates

  1. Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand.

  2. More detailed information on issues affecting dual nationals has been added.

  3. New sections were added in the draft.

  4. Added a new heading on Covid19 guidance

  5. Addition of information

  6. Updated 21 Jan 2014

  7. First published.

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