SK Immigration Study visa Pakistan 17 min read
UK Student Visa from Pakistan 2026
UK Student Visa from Pakistan 2026: requirements, CAS, bank balance, 28-day funds rule, IELTS, TB test, fees, documents, processing time and application steps.
At a glance
- Visa
- Student Visa
- Application fee
- £558 source
- London maintenance
- £1,529/month source
- Outside London
- £1,171/month source
- Maximum maintenance period
- 9 months
- Financial holding period
- 28 consecutive days where applicable source
- CAS
- Required
- TB test
- Required when the UK TB rules apply source
- English
- Required unless an accepted route applies source
- Outside-UK decision time
- Usually 3 weeks; not guaranteed source
On this page
- Requirements
- Who can apply
- Process
- CAS
- Financial requirements
- Required bank balance
- Bank statements
- Parent sponsorship
- English and IELTS
- TB testing
- Documents
- ATAS
- Fees
- IHS
- How to apply
- Biometrics
- Processing time
- Interview
- Common mistakes
- Refusals
- Work rights
- Dependants
- After approval
- Study gaps
- Changing field
- How SK helps
- FAQs
- Official sources
1. UK Student Visa Requirements for Pakistani Students
You need to meet the Student route requirements that apply to your circumstances. For most applicants applying from Pakistan, the core file includes:
- an unconditional offer for an eligible course from a licensed student sponsor;
- a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS);
- the required points for the course, financial and English requirements;
- eligible evidence for unpaid tuition and maintenance funds where the financial evidence rules apply;
- a valid passport and accurate application details;
- a TB certificate from a Home Office-approved clinic when the TB rules apply;
- ATAS clearance if your nationality and course require it; and
- parental consent and relationship evidence if you are 16 or 17.
2. Who Can Apply for a UK Student Visa?
You can apply if you are 16 or over, have an eligible offer from a licensed sponsor, meet the money and English requirements that apply, and have parental consent if you are 16 or 17. Students aged 16 or 17 who intend to study at an independent school may need the Child Student route instead.
Eligible study can include certain full-time courses below degree level, degree-level or postgraduate courses, qualifying part-time postgraduate courses, and some English-language courses. Check the official course rules rather than relying only on a university advert.
3. How the UK Student Visa Process Works
- Assess your profile and budget. Choose a course that fits your academic background and career plan.
- Apply to a licensed sponsor. Meet the university’s academic, English and deposit conditions.
- Receive and check your CAS. Do not submit the visa application without a valid CAS.
- Prepare route evidence. Complete funds timing, TB testing, ATAS and English evidence where applicable.
- Apply online. Pay the Student Visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).
- Prove your identity. Follow the application instructions for the ID Check app or a visa application centre appointment.
- Respond to UKVI if contacted. Attend an interview or provide further evidence if requested.
- Use your decision and eVisa instructions. Check all conditions before travel.
4. What Is CAS?
CAS means Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. It is an electronic record with a unique reference number assigned by your licensed UK education provider. A CAS is not simply an offer letter, and it is not a visa.
When is CAS issued?
Your sponsor decides when you have met its conditions for CAS assignment. These can include accepting the offer, paying a deposit, passing academic or English checks, and completing the sponsor’s own credibility or financial checks.
What does a CAS contain?
CAS information typically includes your personal and passport details, sponsor details, course title and level, course dates, tuition fees, payments recorded by the sponsor, qualifications used to assess you, and whether ATAS is required.
What should you check?
- name, date of birth, nationality and passport number;
- course title, level, location, and start and end dates;
- total tuition and any amount already paid;
- English assessment and qualifications listed; and
- ATAS status and sponsor licence details.
You cannot apply without a valid CAS. GOV.UK says you must apply within 6 months of receiving it, and an outside-UK Student Visa application can be made no earlier than 6 months before the course starts. CAS does not guarantee a visa.
Read the dedicated UK Student Visa CAS guide for Pakistani students and verify the official CAS rules.
5. UK Student Visa Financial Requirements
Where the financial requirement applies, the total normally has two separate parts:
- Course fees: enough for the unpaid course fees for one academic year, up to 9 months, as shown on your CAS.
- Maintenance: a set monthly amount for up to 9 months, based on whether the course is in London or outside London.
Tuition is separate. Example: if your CAS shows £18,000 tuition for the relevant academic year and confirms £5,000 already paid, the unpaid tuition is £13,000. For a course outside London lasting at least 9 months, the planning total would be £13,000 + £10,539 = £23,539, subject to what UKVI accepts as paid and recorded.
The SK calculator is a planning tool, not an official UKVI calculation. Confirm your CAS and current GOV.UK figures before applying.
6. How Much Bank Balance Is Required?
There is no single bank-balance figure for every Pakistani student. Use this formula where the financial requirement applies:
Unpaid tuition for the relevant academic year shown on CAS + required maintenance for your course location and duration + eligible dependant maintenance, if applicable.
| Course location | Monthly maintenance | Maximum for 9 months |
|---|---|---|
| London (City of London and 32 London boroughs) | £1,529 | £13,761 |
| Outside London | £1,171 | £10,539 |
Do not hard-code a PKR equivalent into your plan. The Home Office converts foreign currency using the OANDA spot rate on the application date. For the visa fee in PKR, use the official Home Office fee calculator for Pakistan.
7. UK Student Visa Bank Statement Requirements
Pakistani bank evidence can be used if the account and institution meet the official rules. Personal funds can be in a current or savings account controlled by you, your parent, or an eligible partner. The account must permit immediate access and be held with a regulated institution using electronic record keeping.
Evidence can include paper or electronic bank statements, a passbook, a certificate of deposit, or a bank letter. It must show your name (or the permitted account holder’s name), the bank’s name and the amount available. UKVI may verify evidence with the bank.
28-day and 31-day timing
- The balance must not fall below the required amount during the consecutive 28-day period.
- The closing balance date on the most recent evidence must be no more than 31 days before the application date.
- If using multiple accounts, each piece of evidence must fit the applicable timing rules and the combined eligible funds must cover the requirement.
What evidence cannot normally be used?
Official guidance excludes overdrafts, cryptocurrency, stocks and shares, pensions, accounts at an unregulated institution, and accounts without electronic record keeping. A business account or another relative’s account is not automatically an eligible substitute for the permitted personal-funds routes.
Recent deposits
8. Can Parents Sponsor a UK Student Visa?
Yes. Official financial guidance allows a student to rely on a parent’s money. The account must be controlled by the parent and otherwise meet the account, access, evidence and holding-period rules.
You should provide evidence of the parent-child relationship and a signed letter from the parent confirming consent to use the funds. A birth certificate is commonly relevant. Make sure spellings and identity details are consistent across the passport, civil documents, application and bank evidence.
A qualifying student loan or official financial sponsorship can also be used with the specific evidence GOV.UK requires. A general promise from a relative or an informal private loan is not the same as an accepted student loan or official sponsorship.
9. English and IELTS Requirements
IELTS is not automatically compulsory for every applicant, but English ability normally must be proved. University admission requirements and the immigration English requirement are related but are not always identical.
Depending on your circumstances, English may be proved through an approved Secure English Language Test, a qualifying UK school or degree credential, an overseas degree taught in English with the required Ecctis assessment, a previous accepted visa assessment, or an assessment by an eligible Higher Education Provider for degree-level study.
The immigration level is normally CEFR B2 for degree-level study or above and B1 below degree level. Your sponsor may set a higher admissions standard.
Verify your case on the GOV.UK English requirement page.
10. TB Test for UK Student Visa in Pakistan
A TB test is normally required when all three official conditions apply: you are coming to the UK for 6 months or more; you have lived in a listed country for 6 months or more; and you lived there or another listed country within the last 6 months. Pakistan is covered by the testing programme.
The test must be completed at a clinic approved by the Home Office. If the result shows no TB, the certificate is generally valid for 6 months from the x-ray date. Children and pregnant applicants follow specific procedures.
Use the official TB test eligibility guidance and the current approved TB clinics in Pakistan. Clinic locations, fees and contact details can change, so this page does not duplicate them.
11. UK Student Visa Documents Checklist
Every application requires a current passport or other valid travel document and a valid CAS. Depending on your case, the file may also need:
- eligible financial evidence for tuition and maintenance;
- TB certificate;
- ATAS certificate;
- English-language evidence;
- academic qualifications listed on the CAS if requested or required;
- parental consent and relationship evidence for applicants under 18;
- written consent from a financial sponsor if they sponsored you within the last 12 months; and
- certified translations where a document is not in English or Welsh and the rules require one.
Open UK Student Visa Checklist
12. ATAS Requirements
The Academic Technology Approval Scheme applies to certain sensitive subjects and research areas, mainly at postgraduate level, for nationals who are not exempt. Some undergraduate courses with an integrated master’s year can also require ATAS.
Your university should provide the course CAH3 code and indicate whether ATAS is needed. If it is required for your Student application, obtain the certificate before applying and provide it with the visa application. A change in course or research details can require a new certificate.
Check the official ATAS guidance and checker.
13. UK Student Visa Fees from Pakistan
Keep government, university, third-party and consultancy costs separate:
A. UK government fees
Student Visa application: £558 for an application outside the UK, current from 8 April 2026. The IHS is separate.
B. University costs
Application charges where applicable, tuition deposit, remaining tuition, accommodation deposits and other institution-specific charges.
C. Third-party costs
TB testing, English testing, translations, optional VAC services, travel, and courier or document services where used.
D. SK Immigration fees
Professional or consultancy fees for agreed preparation support. These are not government fees and do not buy approval.
Verify the current GBP fee on GOV.UK Student Visa and the amount charged in Pakistan through the Home Office fee calculator.
14. Immigration Health Surcharge
The current student IHS rate is £776 per year. The exact total depends on the immigration permission period, which can be longer than the course itself. Part-years are rounded under the official charging method; an outside-UK application for 6 months or less does not normally pay the surcharge.
Dependants who are eligible to apply normally pay the student/dependant rate for their own permission period. Use the official IHS calculation rules before budgeting.
15. How to Apply for a UK Student Visa from Pakistan
- Confirm the course and sponsor are eligible.
- Receive your CAS and check every field.
- Complete funds, English, TB and ATAS preparation where applicable.
- Apply online through the official GOV.UK Student Visa service.
- Pay the application fee and IHS.
- Follow the identity and document-upload instructions shown in your application.
- Attend biometrics if directed and respond to any UKVI request or interview invitation.
- Wait for the decision before making non-refundable travel commitments.
Outside the UK, you can apply up to 6 months before your course starts. “Application date” normally matters for your CAS, financial evidence and other validity checks, so submit only when the full file is ready.
16. UK Visa Biometrics and Appointment
During the online process, you will be told whether to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app or attend a visa application centre to provide fingerprints and a photograph. If an appointment is required, follow the official booking and document-upload instructions linked from your application.
Optional VAC services are convenience services; they do not improve the legal merits of a Student Visa application or guarantee a faster decision unless the service is an official priority decision product offered for your application.
See the existing UK visa appointment guide for Pakistan.
17. UK Student Visa Processing Time
An outside-UK Student Visa application is usually decided within 3 weeks. This is a service standard, not a guarantee. The period is measured after the relevant identity step, and a case can take longer if documents need verification, an interview is required, or personal circumstances add complexity.
Priority services may be offered during the application process, but availability and timing can change. Do not buy flights based only on the usual service time. Check current official processing information.
18. UK Student Visa Interview and Credibility
UKVI must be satisfied that you are a genuine student and may interview you. A credibility interview can cover your academic history, course and university choice, study gap, finances, accommodation, previous immigration history and career plans.
19. Common UK Student Visa Mistakes
- applying before a valid CAS is assigned;
- miscounting the 28-day holding period or using evidence older than the allowed 31-day window;
- calculating maintenance for the wrong location;
- using an ineligible account or assuming every relative’s account can be used;
- CAS, passport and application details not matching;
- treating university admission evidence as automatically sufficient for the visa;
- using an unapproved TB clinic or an expired certificate;
- missing ATAS where required;
- hiding a refusal, gap or other material fact; and
- paying for optional VAC services believing they influence UKVI.
20. UK Student Visa Refusal Reasons
A Student Visa can be refused when a mandatory requirement is not met, evidence is invalid or unverifiable, the CAS is not valid, funds do not meet the rules, required English/TB/ATAS evidence is missing, suitability rules apply, or UKVI is not satisfied that the applicant is a genuine student.
If refused, read the decision letter line by line. It will state whether administrative review is available. An outside-UK administrative review is for claimed caseworking errors, must normally be requested within 28 days, and is not a general chance to replace a weak file. A new visa application while a review is pending withdraws the review.
See what to do after a visa refusal and the official administrative review guidance.
21. Can I Work on a UK Student Visa?
Work permission depends on the course, sponsor and conditions shown on your immigration status. Under the current rules, eligible full-time degree-level students sponsored by a qualifying higher education provider can generally work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full time outside term time. Eligible below-degree students may be limited to 10 hours; some students have no work permission.
Student permission does not allow self-employment or work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach, and other restrictions apply. Always check your eVisa conditions, sponsor term dates and Appendix Student work conditions.
22. Can I Bring My Wife, Husband or Children?
Most taught master’s students cannot bring Student dependants under the current rules. You may be eligible if you are a government-sponsored student on a course lasting longer than 6 months, or a full-time postgraduate student on a course lasting 9 months or more that is a PhD, other doctorate, or research-based higher degree.
An eligible dependant can be a spouse, civil partner, qualifying unmarried partner, or child under 18. Relationship, care and financial requirements apply. Current dependant maintenance is £845 per month in London or £680 outside London, for up to 9 months per dependant, where that financial evidence is required.
Check the official dependant eligibility and money rules before paying any family costs.
23. What Happens After UK Student Visa Approval?
You will receive decision instructions and access to an eVisa, the digital record of your immigration status. Create or sign in to your UKVI account as instructed and make sure your passport is linked before travel.
- check your name, permission dates and conditions;
- follow your university’s enrolment and arrival instructions;
- carry the documents your sponsor recommends for the border;
- do not travel before the start date on your permission;
- keep your UKVI account and contact details current; and
- understand attendance and work conditions before starting.
For a course lasting more than 6 months, entry is normally permitted up to 1 month before the course starts, but never before the visa start date.
Post-study options
Completing a course does not automatically grant post-study permission. If eligible, you may apply separately for a Graduate visa. As of this review, most qualifying non-doctoral applicants receive 2 years if applying on or before 31 December 2026, or 18 months if applying on or after 1 January 2027. Doctoral graduates can receive 3 years. Check the current Graduate visa rules.
24. Study Gaps and UK Student Visa
There is no published rule that automatically refuses a Student Visa because a Pakistani applicant has a particular number of gap years. The sponsor must be willing to issue a CAS, and UKVI must be satisfied you are a genuine student.
25. Changing Your Field of Study
A field change is not automatically prohibited for an applicant applying from Pakistan, but you should be able to explain why the new course is credible and how it supports a genuine career plan. The university must accept your background and assign a CAS.
The formal academic progression rules mainly apply to applicants who previously had Student permission and apply inside the UK to extend. Same-level study inside the UK is restricted and generally needs a permitted relationship to prior study or genuine career aspirations. Do not apply an in-country progression rule mechanically to every first-time overseas applicant.
26. How SK Immigration Helps Pakistani Students
SK Immigration provides preparation and quality-control support. We do not issue university offers, assign CAS records or decide visas.
How SK Immigration Reviews a Student Visa File
- Profile assessment: academic history, gap, English readiness, budget and immigration history.
- Course suitability: level, subject, career logic and realistic sponsor options.
- Academic progression: whether the proposed course creates a coherent next step; where formal progression rules apply, we flag them separately.
- CAS consistency: identity, course, fees, payments, qualifications, English and ATAS details.
- Financial evidence review: amount, ownership, access, timing, lowest balances and supporting relationship evidence.
- Document consistency: names, dates, explanations and evidence across the application.
- Interview preparation: truthful practice around course research, funding and goals.
- Application quality control: a final checklist before submission.
27. UK Student Visa Frequently Asked Questions
28. Official UK Government Sources
These were the primary sources checked for this review. Open them again before you submit because rules and fees can change.
- Student Visa overview, fee and timing
- Money required for a Student Visa
- Financial evidence guidance
- Documents you must provide
- Eligible courses and CAS
- Knowledge of English
- TB test rules
- Approved TB clinics in Pakistan
- Apply online and processing information
- Student dependants
- IHS rates and calculation
- Immigration Rules Appendix Student
Related SK resources: CAS explained · UK Student Visa checklist · UK biometrics appointment · application steps · after a refusal · UK visit visa guide.
29. Planning to study in the UK from Pakistan?
SK Immigration can help with profile assessment, university and course selection, CAS preparation, financial-document review, application preparation, a personal checklist and interview or credibility preparation.
UKVI makes the final visa decision. SK Immigration does not guarantee visa approval.
Frequently asked questions
1. How much bank balance is required for a UK Student Visa from Pakistan? ▾
Add unpaid tuition for the relevant academic year on your CAS to maintenance of up to £13,761 in London or £10,539 outside London. Your exact amount depends on the CAS, course length, location and any eligible dependants.
2. How long must Student Visa funds be held? ▾
Personal funds normally must be held at or above the required amount for 28 consecutive days, with the end of that period no more than 31 days before the application date.
3. Can my father sponsor my UK Student Visa? ▾
Yes. You can use a parent’s eligible funds with evidence of the relationship and a letter confirming consent, provided the account and evidence meet the official rules.
4. Can my mother sponsor my UK Student Visa? ▾
Yes. The same parent-funds rules apply: permitted account control, compliant evidence, relationship proof and written consent.
5. Can I use two Pakistani bank accounts? ▾
Potentially yes. UKVI guidance allows evidence from more than one account, but each account and the combined funds must satisfy the applicable ownership, access, evidence and timing rules.
6. Can I use a fixed deposit? ▾
A certificate of deposit may be accepted if the regulated bank confirms the funds were held for the required period and can be accessed immediately. Review the exact product and evidence before relying on it.
7. Does a large recent deposit cause automatic refusal? ▾
No published rule says every large deposit causes refusal. The funds must be lawful, eligible, accessible and held for the required period; UKVI can verify evidence and ask questions.
8. Is IELTS required for a UK Student Visa? ▾
Not in every case. English can be proved through different accepted routes, and an eligible university may assess degree-level English itself. Check both university and UKVI requirements.
9. Can I use a medium-of-instruction letter instead of IELTS? ▾
Do not assume the letter alone is enough. An overseas English-taught degree may need an Ecctis assessment, while an eligible higher education provider may assess degree-level English under its own permitted process.
10. Is a TB test required in Pakistan? ▾
Usually yes for a Pakistani resident coming for 6 months or more who meets the official residence conditions. Use only a Home Office-approved clinic.
11. How long is a UK TB certificate valid? ▾
A clear certificate is generally valid for 6 months from the date of the chest x-ray.
12. What is CAS? ▾
CAS is the electronic Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies assigned by a licensed student sponsor. Its reference number is required in your Student Visa application.
13. Can I apply without CAS? ▾
No. A valid CAS is required for a Student Visa application.
14. Does CAS guarantee a visa? ▾
No. A CAS confirms sponsorship for the course; UKVI still assesses all applicable visa requirements and makes the decision.
15. How soon after CAS can I apply? ▾
You can apply once the valid CAS and all other evidence are ready, but no earlier than 6 months before the course start date for an outside-UK application. Apply within 6 months of receiving the CAS.
16. How much does the UK Student Visa cost? ▾
The outside-UK application fee is £558 as of 15 August 2026. IHS, tuition, TB testing and other costs are separate.
17. How much is the student IHS? ▾
The current rate is £776 per year, but the total is based on the immigration permission period and official part-year calculation rules.
18. How long does the UK Student Visa take from Pakistan? ▾
UKVI says outside-UK applications are usually decided within 3 weeks after the relevant identity step. It can take longer and is not guaranteed.
19. What documents are required? ▾
A valid passport and CAS are core documents. Financial, English, TB, ATAS, parental-consent, sponsor-consent and translation evidence may also be needed depending on your case.
20. When can I apply? ▾
From outside the UK, the earliest application point is 6 months before the course starts. Your CAS and supporting evidence must be valid on the application date.
21. Can I work on a Student Visa? ▾
Possibly. Eligible degree-level students can commonly work up to 20 hours a week in term time, but course, sponsor and visa conditions control the actual permission.
22. Can I bring my spouse? ▾
Only if you meet the restricted dependant rules, such as qualifying government sponsorship or an eligible doctoral or research-based higher degree. Most taught master’s students cannot bring Student dependants.
23. Can I bring my children? ▾
Only where you qualify to bring dependants and each child meets the relationship, age, care and financial requirements.
24. Can I apply with a study gap? ▾
Yes; there is no fixed published maximum gap. The course and your reasons for returning to study must be credible, and supporting evidence should be truthful and consistent.
25. Can I apply with a low CGPA? ▾
A low CGPA is not itself a universal Student Visa bar. You first need a sponsor willing to admit you and issue a CAS, then you must meet all visa requirements and explain your course choice credibly.
26. Can I change my field of study? ▾
Potentially yes. A first-time overseas applicant should show a credible academic or career rationale. Separate academic-progression restrictions apply to many in-country extension cases.
27. Will I have a credibility interview? ▾
Not every applicant is interviewed, but UKVI may require one. Be ready to discuss your course, sponsor, funding, accommodation and career plan truthfully.
28. What happens after refusal? ▾
Read the decision notice and identify each reason. It will state whether administrative review is available. Choose between review and a new application carefully because a new application withdraws a pending review.
29. Can I apply again after refusal? ▾
Usually a new application is possible unless a specific restriction applies, but fix the actual refusal reasons and disclose the previous decision accurately.
30. Can I use a student loan? ▾
Yes, if it is from a qualifying government, government-sponsored company or regulated student-loan scheme and the evidence meets the official letter requirements.
31. Can a scholarship cover the financial requirement? ▾
An accepted official financial sponsor can cover some or all required costs. Ensure the sponsorship is recorded on the CAS or supported by the required official letter.
32. Is ATAS required for every student? ▾
No. It applies only to certain subjects and applicants. Use the course CAH3 code and official checker, and obtain ATAS before applying if required.
33. Can I pay for priority processing? ▾
You may be offered an official faster-decision service during the application. Availability varies, and it does not guarantee approval.
34. Do optional VAC services improve approval chances? ▾
No. Scanning, lounge, courier or similar convenience services do not change the immigration requirements or UKVI’s assessment.
35. Does SK Immigration guarantee approval or CAS? ▾
No. The university controls CAS and UKVI decides the visa. SK Immigration provides preparation and review support only.
Need help understanding your options?
Reading a guide can help you understand the process, but every situation is different.
We provide guidance and preparation support. Authorities make the final decisions.
Continue reading
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