UK Student Visa from Pakistan: 2026/27 Requirements, Costs and Documents

The UK Student visa is the route for anyone aged 16 or over coming to study a course at a licensed UK university or college. For Pakistani applicants the rules are the same as for everyone else, but a few steps, such as the tuberculosis test and the way UKVI reads Pakistani bank statements, deserve extra care.

This guide walks through the whole application in the order you will actually do it, with the official figures that apply in late 2026. One change matters straight away: for applications made on or after 30 November 2026 the money you must show for living costs goes up.

What the UK Student visa is and who needs it

You need a Student visa for any course in the UK longer than six months. It is issued for the length of your course plus a short period afterwards, and for degree-level study at 18 or over you can usually stay up to five years in total at that level.

You can apply from outside the UK up to six months before your course starts. UKVI says a decision usually takes about three weeks from outside the UK, but in recent intakes some Pakistani applicants have waited much longer, so build in a margin.

Step 1: get an unconditional offer and your CAS

Everything starts with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), an electronic reference number your university issues once your offer is unconditional and, usually, once you have paid a tuition deposit. You cannot apply for the visa without it.

Before issuing a CAS most universities run a credibility interview to check that you are a genuine student, that you understand your course and that you can fund it. Treat it as part of the visa: know why you chose the course and the university, what it costs and how you will pay for it.

Step 2: prove you have enough money

You must show you can pay the first year of tuition (the balance after any deposit shown on your CAS) plus living costs for up to nine months. The living cost figure depends on where your university is and on the date you apply.

Where you study	Applications up to 29 November 2026	Applications from 30 November 2026
London	£1,529 a month, £13,761 for 9 months	£1,570 a month, £14,130 for 9 months
Outside London	£1,171 a month, £10,539 for 9 months	£1,203 a month, £10,827 for 9 months

The increase comes from the Statement of Changes HC 584, which lines the requirement up with the maintenance loans available to UK students for 2026/27. The date that counts is the date you submit your visa application, not the date of your CAS or bank statement.

The money must have been held for at least 28 consecutive days, and the last day of that 28-day period must be no more than 31 days before you apply. The balance must never drop below the required amount during those 28 days, even for one day.

Your own account or your parents’ account. Funds in a parent’s or legal guardian’s name are accepted with a letter of consent from them and proof of your relationship, such as your birth certificate or a NADRA Family Registration Certificate.
A sponsor or scholarship. Official financial sponsorship, for example from HEC or a government body, is accepted with a letter on official letterhead.
An education loan. Loans count if they come from a regulated lender and the funds are available before you travel.
Not accepted: money belonging to uncles, cousins or friends, and funds held as shares, property or other assets that are not cash.

Step 3: meet the English language requirement

For degree-level study you must show English at CEFR level B2. You can do this with a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as IELTS for UKVI, or, for degree-level courses, the university can assess your English itself and confirm it on your CAS.

That second route is why many Pakistani students are admitted without IELTS, using a medium of instruction letter, Intermediate or O and A level English grades, or the university’s own test. We explain who accepts what in our guide to studying in the UK without IELTS.

Step 4: take the tuberculosis test

Pakistani nationals coming to the UK for more than six months must have a chest X-ray at a Home Office approved clinic. Certificates from any other clinic are refused.

City	Approved clinics	Fee (aged 11 and over)
Islamabad	AMC (G-6 Markaz), IOM (F-10 and G-8)	PKR 15,000 (AMC), PKR 14,000 (IOM)
Lahore	AMC (Chaudhary Ali Anwar Road), IOM (Gulberg III)	PKR 15,000 (AMC), PKR 14,000 (IOM)
Karachi	IOM (PECHS, Shahra-e-Faisal)	Check with the clinic
Mirpur (AJK)	IOM (Sector F-2)	PKR 14,000

Book the test early in your timeline. The certificate is valid for six months, so time it to cover your visa application date.

Step 5: pay the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge

Cost	Amount	Notes
Student visa application	£558	From 8 April 2026, the same from inside or outside the UK
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)	£776 a year	Paid upfront for the whole visa; under six months is charged at half
Priority service	£500 extra	Where offered at your visa application centre
Super priority service	£1,000 extra	Where offered

A one-year master’s usually leads to a visa of about 16 months, so most master’s students pay IHS of about £1,164. A three-year bachelor’s typically costs about £2,716 in IHS. The online form calculates the exact figure from your course dates.

Step 6: complete the online application and biometrics

Fill in the Student visa form on GOV.UK using your CAS number.
Pay the application fee and the IHS online.
Book an appointment at a VFS Global visa application centre in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi or Mirpur to give your fingerprints and photograph.
Upload or bring your documents: passport, CAS, financial evidence, TB certificate, academic documents listed on the CAS, and translations where needed.
Wait for the decision. Successful applicants receive an eVisa, a digital record of their immigration status linked to a UKVI account, instead of a physical residence card.

Document checklist for Pakistani applicants

Valid passport with at least one blank page.
CAS number and the offer letter.
Bank statements or a bank letter covering the 28-day period, from a bank UKVI accepts.
If using parents’ funds: their consent letter plus your birth certificate or NADRA FRC.
TB test certificate from an approved clinic.
Academic documents used for your offer: HSSC or A level results, degree transcripts and certificates. Many universities also ask for HEC-attested degrees and IBCC equivalence for school qualifications.
Proof of English if it is not assessed by the university.
ATAS certificate if your course is in a sensitive science or engineering subject listed on your CAS.

Working, family and life after your degree

Degree-level students can usually work up to 20 hours a week in term time and full time in official vacations. Self-employment, freelancing and gig work are not allowed.

Since January 2024 only students on postgraduate research degrees, such as a PhD, or government-sponsored students can bring dependants. Students on taught master’s courses cannot.

After graduating you can apply for the Graduate Route from inside the UK. Applications made on or after 1 January 2027 give 18 months (three years after a PhD). See our Graduate Route guide for what that means for courses starting now.

Why some UK universities are cautious about Pakistani applicants

From September 2025 the Home Office tightened the Basic Compliance Assessment, so universities must keep their visa refusal rate below 5%. With Pakistan’s refusal rate reported at around 18% for the year to September 2025, several universities paused or limited recruitment from Pakistan.

This does not mean the UK is closed. It means the choice of university matters more than ever, and that a clean, well-documented application is worth the extra effort. Our course finder shows each university’s published entry and English requirements, and an adviser can tell you which universities are currently recruiting from Pakistan.

Frequently asked questions

How much bank balance do I need for a UK student visa from Pakistan?

Your remaining first-year tuition plus living costs for up to nine months. For applications from 30 November 2026 that is £14,130 for London or £10,827 outside London, held for 28 consecutive days. Earlier applications use £13,761 and £10,539.

How long does a UK student visa take from Pakistan?

UKVI says decisions from outside the UK usually take about three weeks. Some Pakistani applicants have waited longer in busy intakes, so apply as soon as you have your CAS and your 28-day funds.

Can my parents’ money be used for the UK student visa?

Yes. Funds in a parent’s or legal guardian’s account are accepted with their written consent and proof of the relationship, such as your birth certificate or a NADRA Family Registration Certificate.

Can I take my spouse to the UK on a student visa?

Only if you are on a postgraduate research course such as a PhD, or are government sponsored. Students on taught master’s courses starting since January 2024 cannot bring dependants.

What is the UK student visa fee in 2026?

£558 for applications from 8 April 2026, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 for each year of the visa.

Sources

Every figure in this guide was checked against the official sources below on 2 November 2026. Rules and fees change, so check the official page before you apply.