Yes, Pakistani passport holders need a visa before travelling to the United Kingdom as visitors. The route is the Standard Visitor visa, which costs £135 for a stay of up to six months. Apply online on GOV.UK, pay the fee, then attend a visa centre appointment in Pakistan for fingerprints and a photograph. GOV.UK says you usually get a decision within three weeks, and successful applicants receive an eVisa, not a sticker. Rules change, so check the official page before you apply.

You can apply up to three months before you travel. Longer-term visitor visas cost £506 for two years, £903 for five years and £1,128 for ten years, with each visit still limited to six months. The fee is not refunded if you are refused or given a shorter visa, so first-time applicants should think carefully before requesting a long-term visa.

What you need to show

There is no fixed document list and no official minimum bank balance. You must show you are a genuine visitor, will leave at the end of your stay, and can pay for the trip or have someone funding you. Useful evidence includes bank statements showing where the money came from, an employer letter, and sponsor evidence if someone in the UK is funding you. GOV.UK also asks for a TB test certificate if you are visiting for more than six months.

It covers visiting family and friends, tourism, business meetings and conferences, and courses of up to six months. You cannot work, claim public funds, live in the UK through frequent long visits, or marry without the right visa. Priority (£500) and super priority (£1,000) decisions are available at some centres; they speed up the decision, not your chance of approval. This is general information only, not personal immigration advice.