Settling abroad from Pakistan: the four main routes

Permanent residence is reached by a different road in each country. Canada and Australia choose skilled migrants with points systems. The UK mostly reaches settlement after years on a work or family visa. The US works through a petition from a family member or an employer, and its Diversity Visa lottery is closed to people born in Pakistan.

1. 01

   An honest assessment first

   Of your age, education, experience and language — before you pay for anything.

2. 02

   Qualifications assessed

   By the body the country names, which often scores them lower than people expect.

3. 03

   Valid language results

   Test results that are still valid when they are counted.

4. 04

   Detailed reference letters

   Setting out duties, hours and dates, not job titles alone.

Invitation rounds, cut-off scores, priority dates and processing times. The guides give ranges and point to where the current figures are published, rather than quoting numbers that go stale.

No genuine route to permanent residence involves buying a job offer, and nobody can promise you an invitation.

Choose a country

4 countries, one guide each

The same trip goes by a different name in every country. Each ticket shows what you actually apply for — the name to look for on the official site.

1. 01Eligibility scoring
2. 02Gap plan
3. 03Skills and credentials
4. 04File and follow

Guides for other visa types

• Student visa8 guides
• Work visa9 guides
• Business visa11 guides
• Visit visa12 guides
• Umrah visa1 guide
• Hajj visa1 guide