Whether you are flying home for a wedding, taking the kids to meet their grandparents or visiting Pakistan for the first time, a trip from the UK takes more planning than a typical holiday. This guide brings together what British travellers — and especially British Pakistanis — need to sort out before they fly: flights, documents, health, money and safety.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Rules and routes change, so confirm details with the official sources linked below before you book.
Flights: Direct Routes Are Back
After a ban that began in 2020, the UK removed Pakistan from its air safety list in July 2025, allowing Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to return. PIA restarted Manchester services first and then resumed Islamabad–London Heathrow (from 29 March 2026) and Lahore–London Heathrow (from 30 March 2026), with plans to add frequencies and more UK cities over time.
Your main options are:
- Direct with PIA from Heathrow or Manchester to Islamabad or Lahore — the quickest journey, but with limited weekly frequencies, so book early for school holidays and the winter wedding season.
- One-stop via the Gulf or Turkey (for example Emirates via Dubai, Qatar Airways via Doha, Etihad via Abu Dhabi or Turkish Airlines via Istanbul) — more flights per day, more UK departure airports and often better baggage allowances. These are also the usual way to reach Karachi, Peshawar, Multan or Sialkot.
Tip: Compare the baggage allowance as carefully as the fare. Family trips to Pakistan often involve gifts and extra luggage, and a cheaper ticket with a small allowance can end up costing more.
Documents: NICOP, POC or Visa?
What you need depends on your nationality and family background:
| Your situation | What you usually need |
|---|---|
| Dual British–Pakistani national with a valid NICOP | Enter Pakistan visa-free on your NICOP; you can stay without a time limit. Keep your British passport for returning to the UK. |
| British citizen of Pakistani origin (not a Pakistani national) | A Pakistan Origin Card (POC) gives multiple visa-free entry and indefinite stay; otherwise you need a visa. |
| British citizen with no Pakistani links | A visa, applied for online through Pakistan’s official visa portal before you travel. |
NICOP and POC cards are issued by NADRA and can be applied for online through its Pak-ID service. Allow plenty of time — don’t leave it to the week before you fly.
Passport checks to do now
- Your passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of your visa application.
- Make sure you get an entry stamp on arrival — leaving Pakistan without one can cause problems.
- If your visa expires while you are in Pakistan, you need to apply online for an exit permit before departing.
- Dual nationals: the UK only recognises a British passport (or a certificate of entitlement) for re-entry, so travel back on your British passport.
Health: Jabs and Medicines
- See your GP or a travel clinic 6–8 weeks before you go. The NHS-backed TravelHealthPro page for Pakistan lists recommended vaccines, which typically include typhoid and hepatitis A.
- If you will be in Pakistan for more than four weeks, check the current polio vaccination requirements — travellers on longer stays may need proof of a recent polio dose when leaving the country.
- Bring enough prescription medicine for the whole trip in original packaging, with a copy of your prescription.
- Children and elderly relatives feel the heat more — plan around the hottest months (May–July) if you can.
Money
- Cards work in hotels, malls and larger restaurants in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, but cash is still king in bazaars and rural areas.
- Use bank ATMs inside banks or malls, and tell your UK bank you are travelling.
- If you leave or enter the UK with £10,000 or more in cash (in any currency) between Great Britain and a country outside the UK, you must declare it to UK customs. For a family travelling together, the limit applies to the combined total.
- Be wary of property and investment deals offered to overseas Pakistanis — the UK Foreign Office specifically warns about scams targeting the diaspora.
Phones and Internet
Local SIM cards from operators such as Jazz, Zong and Telenor are cheap and easy to buy with your NICOP or passport. Foreign handsets have to be registered with Pakistan’s telecom regulator (PTA) to keep working on local networks beyond a temporary period, so check the current PTA rules if you plan a long stay. Expect mobile data to be suspended occasionally during protests or major events.
When to Go
- November–February: pleasant in Punjab and Sindh and peak wedding season — flights fill up fast.
- March–April: spring, good weather almost everywhere.
- May–September: very hot on the plains and monsoon rain from July, but the best time for the northern mountains.
- Ramadan and Eid: special atmosphere, but working hours change and Eid flights are the most expensive of the year.
Safety and Travel Insurance
The UK Foreign Office advises against all or all but essential travel to several parts of Pakistan, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir — where many British Pakistani families have roots. Travelling to those areas can invalidate standard travel insurance, so check your policy carefully or use a specialist insurer. Read our full guide: Is Pakistan Safe to Visit in 2026?
Sign up for FCDO email alerts for Pakistan so you hear about changes while you are away.
Packing Checklist
- British passport + NICOP/POC or printed visa approval
- Copies of documents (paper and on your phone)
- Prescriptions and a small first-aid kit, including oral rehydration salts
- Modest clothing and a scarf for visiting mosques and shrines
- Universal adaptor (Pakistan mainly uses Type C and D sockets) and a power bank for load-shedding
- Water purification tablets or a filter bottle
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there direct flights from the UK to Pakistan?
Yes. PIA resumed direct flights in 2025–26, including Manchester and London Heathrow to Islamabad and Lahore. Frequencies are still limited, so many travellers also use one-stop routes via the Gulf or Istanbul.
Do British Pakistanis need a visa for Pakistan?
Not if they hold a valid NICOP (Pakistani nationals) or a Pakistan Origin Card (people of Pakistani origin). Otherwise a visa is required before travel.
Can I travel on my Pakistani passport and come back on my British one?
Many dual nationals enter Pakistan on a Pakistani passport or NICOP, but you must show your British passport to airlines and UK Border Force when returning to the UK.
