Paperwork planner

Who needs it

Almost all applicants, unless the university or scholarship accepts an English-medium certificate (Medium of Instruction letter) instead. Check each scholarship's accepted tests and minimum scores first.

Where to go

IELTS: British Council, IDP or AEO test centres (Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Multan and others). TOEFL iBT: ETS test centres or Home Edition. Duolingo English Test: online at home.

Bring

• Valid passport (the same one you will show on test day)
• Debit/credit card or bank deposit for the fee
• Email address and phone number you will keep using

How to do it

1. Check which tests and minimum band/score each target scholarship and university accepts.
2. Prepare for 4 to 8 weeks using free official practice tests.
3. Book IELTS on the British Council or IDP website 3 to 6 weeks ahead (seats in Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi fill fast before January and March deadlines).
4. If you will apply for a UK visa outside a university's own assessment, book IELTS for UKVI instead of normal IELTS.
5. Take the test, download your result, and send scores to universities through the official portal.

Tips

• IELTS on computer results come in 3 to 5 days; paper-based (now only by special approval) in 13 days; Duolingo in about 48 hours; TOEFL in about a week.
• Leave room for one retake before your deadline; IDP offers One Skill Retake (about PKR 48,000).
• Scores are normally valid for 2 years, so check your test date against the scholarship's validity rule.

Who needs it

Everyone. You need a valid passport to book IELTS/TOEFL, to fill most scholarship forms and to apply for a visa. Many embassies want at least 6 months of validity beyond your planned stay, so renew if yours expires within about 2 years.

Where to go

Any Regional Passport Office (RPO) or NADRA Executive/Passport Processing Centre; renewals can be done online through the DGIP e-services portal.

Bring

• Original valid CNIC (or NICOP) plus a photocopy
• Previous passport and a photocopy, if you had one
• Under 18: B-Form/CRC or FRC plus both parents' CNICs, and a parent must come with you
• Police report with the old passport number, only if your passport was lost

How to do it

1. Check your current passport's expiry date; renew if it ends within about 2 years.
2. For renewal, apply online on the DGIP e-services portal; for a first passport, visit the nearest passport office early in the morning with your CNIC.
3. Choose e-passport where available; choose urgent if you have less than 6 weeks before a test booking or deadline.
4. Pay the fee (bank challan, online or at the counter) and give photo and fingerprints.
5. Track by SMS/email from 9988 and collect the passport when told; check spelling of your name against your degree and CNIC.

Tips

• Make sure your name spelling is identical on passport, CNIC, degrees and test bookings; a mismatch can delay attestation and visas.
• DGIP lists normal as 21 working days, urgent 5 and fast track 2 (MRP only), but plan for delays in peak season.
• IELTS, TOEFL and Duolingo all need your passport on test day, so do this first.

Who needs it

Anyone whose Matric (SSC) and Intermediate (HSSC) certificates will be sent abroad; MOFA will not apostille board certificates without IBCC. O/A-level students need an IBCC equivalence certificate (to SSC/HSSC) for HEC scholarships and Pakistani forms.

Where to go

IBCC online attestation portal (attest.ibcc.edu.pk) with appointment at an IBCC office, courier, or Express evening service (Islamabad, and Lahore per IBCC's process page). Equivalence: equivalence.ibcc.edu.pk.

Bring

• Original Matric and Intermediate certificates (and mark sheets if needed) plus one photocopy each
• Board verification of your certificates (for in-person appointment)
• CNIC or B-Form copy
• Printed application form and fee receipt from the portal
• For O/A levels: original certificates with two attested photocopies, CNIC/B-Form, parent's CNIC copy

How to do it

1. Register on attest.ibcc.edu.pk and fill your profile and SSC/HSSC details.
2. Choose appointment, courier or express mode and book a slot (normal appointments can be about 20 days out).
3. Pay through 1Bill or UBL challan and print the application form.
4. Visit the office with originals, or courier them; express returns in about an hour.
5. For O/A levels, apply separately for equivalence on equivalence.ibcc.edu.pk before HEC or scholarship applications.

Tips

• IBCC says regular processing is 15 to 20 working days and courier about 15 days; an in-person appointment is often same/next day once you get a slot.
• Attest photocopies at the same time; you will need extra attested copies for several applications.
• Equivalence certificates are QR-coded and can be verified online.

Who needs it

Students applying for HEC, provincial (e.g. PEEF, Sindh, KP) or quota-based government scholarships, which allocate seats by province/region. Many foreign university applications do not need it.

Where to go

Deputy Commissioner (DC) office of your district, or e-Khidmat Markaz / the provincial online service in Punjab. In Sindh you may also need a PRC (Permanent Residence Certificate) from the DC office.

Bring

• Your CNIC or B-Form (copy)
• Father's CNIC (copy) and father's domicile if he has one
• Matric certificate or school leaving certificate showing your address/study in the district
• Affidavit on stamp paper (format given by the DC office)
• Passport-size photographs
• Proof of residence such as utility bill or property papers

How to do it

1. Check whether your scholarship asks for domicile (HEC and provincial schemes usually do).
2. Get the domicile form from the DC office or apply online through e-Khidmat in Punjab.
3. Prepare the affidavit on stamp paper and get it attested as instructed.
4. Submit the form with documents and biometrics, and keep the receipt.
5. Collect the certificate and make several attested photocopies.

Tips

• Domicile is a one-time certificate; if you already have one from college admission, you can usually reuse it.
• Make sure your name and father's name match your CNIC exactly.

Who needs it

Anyone applying abroad with a Pakistani bachelor's, master's or higher degree (needed before MOFA apostille and for most scholarships, e.g. Fulbright, Chevening, DAAD, Commonwealth, HEC overseas schemes).

Where to go

Fully online on the HEC e-Services portal (eservices.hec.gov.pk) through the Degree Attestation System (DAS). Since 11 May 2026 originals are no longer sent by courier and walk-in/urgent visits have been replaced.

Bring

• Clear scans of CNIC (front and back)
• Scans of degree and transcript (and provisional certificate or HEC equivalence letter if relevant)
• Matric, Intermediate, bachelor's and master's details (roll/registration numbers, sessions)
• Online payment via 1Link (1Bill) consumer number

How to do it

1. Create or log in to your account on eservices.hec.gov.pk.
2. Enter personal details exactly as on your CNIC and add all academic records from Matric upward.
3. Select the documents to attest (degree, transcript, etc.) and upload clear scans.
4. Pay PKR 3,000 per document through 1Bill using the generated consumer number.
5. HEC verifies with NADRA and your university; download the e-Attestation Certificate when you get the SMS/email.

Tips

• Processing time is not officially published; HEC pays universities extra to verify within 24 to 72 hours, so a week or two is typical but allow up to 3 weeks.
• Old unpaid courier/walk-in applications were cancelled; apply fresh on the new system.
• Ask MOFA or the courier whether they accept the e-Attestation Certificate for apostille before you book an apostille slot.

Who needs it

Needed when a sponsor (usually a parent) funds your studies and the visa officer or scholarship needs proof of relationship, or when your name/father's name differs across documents. Commonly asked for UK, Schengen and Canada student visas where a parent's bank account is used.

Where to go

Any NADRA Registration Centre, or online through the Pak ID app/website.

Bring

• Your CNIC (or B-Form)
• Parents' CNICs
• Biometric verification at NADRA or in the Pak ID app

How to do it

1. Check that all family members are correctly registered in NADRA (update records first if needed).
2. Apply in the Pak ID app or visit a NADRA centre and ask for an FRC (English version).
3. Pay the fee and complete biometric verification.
4. Download the FRC or collect the printed copy.

Tips

• Ask for the English version so you do not need a translation.
• Some embassies also want the FRC attested by MOFA; check the visa checklist.

Who needs it

Needed when a university, scholarship or embassy asks for legalised documents (common for Germany, Italy, Spain, China, Turkey, Gulf states, Korea). Pakistan joined the Apostille Convention in 2023, so for member countries one MOFA apostille replaces embassy legalisation; non-member countries still need MOFA attestation plus their embassy's stamp.

Where to go

Online registration at apostille.mofa.gov.pk, then submission at MOFA Islamabad or camp offices in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and Gujrat; or through authorised couriers (TCS, Leopards, Gerry's, M&P, Excellent).

Bring

• HEC-attested degree and transcript (for university documents)
• IBCC-attested Matric and Intermediate certificates (for board documents)
• Original CNIC (and scans of both sides for online registration)
• Photocopy of each document for MOFA records
• Fee challan paid online, by easypaisa or bank

How to do it

1. Finish HEC and IBCC attestation first; MOFA refuses documents without them.
2. Check whether the destination country is an Apostille member; if not, plan for embassy legalisation after MOFA.
3. Register at apostille.mofa.gov.pk, upload CNIC and documents and submit the application.
4. Wait for the approval email and challan, pay it, and visit on the given date and time (or hand over to an authorised courier).
5. Collect the apostilled documents and keep scans.

Tips

• MOFA says general attestation is usually done within about two hours once you are at the counter; the wait for online approval is the slow part.
• Apostille only the documents the university actually asks for; at PKR 3,000 each it adds up.
• Keep checking your email; MOFA may ask for extra documents before approval.

Who needs it

Only if a document you must submit is in Urdu or another language (e.g. some domicile certificates, Nikah nama, old FRC, property or income papers for sponsorship). Degrees and IBCC/HEC papers are already in English.

Where to go

A sworn/certified translator or a translation service that stamps and signs each page; some embassies want the translation itself attested by MOFA.

Bring

• Original document and clear photocopy
• CNIC copy of the document holder

How to do it

1. List which of your documents are not in English.
2. Check the embassy or university rules on who can translate (some require their own approved translators).
3. Get the translation stamped and signed on each page.
4. If required, get the translation attested or apostilled by MOFA along with the original.

Tips

• Ask NADRA for English versions (FRC, birth certificate) to avoid translation completely.
• German and Italian embassies are strict; read their document checklist carefully.

Who needs it

Self-funded and partly funded students at the visa stage, and some scholarships that ask for proof of funds. Fully funded scholarship holders usually show their award letter instead.

Where to go

Your own or your sponsor's (usually a parent's) bank branch in Pakistan.

Bring

• Bank statement on letterhead, stamped and signed, covering the required period
• Bank maintenance/balance certificate in English
• Sponsor's letter explaining relationship and support
• Sponsor's CNIC copy and NADRA FRC as proof of relationship
• Sponsor's income proof (salary slips, tax returns, business papers)

How to do it

1. Check the exact amount and holding period for your destination country (UK: 28 days).
2. Move the full amount into one account and leave it untouched for the whole period.
3. Ask the bank for a stamped statement and a balance certificate at the end of the period.
4. Write a short sponsorship letter signed by your parent with their CNIC and contact details.
5. Attach an FRC to prove the relationship.

Tips

• Avoid large unexplained deposits just before the period starts; officers ask where the money came from.
• Convert at a conservative exchange rate and add a buffer of 5 to 10 percent because the rupee can move.

Who needs it

Required by some scholarships and visas (e.g. Korea GKS, China, Turkey, some Gulf and European countries, and many immigration routes). Not normally needed for a UK student visa. Get it close to your application because many countries want it less than 3 to 6 months old.

Where to go

Punjab: any Police Khidmat Markaz (PKM) in the province. Islamabad: Islamabad Police character certificate counter/online. Sindh: Sindh Police PRVS online request (prvs.sindhpolice.gov.pk). KP: SSP office / Police Access Line in your district. A national online system by the National Police Bureau was approved in Aug 2026 but had no start date.

Bring

• Original CNIC (or B-Form) and photocopy
• Original passport and photocopy
• Affidavit on stamp paper (KP: verified on the back by your local police station and DSP)
• Passport-size photographs
• If you are abroad: authority letter for a blood relative applying for you, and copy of your last exit stamp

How to do it

1. Check whether your scholarship or visa needs it and how recent it must be.
2. Prepare the affidavit and copies of CNIC and passport.
3. Apply in the province of the address on your CNIC: PKM (Punjab), Islamabad Police, Sindh PRVS online, or SSP office (KP).
4. Give fingerprints/photo where asked and pay the fee.
5. Collect it or receive it by courier, then get it MOFA attested/apostilled if the country asks.

Tips

• In KP you must first get the affidavit signed by your local police station and circle DSP, so allow extra days.
• If you have lived at two addresses, you may need clearance from both police stations.

Who needs it

Anyone from Pakistan applying for a UK visa for 6 months or more (all UK student visas for full degrees). Australia, Canada and New Zealand require a separate panel-physician medical.

Where to go

Only UK Home Office approved clinics: IOM (Islamabad F-10/G-8, Lahore Gulberg III, Karachi PECHS, Mirpur AJK) or AMC (Islamabad G-6, Lahore).

Bring

• Passport (the one you will use for the visa)
• Copy of your photo ID
• Passport-size photographs
• Appointment confirmation email
• Test fee

How to do it

1. Book with IOM (uktbappointments@iom.int) or AMC once you have your CAS or are close to applying.
2. Attend with your passport, photos and fee; a chest x-ray is taken.
3. Collect the certificate if the result is clear (sputum tests can take up to 8 weeks if needed).
4. Upload the certificate with your UK visa application.

Tips

• The certificate is valid for 6 months from the x-ray date, so do not take it too early.
• Certificates from non-approved clinics are rejected.

Who needs it

Pakistani travellers leaving the country may be asked for a NADRA-linked polio vaccination certificate under the WHO travel rules for Pakistan (a dose between 4 weeks and 12 months before departure). Some universities and visa centres also ask for it.

Where to go

Get the polio dose free at a government hospital, EPI centre or District Health Office (recorded in NIMS), then get the digital certificate from NADRA (Pak ID app, e-Sahulat or NADRA centre).

Bring

• CNIC
• Passport
• Vaccination record entered in NIMS

How to do it

1. Get the polio drops at a government facility at least 4 weeks (and no more than 12 months) before your flight.
2. Make sure the staff enter your CNIC/passport number in the NIMS system.
3. Download or print the NADRA vaccination certificate.
4. Carry it in your hand luggage when you fly.

Tips

• Airport counters can vaccinate on the day, but arrive about 6 hours early; better to do it in advance.
• Check your airline's and destination's latest rules a week before travel.