South Asia
Immigration to Canada & Australia from Pakistan
Pakistani applicants are well represented in engineering, IT, and healthcare, and English-medium education makes IELTS/PTE targets achievable for many. Below are the main permanent-residency and study pathways for Pakistani applicants — and how ImmiPace helps you choose and prepare the right one.
Canada
AustraliaCanada from Pakistan
Express Entry & PNP
Enter the Express Entry pool (FSW/CEC) and pursue a Provincial Nominee Program for a 600-point boost. You'll need an ECA for your education and a qualifying language test. We optimise your CRS and prepare a document-ready profile. See our CRS guide and Express Entry vs PNP.
Australia from Pakistan
Skilled migration (189/190/491)
Get a positive skills assessment for your occupation, then lodge a points-tested EOI. State nomination (190) or regional (491) can lift your points. See 189 vs 190 vs 491 and skills assessment.
In-demand occupations for Pakistani applicants
Common occupations among applicants from Pakistan include software & IT professionals, civil, mechanical & electrical engineers, doctors & nurses, accountants & finance professionals. Check your exact occupation, ANZSCO/NOC code, and assessing authority in our skilled-occupations directory.
Police certificate
What Canada asks for from Pakistan
- Document
- Police Character Certificate or Police Clearance Certificate
- Issued by
- Provincial police, with separate procedures and portals for Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Islamabad
- If you live elsewhere
- Apply through the nearest Pakistani embassy or consulate, or let a relative in Pakistan apply for you with an affidavit on judicial stamp paper and an authority letter
The Canadian High Commission in Islamabad cannot obtain the certificate for you.
Police clearance certificate in Pakistan: province by province
Source: IRCC police certificate instructions for Pakistan (page dated 4 September 2025), checked 20 October 2026. Australia asks for police certificates from the same authorities.
Engineering degrees
Washington Accord status
The Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) has been a full Washington Accord signatory since 2017. Engineering degrees it accredited for your graduation year can usually be assessed by Engineers Australia without a CDR; earlier or non-accredited degrees still need one.
CDR writing and review for Engineers Australia
Source: International Engineering Alliance, Washington Accord signatories, checked 20 October 2026.
More steps specific to Pakistan
Getting a Pakistani degree assessed for Express Entry
Express Entry needs an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) of your degree. WES says applicants from institutions recognised by the Higher Education Commission are directed to send their academic documents to HEC, which forwards them to WES. Requirements differ by institution, so run WES's required-documents check for your university before you request anything from HEC.
Source: WES: credential evaluations for Pakistan (October 2021), checked 20 October 2026.
Biometrics in Pakistan
VFS Global is the Government of Canada's only visa application centre provider in Pakistan. Biometrics are by appointment, booked on the VFS Pakistan site. Emergency appointments are limited to narrow cases such as the death or critical illness of an immediate family member living in Canada.
Source: VFS Global: Canada visa application centres in Pakistan, checked 20 October 2026.
Bank letters from Pakistani banks
For settlement funds, ask each bank for a letter on its letterhead giving your account numbers, the date each account was opened, the current balance and the average balance over the past 6 months, plus any outstanding loans or card debt. IRCC does not accept borrowed money as settlement funds.
Source: IRCC: proof of funds, checked 20 October 2026.
No working-holiday route to Canada
Pakistan is not part of International Experience Canada, so there is no open or working-holiday work permit for Pakistani passport holders. Almost every Canadian work permit needs a job offer first, and the employer, not the worker, applies for any LMIA. Offers that skip these steps are a common scam.
Source: IRCC: International Experience Canada eligibility, checked 20 October 2026.
Canada work permit from PakistanProof of funds for Canada and Australia
Free assessment on WhatsApp
Applying from Pakistan? Check your options.
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Immigration from Pakistan — FAQs
How can I immigrate to Canada from Pakistan?
Most skilled applicants from Pakistan use Canada's Express Entry system (Federal Skilled Worker or Canadian Experience Class) and may target a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for extra points. You'll need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) and a qualifying English (or French) test. ImmiPace assesses your CRS and builds a document-ready profile.
Can Pakistani applicants get Australian PR?
Yes. Pakistan applicants pursue Australian skilled migration through subclass 189 (Independent), 190 (State Nominated), and 491 (Regional). You'll need a positive skills assessment for your occupation and a points-tested profile. Superior English and state nomination can significantly boost your points.
What are the most in-demand occupations for applicants from Pakistan?
Common occupations among applicants from Pakistan include software & IT professionals, civil, mechanical & electrical engineers, doctors & nurses, accountants & finance professionals. Explore our skilled-occupations directory to check your ANZSCO/NOC classification, assessing authority, and pathway.
Which police certificate does Canada need from Pakistan?
IRCC asks for the Police Character Certificate or Police Clearance Certificate. It is issued by provincial police, with separate procedures and portals for Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Islamabad. If you live elsewhere: apply through the nearest Pakistani embassy or consulate, or let a relative in Pakistan apply for you with an affidavit on judicial stamp paper and an authority letter. The Canadian High Commission in Islamabad cannot obtain the certificate for you.
Do engineers from Pakistan need a CDR for Australia?
The Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) has been a full Washington Accord signatory since 2017. Engineering degrees it accredited for your graduation year can usually be assessed by Engineers Australia without a CDR; earlier or non-accredited degrees still need one.
Does ImmiPace work with clients in Pakistan?
Yes — ImmiPace works with clients worldwide through online consultation and secure follow-up. We assess your profile, prepare your documents and skills assessment, and guide you from first assessment to filing.