Best Countries to Move to from Pakistan (2026): 4 Routes Compared

Canada: Federal Skilled Worker through Express Entry

The Federal Skilled Worker Program has minimum requirements, and IRCC applies its points grid only if you meet all of them. For skilled work experience, IRCC’s page lists at least 1 year of continuous paid work, or 1,560 hours in total, in TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3, within the last 10 years. For language, you must take approved English or French tests and meet the minimum score in all four abilities; the points table does not allow a first-language result below CLB level 7. If your education is foreign, you need a completed credential and an Educational Credential Assessment for immigration purposes. You must also be admissible to Canada and plan to live outside Quebec. If you meet all the minimum requirements, IRCC uses selection-factor points: you need 67 points or higher. These points are different from the points used to rank your profile in the Express Entry pool. A job offer can add points on that 67-point grid, but it is not one of the minimum requirements. You must also show enough money to settle in Canada; IRCC lists an exemption for people who can already legally work in Canada and have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada. Meeting these conditions only lets you submit a profile to the Express Entry pool. IRCC then invites candidates from the pool in rounds, choosing them by Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. IRCC says that as of 25 March 2025 it removed job-offer points from the CRS.

IRCC: Federal Skilled Worker Program eligibility IRCC: Express Entry rounds of invitations IRCC: Express Entry — Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) criteria

United Kingdom: Skilled Worker visa

The Skilled Worker visa requires a job with an employer approved by the Home Office and usually a salary of at least £41,700 a year or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher. The minimum can be lower in listed cases, such as some extensions. Check whether your occupation is eligible and whether the employer can sponsor it before you apply.

GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa — your job

Germany: Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)

Under section 20a of the Residence Act, the Opportunity Card is a residence permit to look for work or for measures to recognise foreign qualifications. It allows employment averaging up to 20 hours a week and trial work of up to two weeks, and requires secured means of living. Applicants qualify either as a skilled worker (Fachkraft) or through the points table. The points route also requires at least basic German or B2 English and a foreign university degree, or a foreign vocational qualification that took at least two years of training, recognised by the state where it was obtained and confirmed by a competent German body; certain vocational qualifications issued by a German chamber of commerce abroad are a further option.

Residence Act section 20a (Opportunity Card)

Japan and Portugal

Japan’s Immigration Services Agency lists a Specified Skilled Worker cooperation memorandum with Pakistan and notes that Pakistani nationals coming to Japan under it must register with the Protectorate of Emigrants office of the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BE&OE). Portugal’s consular portal states that its skilled job-seeker visa is not yet available at Portuguese consular offices.

Immigration Services Agency of Japan: SSW bilateral memoranda of cooperation Portugal consular portal: skilled job seeker visa

Steps in Pakistan before you apply for work abroad

The Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BE&OE) says every intending emigrant must have the foreign service agreement protected by the Protectorate of Emigrants office.

Direct employment: the documents listed include a valid passport, a CNIC, the visa for the host country, and an employment contract signed by the employer, or by an undertaking approved by the BE&OE Director General. A Protector of Emigrant officer then signs the passport.

Through an Overseas Employment Promoter (OEP): the OEP must apply to the Federal Government for a licence. Before a foreign demand is processed, the OEP applies to the Protector of Emigrants for permission. The demand papers must be attested by a foreign ministry or an embassy, and the visa slip or labour approval must be submitted. If the visa slip is not available, the OEP gives an undertaking that the jobs exist. After recruitment, workers are registered with the relevant Protector of Emigrants.

Attestation: documents originating in Pakistan must first be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) or its camp offices. Degrees from universities should be attested by the Higher Education Commission. Degrees and experience certificates issued abroad should be attested by the Pakistani missions abroad. From 27 July 2026, MOFA apostille applications need prior online registration.

Fees are not quoted here; check the current fees with BE&OE and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you start.

Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BE&OE): How to get Emigrant's Protection BE&OE: What's Protection and its benefits BE&OE: Permission for processing foreign demand BE&OE: Roles and Functions of Overseas Employment Promoters (OEPs) Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan: Attestation of Documents and Legalization Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan: Consular services, SOPs for attestation of documents

What the four routes say about family

Canada (Federal Skilled Worker): IRCC’s page refers to a spouse or common-law partner who will immigrate with you. Dependent children may be included if they are under 22 and do not have a spouse or partner. You must also show enough money for you and your family to settle in Canada.

United Kingdom (Skilled Worker): GOV.UK says your partner and children may be able to join you or stay as your dependants, through separate applications. A partner counts if they are your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner. A child counts if under 18, or over 18 with existing dependant permission. They must also have a certain amount of money available to support themselves.

Germany (Opportunity Card): Make it in Germany says a spouse who also meets the requirements can apply together and enter at the same time. Otherwise a spouse cannot join without their own residence title, but you can apply for them to join once you take up qualified employment. Children can come “under certain conditions”, and you must be able to cover the cost of living for them.

Japan (Specified Skilled Worker): the Immigration Services Agency says family members are “not permitted basically” under Specified Skilled Worker (i). Under (ii), a spouse and children are possible if the requirements are met. The ISA’s Pakistan entry refers to Specified Skilled Workers without naming (i) or (ii), so both are shown here.

Portugal (skilled job seeker visa): the consular page says this visa is not yet available at Portuguese consular offices, and it says nothing about family.

IRCC (Government of Canada): Express Entry - Federal Skilled Worker Program IRCC (Government of Canada): Who you can include as a dependent child on an immigration application GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa - Your partner and children Make it in Germany (Federal Government portal): Questions and answers regarding the opportunity card Immigration Services Agency of Japan (Ministry of Justice): Initiatives to Accept Foreign Nationals (PDF, revised 17 July 2026) Immigration Services Agency of Japan: Bilateral memorandum of cooperation regarding Specified Skilled Workers (Japanese-language page) Portugal consular portal (Ministry of Foreign Affairs): Skilled Job Seeker Visa - Necessary documentation

There is no single easiest route

There is no single easiest route. The list gives the official requirements that decide each outcome; it is not an assessment of you. Portugal is not listed because its skilled job seeker visa is not yet available.

Canada, Federal Skilled Worker: at least one year of continuous paid skilled work, or 1,560 hours, in TEER category 0 to 3 within the last 10 years; approved English or French tests with the minimum score in all four abilities; for foreign education, a completed credential and an Educational Credential Assessment; and 67 points or higher on the selection factors, out of 100. A job offer is a selection factor, not a minimum requirement.

United Kingdom, Skilled Worker: a job eligible for the visa; a job offer from an employer approved by the Home Office, made before you apply; pay of at least the higher of £41,700 a year or the going rate for the job; and English at CEFR level B2 as the general rule (as GOV.UK stated when read on 13 October 2026).

Germany, Opportunity Card: either a qualification recognised as equivalent to a German one (skilled worker route, no points), or at least six points under the points system. The points route needs a university degree or a non-academic vocational qualification recognised by the state where obtained, and German or English language skills at a certain CEFR level. Section 20a also requires secured living costs.

Japan, Specified Skilled Worker (i): a skills test and a Japanese language test (exams such as N4, per the ISA); age 18 or older; and an employment contract with an accepting organisation.

IRCC (Government of Canada): Express Entry - Federal Skilled Worker Program GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa - Your job GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa - Knowledge of English Make it in Germany (Federal Government portal): Questions and answers regarding the opportunity card Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz, AufenthG), section 20a: Chancenkarte (Federal Ministry of Justice, gesetze-im-internet.de) Immigration Services Agency of Japan (Ministry of Justice): Initiatives to Accept Foreign Nationals (PDF, revised 17 July 2026)