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Prepare to depart: a 90-day countdown for Pakistani students

Once your visa is approved, sort travel, money, housing, health cover and the Pakistan-specific requirements before you fly.

Last reviewed 30 September 2026. Figures are checked against the sources listed at the bottom of the page.

Talk to a counsellor

90 daysStart this checklist when your visa is approved

4 weeksPolio vaccination before travel for Pakistani travellers

US$70,000State Bank yearly limit per student for education remittances

180 daysPrepaid Pakistani SIMs are blocked after this much inactivity

Countdown Pakistan checks Packing Arrival plan FAQs

Countdown checklist

When	Do this
90 to 60 days	Confirm housing for at least the first two weeks. Open a forex-ready bank card. Book health insurance where it is separate from the visa. Ask your university for arrival and orientation dates.
60 to 30 days	Pay tuition through an authorised dealer bank and keep the confirmation. Book refundable flights. Get polio vaccination if you have not done it, and keep the certificate with your passport.
30 to 14 days	Order GBP, AUD, CAD or USD through your bank in the amount allowed. Arrange airport pickup. Copy every document and upload to secure cloud storage. Prepare an eSIM or a SIM plan. See SIM card guide.
14 to 7 days	Pack hand luggage with attested originals, visa, offer letters, accommodation details, prescriptions, university contact and emergency numbers. Check baggage rules.
Final 48 hours	Check in online, save offline maps, tell your bank you are travelling, share your arrival plan with family.

Pakistan-specific requirements

Polio vaccination certificate. Pakistan requires outbound travellers to be vaccinated against polio and to carry the certificate. Get it at least four weeks before departure and check the current requirement with your airline and health authority.
Foreign exchange. State Bank rules allow authorised dealers to remit up to US$70,000 per student per calendar year for approved education purposes, and, under the bank document we reviewed, to release US$5,000 cash for initial expenses endorsed on the passport. Ask your bank for the current limit.
Keep your Pakistani SIM alive. Prepaid SIMs with no activity for 180 consecutive days can be blocked and reissued to someone else, including numbers you need for banking OTPs. See SIM guide.
Carry attested originals in hand luggage, never in checked baggage.
Emergency contacts. Save the Pakistani embassy or high commission number for your destination.

Packing and customs

Carry in hand luggage

Passport and visa evidence
Offer, CAS, CoE or I-20
Attested degrees and transcripts
Accommodation booking
Prescriptions and medicines in original packaging
A printed copy of your funds evidence and insurance

Check before you pack

Food and plant rules. Australia and New Zealand have strict biosecurity and fine undeclared food
Medicine import limits for your destination
Electrical plugs and voltage
Seasonal clothing for your first month
Baggage allowance on the airline you booked

Watch out: Do not carry parcels or items for other people. Do not bring more cash than the destination allows you to declare without problems.

Plan the first 72 hours

Book your first two nights in writing. Do not arrive without a confirmed address.
Keep your enrolment letter and offer on your phone for immigration questions.
Check when you are allowed to enter before the course start date, because visa start dates differ.
Message your university international office with your arrival time.
Have a small amount of local currency and a working card for day one.

Frequently asked questions

When should I book my flights?

After your visa is approved, and book a fare with flexible change rules. Check the earliest date you are allowed to arrive on your visa.

Can I carry Pakistani food to my destination?

Rules differ by country. Australia and New Zealand inspect and fine undeclared food. Check the official customs page before you pack spices, dried fruit, meat or dairy.

How much cash should I take?

Take enough for the first few days, within the limit your bank and the destination allow. Rely mainly on a travel or debit card.

Do I need travel insurance on top of student insurance?

Your student cover usually starts when you arrive or from the policy date. Check whether it covers the journey and lost baggage, and buy short travel cover if not.

Is the polio certificate really checked?

Airlines and health officials can ask for it, and travellers without it can face delays. Carry it with your passport.

Sources and how we verify

Checked on 30 September 2026. This page is general information, not legal, immigration, medical or financial advice. Rules, fees and deadlines change, so confirm with the official body before you pay or apply.

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