Are you sure you want to move to gulf? Think again!

Yep, if you are moving to gulf(Dubai) from Pakistan (Karachi), it(the process) sounds like you are placing an order for a double cheese burger with diet coke!

 What is the process?

S. No.	Steps	Duration (Days)	Fee (PKR)	Comment
1	Get passport	7	4200
2	Get attested degrees	5	6700	HEC + UAE Consulate (PKR1200 + ~USD45)
3	Send to employer for visa	1	0
4	Receive passport/visa	20	0	~Keep 3/4 weeks of time; better resign only when you receive your visa
5	Get NICOP	7	1500	USD 25? @PKR86 (PKR 3000 for urgent); besides NIC
6	Obtain ticket with OK-TO-BOARD	2	21000	Get the ticket agent that is close to your place; they usually charge 6% of the ticket charges
7	Get protector stamp	1	6700	Very cumbersome process if you DIY
8	Shop	3	25000	If you must, must you should
9	Prepare to fly	1	0	Checkout the checklist that, if you may need
	TOTAL	47	65100

 

STEP 1: How to prepare/renew Pakistani passport?

Process:

1. Day 1: Get bank Challan from the National Bank that is inside Passport office, Saddar (PKR4100 Fee + PKR25 Service Charges = 4125 (as of today) – FastTrack ~5 days)
   • Requires:
     1. Old passport
     2. NIC
     3. NIC of one of your parent

Note that, if you are going for a brand new passport, they will ask you for the educational transcripts; so, inquire before you leave your place for passport office

1. Day 2: Submit application (if you have time, and patience, you can continue this on the Day1 – but trust me, you wouldn’t want to afford that if you are with you family)
2. Day 7: Collect passport (~next week sometime)
   • Requires:
     1. NIC

Location:

Passport office, Saddar, Karachi

References:

• Directorate General of Immigration & Passports, Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan

 

STEP 2: How to get the educational documents (degree/transcripts) attested?

Process:

1. Day 1: Attestation from HEC (Use OCS Courier Service, PKR1200/-) ~5 days. Any OCS close to your place.
   • Requires:
     1. HEC requires Matriculation/Intermediate marksheets, and certificates to be attached as well, besides your University degrees
2. Day 6: Attestation from Foreign Ministry (Submit PKR25/-) ~2 Day process. This is right beside the FTC (Finance and Trade Center), Sharah-e-Faisal road.
   • Requires:
     1. Degree attested by HEC
3. Day 8: Attestation from UAE Embassy (Use Bokhari Travels, USD40/- per document) ~1 day if you are willing to pay USD60/- for urgent service, otherwise USD40/- ~4 working days.
   • Requires:
     1. Degrees attested by HEC + Foreign Ministry

Location:

• For HEC, use nearest OCS
• Foreign Ministry, right beside FTC, Shahrah-e-Faisal
• For UAE Consulate, go to Bokhari Travels that is on main Punjab Chowrangi

References:

• Higher Education Commission, Degree Attestation Services
• Possible fee

 

STEP 3: How to get NICOP (National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis)?

Please don’t ask why, it is necessary, because I don’t have the answer to that; I wonder about the reason of having multiple identifications, NIC, NICOP, Passport, and what not – for a single reason!

Process:

Somewhat similar to when filing for an NIC

1. Issuance of Token
   • Requires:
     1. Birth Certificate —OR—
     2. Old NIC —OR—
     3. Matriculation Certificate —OR—
     4. CNICs of immediate relatives —OR—
     5. Passport (mandatory in case of new)
2. Photo capturing
3. Thumb and Signatures
4. Data Acquisition by DEO
5. Form Printing
6. Attestation & Form Submission

Location:

Any NADRA office close to your place

References:

• National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA)

 

STEP 4: How to get OK-TO-BOARD stamped on my visa copy?

Process:

1. Get ticket
2. Send your ticket/itinerary details to your employer, and ask them to apply for the OK-TO-BOARD message — OR—
   • Requires:
     1. Ticket/itinerary details
3. Give you visa/entry permit copy to your ticket agent, and tell her to provide you with an OK-TO-BOARD stamp.
   • Requires:
     1. Visa/entry permit copy

Note: Get ticket from Emirates. OK-TO-BOARD more streamlined; suggested by a friend. It would look something like following(see hand written OK-TO-BOARD in the highlighted red):

References:

• Emirates Airlines
• OK-TO-BOARD Since when?

 

STEP 5: How can I get protectorate stamp on my passport?

Who and why in the world would ever want it? This process/explanation might soothe your veins.

Process:

1. Provide documents on the protectorate counter; s/he will give you a bank challan copy to sign it
   • · Requires:
     1. Passport with visa stamped
     2. NICOP or its receipt
     3. Offer letter
     4. Ticket with OK to board —OR—
     5. Attested offer letter by Ministry of foreign affairs in DUBAI

Note: You will need OK-TO-BOARD in any case, but you can’t get it stamped prior to departure.

1. Submit challan in National Bank, UBL Bank, and Habib Bank
2. Get photocopy of those challan on single page – not sure why its important, but it was asked with everyone
3. Attach the challan recepts with other documents, and arrange if you can, otherwise give it to the photocopy guy; he will do that for you.
4. Hand it over to the counter
5. If you are lucky, they will tell you collect after 2 hours; meanwhile you roam around the Shahrah-e-Faisal sidewalks, you can enjoy a newly open Biryani shop there. ~PKR60/serving;0)

Catch99: There is a tiny Photostat shop inside the protectorate office; give all of the documents to him, and he will do the job for you, just for PKR100/- no hassle.

I did it on my own, with the help of the people around, and I did all of it. Except for the arrangements of the documents in specific order. I did not know that – and that shop guy was not willing to disclose that to me; under pressure with small amount of time left in that “sarkari (read: government)” office, I decided to let him arrange that for a cost of PKR90/- Money wasn’t the issue, it was just that I wanted to do it myself, because documents were original and I wanted to avoid any last minutes shocks – or – apologies – so to say, that he has lost the documents/etc. Anyway, throw in the money, relax, and enjoy!

Notes

• NICOP and protector can be done through the same office
• Takes ~1 week to receive the NICOP for urgent service
• You can apply for Protectorate based on the receipt of the NICOP

Location:

• Protectorate Office is located on the street right behind KFC, Nursery, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi

• If you live somewhere near North Nazimabad, there is one more office, which I have not verified, which is near Nagan Chorangi behind Salim Center, PTCL Office; a service lane is going inside, after ~200 meters, you will find the office on the left. A friend pointed out.

References:

• Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment, Government of Pakistan
• WikiHow, Howto