The visa protector fee in Pakistan is Rs 9,200 if you found the job yourself (direct employment) and Rs 22,200 if you go through a licensed Overseas Employment Promoter (OEP). The difference is the OEP's Rs 15,000 service charge and a lower registration fee.
Choose how you got the job and the number of workers. The Bureau's schedule is the same for Saudi Arabia, the UAE and every other country.
Protector charges item by item
From the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment emigrant fee structure:
| Item | Direct | Through OEP |
|---|---|---|
| OEP service charges (includes Rs 6,000 for processing) | none | Rs 15,000 |
| OPF welfare fund | Rs 4,000 | Rs 4,000 |
| State Life insurance premium | Rs 2,500 | Rs 2,500 |
| Registration fee | Rs 2,500 | Rs 500 |
| OEC fee | Rs 200 | Rs 200 |
| Total | Rs 9,200 | Rs 22,200 |
What each payment buys
OPF welfare fund, Rs 4,000
Makes you a member of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, which offers education facilities for workers' children and housing schemes.
State Life insurance, Rs 2,500
Life cover of Rs 1,000,000 for five years with State Life Insurance Corporation.
Registration fee
Rs 2,500 on a direct visa, Rs 500 through an OEP.
OEC fee, Rs 200
The Overseas Employment Corporation's charge.
OEP service charges, Rs 15,000
Only through a promoter. It includes Rs 6,000 for processing the case. The BEOE schedule does not list a separate Workers Welfare Fund payment.
Worked examples
Driver with a direct visa for Saudi Arabia. Rs 4,000 + Rs 2,500 + Rs 2,500 + Rs 200 = Rs 9,200.
Three electricians hired through an OEP for Qatar. Rs 22,200 each, Rs 66,600 together. Of each Rs 22,200, Rs 7,200 goes to government funds and insurance; the rest is the promoter's charge.
If a promoter asks for much more than Rs 15,000 in service charges, ask for a receipt and check the promoter's licence with the Bureau. Keep every bank challan.
Direct or OEP? On a direct visa you save the Rs 15,000 service charge but pay Rs 2,000 more in registration fee, a net saving of Rs 13,000 per worker. In return you deal with the Protector office yourself, while an OEP handles the paperwork for you.
Other costs before you fly
The protector stamp is one of several costs. Budget also for the passport, medical tests at an approved centre, and attested documents: degrees through HEC and then MOFA. Once you earn abroad, a non-resident generally pays no Pakistan tax on foreign salary; the salary tax calculator is for pay earned in Pakistan.
Charges from the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment emigrant fee structure page, checked 30 September 2026. The page gives no effective date. Insurance cover details from Migrant Resource Centre Pakistan. Confirm the total at the Protector of Emigrants office before paying.
Questions people ask
What is the protector fee in Pakistan?
Rs 9,200 for workers on a direct visa and Rs 22,200 through a licensed OEP. The direct total is the OPF fund Rs 4,000, insurance Rs 2,500, registration Rs 2,500 and OEC fee Rs 200.
What is the visa protector fee for Saudi Arabia or Dubai?
The same as for any country: Rs 9,200 on a direct visa or Rs 22,200 through an OEP. The Bureau's schedule does not vary by destination.
Is protector insurance worth it?
It is compulsory, not optional. The Rs 2,500 premium buys Rs 1,000,000 of life cover with State Life for five years, payable to the family if the worker dies.
Do I need a protector for a visit or family visa?
The protector and these fees are for Pakistanis going abroad for employment. The Bureau's emigrant fee schedule is for workers, not tourists or dependants joining family.
Who pays the OEP service charge?
The worker pays it to the promoter, and the Bureau lists it at Rs 15,000 including Rs 6,000 for processing. Ask for a receipt for every payment.
Last reviewed 30 September 2026. Results are estimates; official notices always take precedence.