Ecctis Statement of Comparability for Pakistani Degrees: UK Visa Guide 2026

Many Pakistani professionals believe that graduating from an English-medium university — NUST, FAST, LUMS, or any number of other institutions — exempts them from proving English language proficiency for a UK visa. That exemption no longer exists. Since 2025, all Pakistani applicants must use the Ecctis Qualification and Language Service to verify their degree and, where applicable, obtain an English proficiency statement. Getting this wrong does not result in a request for more information. It results in a refusal of the English language component of your Skilled Worker application, with the non-refundable visa fee already paid.

What Ecctis Does and Why Pakistani Applicants Need It

Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) is the UK government's designated body for assessing overseas qualifications. It maps foreign degrees to the UK's Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and, through its Qualification and Language Service (QLS), issues two types of statements relevant to Skilled Worker visa applications:

Statement of Comparability — this document confirms the level your Pakistani degree compares to in the UK system. A four-year BS Honours degree from an HEC-recognized Pakistani university typically maps to RQF Level 6 (UK Bachelor Honours), while the older two-year BA/BSc may only map to RQF Level 4 or 5. The difference matters: some visa roles require a degree-equivalent qualification at Level 6 or above.

English Proficiency Statement — this document confirms whether your degree was taught in English and can be used as evidence of English language proficiency at the required level. Since January 8, 2026, the English language requirement for Skilled Worker visas has risen from CEFR B1 to CEFR B2. The Ecctis QLS will assess whether your Pakistani degree satisfies the new B2 standard — not the old B1 standard. Many degrees that were previously accepted for English exemption may no longer satisfy the higher threshold.

The QLS Process: What Changed in May 2025

Before May 2025, Pakistani professionals could use Ecctis's older "Visas and Nationality" service. That service has been replaced by the Qualification and Language Service (QLS), which introduced two significant changes.

Higher cost, longer timeline. The QLS costs £210 plus VAT, compared to the previous service. The standard processing time is 20 working days. There is no expedited or fast-track option. A 20-working-day turnaround means approximately four calendar weeks from submission to receiving the Ecctis reference code — time that must be factored into the CoS window.

Mandatory live identity check. QLS applicants must complete a live identity verification using a chipped passport and a facial scan performed through a mobile application. This check verifies that the person submitting the application matches the passport holder. For Pakistani applicants whose passports have older, damaged, or malfunctioning biometric chips, this identity check frequently fails. A failed live identity check results in the application being closed automatically. The QLS fee — £210 plus VAT — is non-refundable.

If you have a Pakistani passport issued before 2018, check whether the biometric chip reads correctly before submitting your QLS application. You can test this using an NFC-enabled smartphone and the standard passport NFC reader apps. If the chip does not read, apply for a new Pakistani passport before attempting QLS.

How the Verification Process Works with HEC

Ecctis does not independently accept self-submitted degree documents as verified. When you submit your degree details to QLS, Ecctis contacts your Pakistani university directly for verification. The university has 20 working days to respond. If the university fails to respond within that window, Ecctis closes the application without refund.

This is the most significant operational risk in the Ecctis process for Pakistani applicants. Pakistani university administration offices are variable in their response rates. Universities with dedicated international verification desks — typically larger institutions like UET, NUST, FAST, or Aga Khan University — respond reliably. Smaller private universities or regional institutions may not respond within 20 working days.

The practical approach is to contact your university's registrar's office before submitting the QLS application. Confirm that they have a process for responding to Ecctis verification requests and that they will respond within 20 days. Some universities require a formal letter from the applicant before they will engage with any overseas verification body. Send that letter as soon as you begin the QLS submission.

Your HEC-attested degree is not the same as Ecctis verification. HEC attestation confirms the degree is genuine. Ecctis separately contacts the university to confirm the degree details independently. Both steps are required.

The B2 English Threshold: What Pakistani Applicants Face in 2026

The B2 English requirement — effective January 8, 2026 — means that using a Pakistani degree for English proficiency is now significantly harder than it was under the previous B1 standard. At B1, many Pakistani universities' degrees satisfied the medium-of-instruction requirement. At B2, the bar is higher: the degree must have been taught primarily or entirely in English, and the Ecctis assessment must confirm English proficiency at upper-intermediate level.

For professionals whose degree had some Urdu-language instruction or mixed-medium components, or those who graduated from institutions with weaker international standing, the QLS English proficiency statement may come back as insufficient for B2. In that case, the only alternative is a Secure English Language Test — IELTS for UKVI, PTE Academic UKVI, or another UKVI-approved test.

Taking an SELT is more expensive and more difficult than relying on the degree, but it is more reliable. IELTS for UKVI requires a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four bands (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) to satisfy B2. Many Pakistani applicants who are confident in their English are still unprepared for the academic IELTS format and score below 5.5 in Writing on first attempt. If you are planning to rely on IELTS, begin preparation at least three months before your target application date and book through the British Council Pakistan for UKVI-approved sittings.

When to Use QLS and When to Take the Test Instead

If your degree is from a large, well-known Pakistani university, was taught entirely in English, and your passport biometric chip is functioning, the Ecctis QLS route is viable. The total timeline from HEC attestation to Ecctis QLS completion is approximately six to eight weeks under ideal conditions.

If any of the following apply, you are better served by booking an IELTS for UKVI test rather than attempting QLS:

• Your passport biometric chip does not read reliably
• Your university has a history of slow response to verification requests
• Your degree programme had any non-English instruction
• You do not have time in your CoS window for a 20-working-day QLS process

An IELTS for UKVI result is valid for two years and accepted unconditionally by UKVI. It is more certain than the QLS route even if it requires more preparation effort.

For a decision framework on QLS versus IELTS — and the exact sequence for running Ecctis verification in parallel with HEC attestation and the IOM TB test — see the Pakistan to UK Skilled Worker Guide.

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