How to find a genuine job abroad from Pakistan (and avoid fake offers)

Every year, many Pakistanis build successful careers in the Gulf, the UK, the USA and elsewhere. Every year, others also lose savings to fake agents and invented job offers. The good news is that genuine vacancies follow clear patterns, and a few simple checks will protect you from most scams. This guide explains what those checks are.

1. Start from the employer, not the agent

The safest place to find a job is the employer's own careers website. Large employers in the Gulf, such as airlines, hospitals and government-linked companies, publish their vacancies online and accept applications directly. UK employers, including the NHS, advertise on their own recruitment portals.

On the Prime Horizon Jobs board, every listing links to the official advert on the employer's site or a recognised job portal. We don't take applications, and we never charge candidates.

Tip: if you hear about a job through WhatsApp, Facebook or a friend, search for it on the employer's official careers page before you send any documents.

2. Never pay for a job offer

Genuine employers do not charge candidates for:

• a job offer
• an interview
• a visa

If anyone asks you for money to "secure" a job, treat it as a warning sign.

When you go abroad through a recruitment agent in Pakistan, use only an Overseas Employment Promoter (OEP) licensed by the Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment. Ask the agent for their licence number and check it with the Bureau before you sign anything or hand over your passport. Workers going abroad for employment must also register with the Bureau through the Protector of Emigrants.

The Overseas Employment Corporation is the Government of Pakistan's own recruitment agency, and it advertises government-to-government and employer demands at oec.gov.pk.

3. Warning signs of a fake job offer

• You are asked to pay a "processing", "visa" or "medical" fee to a personal account.
• The offer arrives without a proper interview, or after a short chat on WhatsApp.
• The email comes from a free address (such as Gmail or Yahoo) rather than the employer's company domain.
• The salary is far above normal for the role and country.
• They pressure you to decide quickly ("only two seats left", "pay today").
• The offer letter has errors: spelling mistakes, no company registration details, or a logo that looks copied.
• They ask for your original passport before a verified contract exists.

If you are unsure, contact the employer directly using the details on its official website, not the phone number or email in the message you received.

4. Country-by-country checks

United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar

• Check the offer on the company's official careers site. Major Gulf employers recruit through their own portals.
• Health professionals need a local licence. You will need one from the relevant regulator:
• UAE: Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH) or the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP)
• Saudi Arabia: Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS)
• Qatar: Ministry of Public Health (MOPH)

Employers usually explain the licensing steps in the advert. - Engineers and other regulated professions may need their qualifications attested or registered. - Read your contract carefully. It should state: - salary - allowances (housing and transport) - working hours - leave - end-of-service benefits

United Kingdom

• Most overseas workers need a job from a licensed visa sponsor. You can check any UK employer on the official Register of licensed sponsors published by UK Visas and Immigration.
• Health and care roles need professional registration:
• nurses with the NMC
• doctors with the GMC
• pharmacists with the GPhC

Registration can take several months, so start early. - Apply directly through the employer, for example NHS trusts' own vacancy pages. The official visa fees are paid to the UK government. Paying a middleman for a "certificate of sponsorship" is a common scam.

United States

• International organisations based in Washington, DC, such as the IMF and the World Bank, recruit globally. Their staff usually hold G-4 visas, which the organisation arranges.
• Most private-sector US jobs require employer sponsorship. Be very cautious of anyone selling US "work permits" or "job visas".

5. Make your application stand out

• Tailor your CV to each role. Match the job title and the key requirements in the advert.
• Show results with numbers. For example: "reduced processing time by 30%" or "managed a team of 12".
• Get your documents ready early:
• passport
• attested degrees
• experience letters
• professional licences
• Apply before the deadline. Many employers close adverts early once they receive enough applications.

If you'd like help, our CV services cover CVs, cover letters and interview preparation. You can also join the Talent Network to hear about roles that match your profile.

Quick checklist before you accept an offer

1. The job appears on the employer's official website or a recognised portal.
2. You had a real interview with the employer.
3. You haven't paid anyone for the offer.
4. Any agent is licensed by the Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment.
5. You have a written contract showing salary, benefits and working hours.
6. For the UK, the employer is on the Register of licensed sponsors.

Browse verified vacancies by country on the Jobs board: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UK, USA and Pakistan.

This guide is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules change, so always confirm requirements with the official authority or employer.