Poland, Romania and Hungary are in the EU and Schengen; Ukraine, Serbia and the UAE are outside. Every work route starts with an employer. Ukraine sets statutory terms at each stage: work permit within 7 working days, D-04 visa (USD 404) within 10, residence card within 15, and permanent residence after five years of TRP on work grounds.
Six countries at a glance
The work route for a Pakistani passport in each country, as its official sources stated it on 31 October 2026.
| Country | EU and Schengen | Work route for a Pakistani passport |
|---|---|---|
| Poland | EU · Schengen since 2007 | Polish employer files form ZC-WWZPP on praca.gov.pl; fee PLN 400; labour-market test abolished 1 June 2025 |
| Romania | EU · Schengen 2024–2025 | Single application on WorkinRomania.gov.ro (GEO 32/2026); disabled after a court decision (site notice, 31 October 2026) |
| Hungary | EU · Schengen since 2007 | Employment permit listed for Georgia, Armenia and the Philippines (Decree 450/2024); decision within 70 days |
| Serbia | Outside both | Visa required for Pakistani passports; single residence-and-work permit, online only, since 1 February 2024 |
| UAE | Outside both | Employer applies for a two-year, renewable work visa; no income tax on individuals |
| Ukraine | Outside both | Employer’s permit within 7 working days; D-04 visa USD 404; permanent residence route after 5 years of TRP |
Sources for each line are listed on the country’s comparison page.
The comparisons
- Best immigration routes to Ukraine for Pakistani citizensWork, study, company founder, own company and family: what each rests on and where it leads
- Ukraine vs PolandPoland’s 2025 permit rules, PLN 400 fee and Schengen against Ukraine’s statutory terms
- Ukraine vs RomaniaRomania’s 2026 single-application platform and its suspension
- Ukraine vs HungaryWho may work in Hungary on an employment permit, and for how long
- Ukraine vs SerbiaSerbia’s visa rule for Pakistanis and its online single permit
- Ukraine vs UAETax-free salary and two-year visas against a route to permanence
How these pages compare
Each line of a comparison names its source, and a figure we could not find on an official page is left out. The Ukrainian side cites the laws and resolutions themselves; for the Ukrainian route step by step, see Ukraine work visa requirements for Pakistani applicants and Ukraine study visa from Pakistan. Before paying anyone for any country, read how a fake work permit looks.
Questions about the comparisons
Which country is best for a Pakistani worker: Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Serbia or the UAE?
Where do the facts on these pages come from?
Does a Ukrainian residence permit give Schengen access?
What does the Ukrainian work route cost a Pakistani worker?
How do I avoid a fake job offer for any of these countries?
Get a written answer on your own route.
Eligibility assessment, $99: a lawyer-validated note sets out the routes open to you in order, an indicative timeline for each and your first action, within 3 working days, and says so if another route or country fits you better. Have a Ukrainian job offer? Employer verification, $199.
Last reviewed: 31 October 2026. Facts about other countries are taken from the official pages listed under Sources on that date and can change without notice; Ukrainian terms are statutory maximums. Decisions rest with the authorities of each country. This page is general information; advice on your own case comes from a lawyer under a written engagement.