Karachi Canada Work Visa Scam: 2 Arrested, Check Before You Pay
Two men were arrested in Karachi over a reported Rs 760,000 Canada work visa scam. How to check an LMIA and an agent licence before you pay anyone for a job.
Two men were arrested in Karachi on about 30 September 2026 for taking money from a citizen on the promise of a Canada work visa, as reported. The FIA's anti-human trafficking unit reportedly registered the case under the Emigration Ordinance. The visa never came, and the money was not returned.
Canada work visa offers are a common hook in overseas job fraud in Pakistan. Two checks settle most cases before you pay. A real Canadian job usually needs the employer to get an LMIA first. And a Pakistani agent who sends people abroad for work must hold a licence from the Bureau of Emigration.
Two men were held in Karachi over a Canada work visa promise
Two men were arrested in Shah Latif Town, Karachi, after a citizen said he paid them for a Canada work visa that never arrived, according to reports. The FIA's Anti-Human Trafficking Circle in Karachi ran the case, as reported.
We checked the FIA's press release page on 30 September 2026. Its newest release there dates from 2021, so we could not read an official statement on this case. That is why these details are marked as reported:
- Amount: Rs 760,000.
- Promise: the men said they would arrange the employment documents for the visa.
- Case: a first information report (FIR), numbered 223/2026, under section 22(b) of the Emigration Ordinance 1979.
We are not naming the two men. The FIA has not published their names on its website, and an arrest is not a conviction. Reports describe the arrests as part of a wider FIA crackdown on overseas job fraud.
Pakistani law makes selling foreign jobs without a licence a crime
Section 22 of the Emigration Ordinance 1979 punishes anyone who takes money for a foreign job without being a licensed Overseas Employment Promoter. The punishment is up to 14 years in prison and a fine of up to Rs 2 million.
We read the ordinance on Pakistan Code, the Ministry of Law's official statute site. Section 22(a) covers a licensed promoter who charges more than the fee the rules allow. Section 22(b) covers anyone who is not a licensed promoter and still asks for or takes money for a foreign job. The current wording comes from Act No. VIII of 2025.
The law also covers money taken "on the pretext" of a job. So a fake promise counts, even if no job ever existed.
A real Canada work permit starts with a Canadian employer
For most Canada work permits tied to one employer, the Canadian employer applies first for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The worker applies only after the employer sends the LMIA papers. An agent in Pakistan cannot sell you an LMIA.
An LMIA is a Canadian government document. It shows the employer needs a foreign worker for the job. Canada says that before you apply for an employer-specific work permit, your employer applies for the LMIA if one is needed, then gives you papers such as the LMIA letter and Annex A.
The money rules are clear too. Canada's LMIA requirements for employers say the employer pays $1,000 for each position. The employer, and anyone recruiting for it, must not charge the worker any recruitment fees.
| What a scam offer says | What the real process looks like |
|---|---|
| Pay us and we will get you an LMIA | The Canadian employer applies for the LMIA |
| The LMIA costs you lakhs of rupees | The employer pays the $1,000 fee |
| Visa guaranteed in a few weeks | Canada decides each permit; no agent can guarantee it |
| Pay in cash, no receipt | Licensed promoters give receipts |
Check the agent's licence with the Bureau of Emigration
Any Pakistani agent who finds you a job abroad must hold an Overseas Employment Promoter licence from the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment. Ask for the licence number, then check its status yourself on the Bureau's website, beoe.gov.pk.
When we counted the Bureau's list on 8 September 2026, it showed 2,817 active licences and more than 2,400 cancelled, surrendered, expired or invalid ones. So a licence number alone proves little. You can check an overseas job agency by its status and expiry date. Before you fly, you also need emigrant protection, which makes your job contract official.
- Ask the agent for the Canadian employer's name and the job title.
- Ask for the approved LMIA letter for that job.
- Check the agent's OEP licence number on beoe.gov.pk.
- Refuse any request to pay for an LMIA, a job offer or a guaranteed visa.
- Pay only against a written receipt, and keep every chat and bank record.
What to do if you already paid an agent
Stop paying at once, save every record, and file a complaint with the FIA. Its website lists an online portal and two helplines. If the offer came through social media, you can also report the online side as a cybercrime.
- Keep evidence: bank slips, receipts, WhatsApp chats, the advert, and phone numbers.
- Complain to the FIA: use complaint.fia.gov.pk, email complaints@fia.gov.pk, or call 051-111-345-786 or 1991.
- Online fraud: if the agent found you on Facebook or WhatsApp, you can also report the cybercrime to the NCCIA.
- Your bank: call it at once if money left recently. A complaint does not freeze a transfer on its own.
Do not pay a second person who promises to get your money back. That is a common follow-up scam.
Common questions
Were the two men in the Karachi case convicted?
No. They were arrested and a case was registered, as reported. A court will decide the case.
Can I buy an LMIA from an agent in Pakistan?
No. The Canadian employer applies for the LMIA and pays the $1,000 fee. Canada says workers must not be charged recruitment fees.
How do I know if a Pakistani agent is licensed?
Ask for the OEP licence number and check it on the Bureau of Emigration's website. The status should be active and not expired.
What is the punishment for a fake overseas job agent in Pakistan?
Up to 14 years in prison and a fine of up to Rs 2 million, under section 22 of the Emigration Ordinance 1979.
Where do I complain about a visa scam in Pakistan?
To the FIA, at complaint.fia.gov.pk or on 051-111-345-786. Scams run online can also go to the NCCIA.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 30 September 2026. The Karachi arrests, amount, FIR number and section are reported only, because the FIA's press page had no release newer than 2021. We read section 22 of the Emigration Ordinance 1979, as amended in 2025, on Pakistan Code, and Canada's pages on employer-specific work permits and LMIA requirements. The FIA contacts are from the FIA website, whose complaint portal opened for us. The licence counts are from our reading of the Bureau's list on 8 September; on 30 September its site showed a bot check page.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
