How to Join PAF in 2026: Eligibility, Steps and Tests

The Pakistan Air Force takes new officers and airmen through several courses every year. You can join after Matric, after FSc, or after a university degree. Each course has its own age limit, education requirement and selection process.

This guide covers every route in one place. Once you join, your rank decides your pay, and our PAF ranks and salary guide covers all 21 ranks, the BPS equivalents and the 2026 basic pay. It explains who can apply, what the initial test asks for, how the online application works, and what happens after you register. Dates here are as of early November 2026. Confirm the current window on the official portal before you apply.

Join PAF at a Glance#

The only official portal is joinpaf.gov.pk. Registration is free for officer and airman courses. The PAF selects strictly on merit. Anyone who asks for money to arrange your selection is a fraud.

The Officer Routes: Permanent Commission#

A Permanent Commission means a full career in the PAF. You train at PAF Academy Asghar Khan in Risalpur. You pass out as a Pilot Officer.

The general PC rules are the same for every branch. You must be unmarried. You must be 16 to 22 years old. You must be at least 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) tall. You need FSc or A Level with at least 65% marks in aggregate. Each course advertisement fixes the exact date the age is counted on. For the 161 GD Pilot and 107 Aeronautical courses it was 15 October 2026.

1. GD Pilot

General Duty Pilot is the flying branch. Both males and females can apply. It is the most competitive PAF course.

You need FSc (Pre-Engineering, Pre-Medical or Computer Science) or A Level with 65% marks in aggregate. Physics is mandatory. Pre-Medical candidates need at least 60% marks in Physics as a subject. You must be 16 to 22 years old. Your height must be between 5 ft 4 in and 6 ft 2 in. Your vision must be 6/6 without glasses. Colour blindness disqualifies you.

Training lasts 4 years at PAF Academy Asghar Khan, Risalpur. The first 2 years are academic. You earn a BS in Aviation Sciences and Management from Air University. GD Pilot candidates also take a Flying Aptitude Test after the initial tests. The next course, 163 GDP, is expected in February 2027.

2. Aeronautical Engineering

Aeronautical Engineering officers maintain the PAF’s aircraft, radar and avionics. Both males and females can apply.

You need FSc Pre-Engineering with 65% marks, matching A Levels, or a DAE in Avionics, Electrical or Mechanical. You must be 16 to 22 years old. Male height is 5 ft 4 in. Female height is 4 ft 10 in (147 cm). Training lasts 4 years and leads to a BE in Aerospace or Avionics.

The 108 Aeronautical course registration ran from 22 July to 3 August 2026 and is closed. The 109 course is expected in July 2027.

3. Air Defence

Air Defence officers operate the radar and missile defence network. Only males can apply.

You need FSc with Physics and Mathematics. You must be 16 to 22 years old and at least 5 ft 4 in tall. Training lasts 4 years and leads to a BS in Aviation Management.

The 118 Air Defence course registration ran from 22 July to 3 August 2026 and is closed. The 119 course is expected in February or March 2027, with the 163 GDP, 107 Aeronautical and 36 Admin and Special Duties courses.

4. Admin and Special Duties, Logistics

Admin and Special Duties and Logistics are PC branches announced with the February round. The 36 Admin and Special Duties course is expected in February 2027. Their education and age rules are fixed in each advertisement. Do not rely on last year’s figures. Check the new advertisement when it publishes.

Short Service Commission (SSC)#

SSC is the graduate officer route. You join for a fixed term and serve as a Flying Officer.

The age limits are wider than PC. Air Defence, Admin, IT, Meteorology and Logistics allow 18 to 30 years. JAG and Education allow 21 to 30 years. The SSC pilot entry allows 21 to 23 years.

The 138 CSC Accounts and IT courses are open now. You must be male, 20 to 26 years old as of 15 April 2027, with 16 years of education at 65% marks or a 2.74 CGPA from an HEC-recognised university. Selected candidates become Flying Officers after 24 weeks of training.

SSC candidates follow the same selection path as PC candidates. They also face Air Headquarters board interviews in Karachi, Lahore or Rawalpindi and a final board in Islamabad.

Airman Routes#

Airmen are the technical and support backbone of the PAF. You join after Matric. The main trades are AeroTrade and AGD (general duty).

AeroTrade needs Matric Science. AGD needs Matric. The age limit is usually 15 to 20 years. Check the advertisement for your trade, because the limit varies by course. AGD height is 5 ft 4 in. Technician height is 5 ft 3 in and needs FSc with Physics and Mathematics.

No airmen course is open right now. The live counter on joinpaf.gov.pk showed zero airmen courses on 28 September 2026. Watch the counter on the official portal. Do not trust a forwarded advertisement.

If you want the other services instead, our Join Pak Army guide covers PMA, soldier and AFNS routes, and our Join Pak Navy guide covers PN Cadet, sailor and SSC routes. The forces jobs page lists the current Army, Navy and Air Force vacancies on joblo.pk.

PAF College Lower Topa: A Note#

PAF College Lower Topa admits boys into class VIII. It prepares them to join the PAF as GD Pilot officers later. Admission for session 2027 ran from 8 September to 4 October 2026. It needed age 11.5 to 13.5 years on 1 January 2027, a pass in class VII by April 2027, and a Rs 3,500 fee at any HBL branch. This is a college admission, not a recruitment course. The fee does not apply to officer or airman registration, which is free.

How to Apply Online to Join PAF in Pakistan#

Every PAF course starts online. Follow these steps.

Step 1. Open joinpaf.gov.pk. Create an account first. Then apply to a course from inside your account.

Step 2. Register with your CNIC or B-Form number, a working mobile number and an email address. Keep both active. The PAF sends test dates by SMS and email.

Step 3. Fill the form with your personal details, education and domicile. Upload a clear photograph. Check every field before you submit. A wrong CNIC or date of birth is hard to fix later.

Step 4. Print your roll number slip. It shows your test date, time and selection centre. The PAF Information and Selection Centres are in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Abbottabad, Dera Ismail Khan, Muzaffarabad, Gilgit, Sialkot and Rahim Yar Khan.

Selection Process: What Happens After You Register#

The officer selection pipeline has six stages. Miss one and you are out.

1. Intelligence test. A computer-based test at your Information and Selection Centre. It has 100 MCQs (verbal and non-verbal) in 40 minutes.

2. Academic test. Also computer-based, on the same day. English has 100 MCQs in 40 minutes. Physics has 75 MCQs in 35 minutes. Maths has 75 MCQs in 35 minutes. Pre-Medical candidates take English and Physics only. Airmen take Maths, General Science, English and Urdu.

3. Initial medical and interview. A basic medical check (height, weight, eyesight, flat feet) and a short interview at the same centre.

4. Physical test. For PC courses: a 1.6 km run in 8 minutes, 15 push-ups in 2 minutes, 20 sit-ups in 2 minutes and 3 chin-ups in 2 minutes. For CSC courses: a 1 km run in 8 minutes, 10 push-ups in 2 minutes, 10 sit-ups in 2 minutes and 2 chin-ups in 2 minutes. The standard differs by course. Train to the PC standard and you are safe for both.

5. Flying Aptitude Test. GD Pilot candidates only. It tests your aptitude for flying before the ISSB.

6. ISSB, final medical and merit. Shortlisted candidates go to the Inter Services Selection Board for 4 days at Kohat, Gujranwala, Malir or Quetta. Then comes a final medical at a CMH and an Air Headquarters Selection Board interview. Air Headquarters issues the final merit list. Our ISSB guide explains the 4-day schedule.

Your medical fitness certificate guide explains what the medical check covers. The ISSB’s tentative schedule listed PAF courses (138 CSC and PC officers) from 8 October to 11 November 2026.

Documents You Need to Join PAF in Pakistan#

Bring originals and attested photocopies. The centre keeps the copies and returns the originals after checking.

Every route: CNIC or B-Form, Matric certificate and detailed marks certificate, domicile, 4 passport-size photographs. Our domicile guide explains how to get the domicile certificate.

PC courses: FSc certificate and DMC, A Level equivalence from IBCC if applicable.

SSC courses: degree and transcripts, HEC equivalence if your degree is from abroad.

Airmen: Matric certificate and DMC, B-Form if you are under 18.

Mistakes That Get Applications Rejected#

Applying with 60% for a PC course. The PC aggregate is 65%. Some older guides say 60%. The official branch pages and the February 2026 advertisement say 65%. Do not apply below it.

Wrong vision for GD Pilot. GD Pilot needs 6/6 without glasses. Glasses are allowed for Engineering and Air Defence within limits, usually plus or minus 2.5. Colour blindness disqualifies you from every flying branch.

Missing the window. PAF courses open for about two weeks. The 108 Aeronautical and 118 Air Defence courses were open only from 22 July to 3 August 2026. Register in the first week.

Paying an agent. There is no paid shortcut. The PAF never asks for money for selection. Report anyone who does.

Wasting an ISSB attempt. You get a maximum of 2 ISSB attempts in your lifetime. A second ISSB failure, a second screening out, fake documents, or being declared unfit by an Appeal Medical Board ends your chances. Do not appear unprepared.

Frequently Asked Questions#

What is the age limit for PAF?

It depends on the route. Permanent Commission courses are 16 to 22 years. SSC branches are 18 to 30 years, except JAG and Education at 21 to 30 and the SSC pilot entry at 21 to 23. The 138 CSC Accounts and IT courses are 20 to 26 years as of 15 April 2027. Airmen are usually 15 to 20 years.

Can a matric student join PAF?

Yes, as an airman. AeroTrade needs Matric Science and AGD needs Matric. No airmen course is open right now, so watch the counter on joinpaf.gov.pk. Matric holders cannot apply for officer courses, which need FSc or a degree.

What is the initial test for PAF?

A computer-based test at a PAF Information and Selection Centre. It starts with an intelligence test of 100 MCQs in 40 minutes. Then comes an academic test: English 100 MCQs, Physics 75 MCQs and Maths 75 MCQs. Pre-Medical candidates take English and Physics only. Airmen take Maths, General Science, English and Urdu.

Can girls join PAF as a pilot?

Yes. GD Pilot is open to both males and females with the same standards: FSc at 65% with Physics, age 16 to 22, height 5 ft 4 in to 6 ft 2 in, and 6/6 vision without glasses. Females can also join Aeronautical Engineering (female height 4 ft 10 in) and SSC branches after a degree.

Is there a fee to join PAF?

No. Registration for officer and airman courses on joinpaf.gov.pk is free. The only fee in PAF induction is the Rs 3,500 admission fee for PAF College Lower Topa class VIII, which is a college admission, not a recruitment course. Anyone asking for money to arrange your selection is committing fraud.