Guides · For visitors from the UK
Buying gold in Mirpur from the UK: what to check before you buy
Many families who live in Bradford, Birmingham, Luton or Manchester buy their gold in Mirpur, often for a wedding, during a short visit home. A short trip leaves little time to compare shops, so this guide sets out what to check before you fly, in the shop, and before you take your gold back to the UK.
Before you fly
- Look at real pieces online first. Some Mirpur jewellers show their actual stock online, with photos, weight and karat, so you can shortlist before you land.
- Reserve the pieces you like. On KompasMove shops a reservation is free and needs no payment. The price shown online is an estimate at that day's gold rate; the final price is worked out in the shop on the day you buy, from the rate that day and the weight measured in front of you.
- Ask questions on WhatsApp. Ask for more photos or a short video of a piece, and ask about the shop's exchange and buy-back policy before you travel.
- Check the shop's opening days. Confirm the days and hours on WhatsApp before you travel; many shops change their hours during Ramadan and around Eid.
In the shop: weight, purity and the report
- Watch it being weighed. Ask for the gross weight (the whole piece) and the net gold weight. Stones, beads and lac are not gold, so they should be weighed or estimated separately.
- Watch the purity test. Jewellers on KompasMove test each piece on a gold testing machine, often called the “computer test” (XRF). It is quick and does not cut or damage the jewellery. It shows the measured gold percentage and the karat that reading points to; 22K gold is about 91.6% gold.
- Bringing old gold to exchange? Ask for it to be weighed and machine-tested in front of you too, and ask how the shop values it before you agree a price.
- Get the report. You receive a Gold Purity Test Report with a QR code. Scan it before you pay: the page that opens must start with verify.kompasmove.com. How to check a report.
Understand the price before you pay
A gold price in Mirpur is usually made of three parts. Ask for each one separately, in writing:
Two shops can quote different totals for the same weight because their wastage and making charges differ, not only their gold rate. Comparing the itemised breakdown shows you why quotes differ. Any discount should appear as its own line on your receipt.
Paying and the paperwork
- Pay in the shop, after you have seen the piece. Be careful of anyone asking for a deposit by bank transfer before you have seen your gold.
- Keep your receipt and the purity report together. The receipt shows what you paid, which you may need if you declare goods at UK customs. The report shows the test, and you can check it online again later, including from the UK.
- Bring your passport, CNIC or NICOP. A jeweller may ask for ID, especially for a large cash purchase: dealers in gold must follow Pakistan's anti-money-laundering rules.
Taking your gold back to the UK
- UK customs. Arriving in Great Britain, the personal allowance for most goods, including jewellery, is generally £390 per adult. If your goods are worth more, you must declare them, and tax and duty may be due on their full value, not just the amount over the allowance. Jewellery bought abroad counts towards the allowance even if you are wearing it. Northern Ireland has different rules. Check the current GOV.UK guidance on bringing goods into the UK for personal use before you travel.
- Leaving Pakistan. Pakistan Customs has declaration rules for gold and jewellery leaving the country. Check the latest Pakistan Customs (FBR) guidance before you fly and declare items where required; don't assume a wedding set can be taken out without formalities.
- Carry it in your hand luggage with your receipts, and keep the reports somewhere you can find them again.
Quick checklist
- 1Shortlist and reserve online; ask about exchange and buy-back.
- 2In the shop: gross and net weight, and the machine test in front of you.
- 3Scan the report's QR code: verify.kompasmove.com.
- 4Price in three parts: gold value, wastage, making charge.
- 5Keep the receipt and the report; check current UK and Pakistan customs rules before you travel.
Aksar pooche jane wale sawal
UK se Mirpur aa kar sona khareedte waqt kin baaton ka khayal rakhein?
Zewar ka wazan apne samne karwayen, machine wala computer test dekhein, aur report ka QR code scan karein. Qeemat ki tafseel alag alag poochein: sone ki qeemat, wastage aur making charges.
Online reservation karne ke paise lagte hain?
Nahin. KompasMove par reservation muft hai aur advance payment ki zaroorat nahin. Final qeemat dukaan par, khareedne wale din ke rate aur samne tole gaye wazan ke mutabiq tay hoti hai.
UK customs mein kitni qeemat ka sona la sakte hain?
Allowance aur tax ke rules aap ke safar aur UK mein entry ki jagah par depend karte hain. Safar se pehle GOV.UK ki latest guidance check karein.
Kya QR report UK mein bhi check ho sakti hai?
Haan. QR code scan karein aur dekh lein ke report verify.kompasmove.com par khul rahi hai.