Schengen Visa for Pakistanis — Country Comparison 2026

The Schengen Area is 29 countries sharing a common short-stay visa policy. For Pakistani passport holders, choosing which embassy to apply through can significantly affect your approval chances and processing time. This guide compares the main options.

The Rule: Where You Must Apply

You cannot pick an embassy based on convenience. Schengen rules require you to apply at the embassy of:

• Your main destination — where you'll spend the most days
• First point of entry — if you'll spend equal days in multiple countries

If you plan a multi-country trip, structure your itinerary so your longest stay is in the country whose embassy has the best approval record for Pakistanis.

Standard Requirements for All Schengen Visas

• Passport valid 3+ months beyond return date, issued within last 10 years
• 2 biometric photos (35x45mm)
• €90 visa fee (reduced for children)
• Round-trip flight reservation
• Hotel bookings for every night
• Travel insurance — €30,000 medical coverage valid in all Schengen countries
• Bank statements — 3 months with closing balance
• Employment letter / salary slips / business proof
• Cover letter detailing purpose, itinerary, who pays
• CNIC, FRC, marriage/birth certificates as applicable

Country-by-Country for Pakistanis

🇬🇷 Greece

Processing: 10–15 days. Appointments in Pakistan: Available in Islamabad via Gerry's Visa Dropbox. Historically one of the more Pakistani-friendly embassies — reasonable approval rates for first-time applicants with solid documentation. Good as a first Schengen for building travel history.

🇪🇸 Spain

Processing: 15 days. Appointments: BLS International (Islamabad, Karachi). Decent approval rates. Spain is often a strong choice for Pakistani travellers because of robust tourist infrastructure and the embassy's familiarity with Pakistani documentation.

🇭🇺 Hungary

Processing: 15 days (often faster). Appointments: VFS Global (Islamabad, Karachi). Hungary has recently become a popular route for Pakistanis seeking Schengen access — smaller embassy workload, high approval for well-documented applications.

🇫🇷 France

Processing: 15 days. Appointments: TLScontact (Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore). Strict document review. Approval requires rock-solid financial evidence and clear travel purpose. First-time applicants often struggle without previous Schengen or Western travel history.

🇩🇪 Germany

Processing: 15 days (frequently extended to 30+). Appointments: VFS Global (Islamabad, Karachi). High bar for approval. Known for scrutinising cover letters and demanding specific hotel bookings matching itinerary. Not recommended as first Schengen for Pakistanis without strong travel history.

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Processing: 15 days. Appointments: VFS Global (Islamabad). Strict scrutiny of financial documents, cover letter, ties to Pakistan. Low approval rate for first-time applicants without prior Western travel.

🇮🇹 Italy

Processing: 15–30 days. Appointments: VFS Global. Moderate approval rates. Requires detailed cover letter in Italian or English, specific hotel confirmations.

🇵🇹 Portugal

Processing: 15 days. Appointments: VFS Global (Islamabad). Low Pakistani applicant volume, generally fair review of applications.

🇱🇹 Lithuania

Processing: 15 days. Smaller embassy workload. Reasonable for well-prepared applications. Often paired with other Baltic states for travel.

🇵🇱 Poland

Processing: 15 days. Appointments: VFS Global. Historically moderate approval; stricter scrutiny for last-minute applications.

Approval Rate Reality

No embassy publishes approval rates by nationality publicly. The EU publishes global short-stay visa statistics annually. For 2024 data, Pakistani applicants had varying approval rates across Schengen states — Greece, Spain, Hungary, and Lithuania consistently ranked higher than Germany, Netherlands, and France.

What actually drives approval:

• Clear ties to Pakistan (job, property, dependants)
• Previous travel to Western countries (UK, US, Canada, Australia, Japan)
• Consistent income over 3+ months
• Logical itinerary matching bookings
• Thorough, specific cover letter
• Clean application — no inconsistencies

Building Travel History

If this is your first Western visa application, start smaller. Visa-free or easier destinations that build travel history:

• Turkey — e-Visa for Pakistanis
• Thailand — visa on arrival available
• Malaysia — eNTRI / eVISA
• Georgia — e-Visa
• Azerbaijan — e-Visa
• Serbia — visa-free with valid Schengen visa

A few international stamps showing timely return significantly improve your Schengen application.

Cover Letter — What to Include

Your cover letter should state clearly:

• Purpose of visit (tourism)
• Exact dates of travel
• Day-by-day itinerary with cities and activities
• Where you'll stay (hotel names)
• Who pays for the trip
• Your employment and salary
• Family you're leaving behind in Pakistan
• Confirmation of return

One page, clear English, no emotional appeals. Facts and specifics.

The 90/180 Day Rule

An approved Schengen visa typically allows up to 90 days within any 180-day rolling period across the whole Schengen Area. Track your days with our Schengen 90/180 Calculator.

Multiple Entry Visas (MEV)

First-time Pakistani applicants typically receive single-entry visas valid for the exact travel dates. After one or two successful trips, you can receive longer validity (6 months, 1 year, 3 years, up to 5 years) with multiple entries.

If Refused

Schengen refusals come with a specific code (A-I) indicating the reason. Common codes:

• A: Travel document presented is false/counterfeit
• B: Purpose of travel not justified
• F: Insufficient means of subsistence
• I: Intention to leave Schengen could not be ascertained

You can appeal (deadlines and process vary by country) or reapply addressing the stated reason. A refusal does not permanently block future applications.

Related Tools

Schengen Day Calculator · Fee Calculator · Document Checklist