Schengen Visa for Pakistani Citizens: Documents, Fees & VFS

Yes. Pakistani passport holders need a Schengen short-stay visa (type C) before travelling to any of the Schengen countries, whether the trip is for tourism, a family visit or business meetings. You apply from Pakistan to the consulate of your main destination, usually through that country's appointed visa application centre in Islamabad, Lahore or Karachi, and you should allow plenty of time because appointments are scarce.

Which visa you need

The uniform Schengen visa covers stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole area. The same visa type is used for tourism, visiting relatives or friends, attending business meetings, conferences and short medical visits; what changes is the supporting evidence you submit for the purpose of the trip.

Long stays for work, study or family reunion are national (type D) visas with separate rules for each country, and they are not covered in this guide.

Choosing the right country: the main-destination rule

You must apply to the country you are actually going to visit. If your trip covers several Schengen countries, apply to the one where you will spend the most nights. If the time is split equally, apply to the country you will enter first. Applying through a country simply because it has easier appointments, and then spending most of the trip elsewhere, is a common reason for refusal and can cause problems at the border.

As a resident of Pakistan, you normally apply in Pakistan rather than through a consulate in another country.

Where to apply in Pakistan

Each Schengen state decides how it receives applications in Pakistan, so the route depends on your main destination. The following arrangements were confirmed on official embassy pages as of October 2026:

• Netherlands: applications are lodged at VFS Global centres in Islamabad, Karachi or Lahore, booked online through VFS.
• Belgium (which also handles Luxembourg applications in Pakistan): biometrics and applications are taken at Gerry's International visa application centres in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.
• Sweden: VFS Global accepts applications in Islamabad on behalf of the Swedish Migration Agency, which makes the decision.
• Germany: there is no outsourced centre. You register on a free online waiting list with the Embassy in Islamabad (for Islamabad Capital Territory, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir) or the Consulate General in Karachi (for Sindh and Balochistan), and you are given an appointment later in order of registration.
• Italy: short-stay applications go through the embassy's BLS visa application centres in Islamabad, Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad, with bookings made via the appointment portal named on the embassy website.

For France, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Norway and the other member states, check the embassy's own Pakistan page before booking, as several have changed providers in recent years. We could not confirm on any official page that TLScontact currently runs Schengen visa centres in Pakistan, so be wary of anyone who claims otherwise.

Whichever route applies, you must attend in person to give fingerprints and a photo, unless you are under 12 or your fingerprints were taken for a Schengen visa within the last 59 months.

Fees as of October 2026

The Schengen visa fee is set at EU level:

• Adults and children aged 12 and over: EUR 90
• Children aged 6 to 11: EUR 45
• Children under 6: free

Some categories, such as qualifying family members of EU citizens, pay nothing. The fee is usually collected in Pakistani rupees at the exchange rate applied on the day; the Dutch mission, for example, takes cash in PKR at the current exchange rate. Check your destination's page for its payment method. The visa fee is not refunded if the application is refused.

If you apply through VFS Global, Gerry's or BLS, you also pay a separate service charge on top of the visa fee, plus any optional extras such as courier return or premium lounges. These charges differ by country and change regularly, so take the current figure from your provider's page for your destination rather than relying on an agent's quote.

Documents Pakistani applicants are asked for

The EU has adopted a harmonised list of supporting documents for applicants in Pakistan, and embassies such as Norway's publish checklists based on it. Individual countries may ask for more, so always download the checklist for your destination and purpose. The core items are:

• A passport issued within the last ten years, valid for at least three months after you leave the Schengen area, with at least two blank pages, plus copies of the bio-data page and of previous visas.
• The signed application form for your destination country and a recent passport photo.
• A copy of your CNIC as proof of residence.
• A Family Registration Certificate issued in English by NADRA, as evidence of family ties.
• Return flight reservations and proof of accommodation for the whole stay, with an itinerary if you are touring.
• Travel medical insurance valid across the Schengen area with cover of at least EUR 30,000.
• Bank statements showing activity over the last six months, signed and stamped by the bank.
• Your National Tax Number certificate (or proof of exemption) and FBR acknowledgements of income tax returns for the last two tax years.

Depending on your situation, you will also need:

• If employed: pay slips for the last three months and an employer letter giving your position, salary, length of service and approved leave dates.
• If self-employed or a business owner: the company's registration certificate and business financial records.
• If a government employee: a No Objection Certificate from your department covering the dates of travel.
• If retired: pension statements for the last six months.
• If visiting family or friends: an invitation and sponsorship documents from your host, and proof of the relationship.
• If travelling on business: an invitation from the company or event in the Schengen country.

Germany's checklist adds several items worth noting: all previous passports, copies of any earlier Schengen refusals (hiding one is treated as fraud), lists of children and of relatives living abroad, and three months of salary slips alongside six months of statements.

Unexplained large deposits shortly before applying tend to raise questions rather than help, so make sure your statements reflect your normal income and spending.

Polio vaccination

Schengen embassies do not generally list a polio certificate in their checklists. However, Pakistani health authorities require international travellers leaving Pakistan to carry proof of polio vaccination, and airlines or border health staff may ask for it at departure. Check the current rule with the Ministry of National Health Services and obtain your certificate before you fly.

Appointments, timing and processing

You can apply up to six months before travel and no later than 15 calendar days before your departure. Demand in Pakistan far outstrips the available slots, and the German and Italian missions both run waiting lists for some categories, so begin as soon as your dates are fixed.

The EU's standard decision time is 15 calendar days, which can be extended to 45 days where further checks or documents are needed. The German Embassy says processing usually takes around two weeks but can run longer in peak seasons. Do not buy non-refundable tickets until your visa is issued.

Refusal risks

According to the European Commission, Schengen consulates worldwide received just over 12 million short-stay applications in 2025, with an overall refusal rate of 14.6 percent. The Commission also publishes detailed figures for each consulate, including those in Pakistan, in its annual visa statistics, which are worth checking for your destination before you apply.

The most common problems for Pakistani applicants are weak evidence of ties to Pakistan, finances that do not match the trip or the declared income, missing tax filings, unverifiable employment or business documents, applying to the wrong country for the itinerary, and failing to disclose earlier refusals. A strong application tells a consistent story across your form, bank statements, tax records and employer letter.

If you are refused, the decision letter explains the grounds and how to challenge it. Germany has abolished the informal remonstration process, so check the appeal route stated in your refusal letter.

Appointment scams and fake agents

Embassies in Pakistan repeatedly warn about people selling appointments, waiting-list places or guaranteed visas. The German Embassy states that registration on its waiting list is free and that anyone asking for money at that stage is a fraudster, while the Italian Embassy says appointments should never be purchased. The Dutch mission tells applicants to book only through the official VFS Global system.

• Book only on the provider or embassy website linked from the official embassy page.
• Never pay for an appointment slot, a waiting-list number or a promise of approval.
• Do not hand your passport or bank login details to an unofficial agent.
• Report sellers to the embassy concerned or to the police.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a Schengen visa from Pakistan without an agent?

Yes. You can complete the form, book the appointment and attend the centre yourself. Embassies advise against paying intermediaries, and an agent cannot speed up your appointment or influence the decision.

Which Schengen country is easiest for Pakistanis?

There is no shortcut. You must apply to the country that is your main destination, and choosing a country only for its appointment availability or approval rate can lead to refusal or questioning at the border.

How much bank balance is needed for a Schengen visa from Pakistan?

There is no single figure. Each country sets its own daily means requirement, and officers look at six months of statements alongside your income, tax returns and travel plans to decide whether the trip is affordable.

Do I need FBR tax returns for a Schengen visa?

Under the harmonised list for Pakistan you are normally asked for your NTN certificate and FBR acknowledgements of tax returns for the last two years, or proof of exemption. If you cannot provide them, submit other evidence of income or assets.

How long does a Schengen visa take from Pakistan?

The standard decision time is 15 days, extendable to 45. The wait for an appointment comes on top of that and can be long, so start early.

Visa rules, provider arrangements and service charges change frequently. Before you book or pay anything, confirm the current requirements on your destination country's embassy page for Pakistan, the provider site it links to, and the European Commission's Schengen visa pages.