Pakistani travelers continued to show high interest in visiting Europe in 2023, specially among Schengen States. Thousands of visa applications were submitted across consulates in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. However, approval rates varied greatly depending on the country.
This blog dives into official data for Schengen visa applications, issued visas, and rejections—revealing which countries were the most welcoming and which were the toughest.
Total Applications from Pakistan in 2023
Across all Schengen states, over 81,678 visa applications were filed from Pakistan via Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi consulates. The top applicants’ destinations included Germany, Italy, Spain, and France.
Here’s a breakdown of top countries by number of applications:
Top 5 Most Applied-for Schengen States from Pakistan
Country | Applications |
Germany | 19,095 |
Spain | 18,482 |
Italy | 12,390 |
Netherlands | 11,389 |
France | 8,225 |
Germany led the list with over 19,000 applications, followed by Spain and Italy.
Who Approved the Most Visas?
Let’s look at countries that approved the highest number of Schengen visas for Pakistanis in 2023:
Top 5 Countries by Visas Issued
Country | Visas Issued |
Germany | 11,630 |
Italy | 7,549 |
Spain | 6,067 |
France | 5,050 |
Netherlands | 3,750 |
Germany and Italy both had similar success rates—approving about 60% of applications each. France wasn’t far behind with a 61.4% approval rate.
The Harshest Schengen States for Pakistani Applicants
Some countries had significantly higher rejection rates. These included Portugal, Austria, Sweden, and Greece.
Top 5 Countries with Highest Rejection Rates
Country | Rejection Rate (%) |
Austria | 73.6% |
Sweden | 69.5% |
Greece | 65.5% |
Portugal | 65.3% |
Netherlands | 63.6% |
Austria denied nearly 3 out of 4 applicants. Even though Netherlands had a large number of applications, over 63% were rejected.
Balanced Performers – Who Maintained a Fair Rate?
Countries like France (61.4%) and Italy (60.9%) had moderately high
approval rates while handling significant volume. Switzerland also had a
balanced response with 49.2% approval and nearly equal rejections.
Best and Worst in Approval Rate (%)
Let’s take a closer look at approval rates:
Top 5 by Approval Rate (%)
Country | Approval Rate (%) |
Italy | 60.9% |
Germany | 60.9% |
France | 61.4% |
Poland | 51.6% |
Switzerland | 49.2% |
Bottom 5 by Approval Rate (%)
Country | Approval Rate (%) |
Austria | 25.6% |
Greece | 32.3% |
Spain | 32.8% |
Portugal | 34.6% |
Sweden | 47.2% |
The variance in approval rates highlights that not all Schengen
embassies in Pakistan treat applicants the same. Some consistently
approve fewer visas despite high application counts.
What This Means for Pakistani Applicants
If you’re applying for a Schengen visa from Pakistan, your choice of
country significantly affects your chances. Consider applying to
countries with higher approval rates and stronger visa issuance
histories.
Tip: Attach complete documentation, book early, and
consider applying to consulates with historically fairer results like
Germany or France.
City-Specific Observations (Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad)
While this analysis groups Pakistani cities together, deeper insights
per consulate may reveal even stronger differences. Typically,
embassies in Islamabad handle the largest volume, while Karachi and
Lahore support with consulate general offices.
Most top 5 countries processed applications across all three cities.
Planning Your Next Schengen Visa Application
Pakistani applicants face varying success rates across Europe.
Countries like Austria and Portugal are tougher to crack, while France,
Germany, and Italy are relatively easier.
Understanding these
patterns helps you plan better and reduces your risk of rejection.
Always align your travel purpose with the destination, maintain
transparency, and ensure your profile is strong.