EU commissioner calls Pakistan's nearly 50% Schengen visa rejection rate 'too much'
On his first visit to Pakistan, Magnus Brunner said applicants need better documents — and that the EU must make legal travel easier.
At a glance
- EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner said a refusal rate of almost 50% for Pakistani Schengen applicants is too high.
- He said the quality of documents submitted by applicants needs to improve, and that the EU must also do better on access and appointments.
- Visa decisions largely rest with individual member states; the Commission is working on faster, better-coordinated processing.
- Irregular migration from Pakistan to the EU has fallen by more than 50%, Brunner said; Pakistani officials put the drop at 64% over 18 months.
Almost every second Pakistani who applies for a Schengen visa is turned down — and the European Union's top migration official says that is too many.
In an interview with The Express Tribune during his first visit to Pakistan, EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner described the nearly 50% refusal rate as "too much" and said both sides need to fix it.
Two sides of the problem
Brunner said the quality of documents submitted by Pakistani applicants needs to improve and is one reason for the high refusal rate. But he also accepted that the EU has work to do, saying the bloc must do a better job of facilitating legal travel. He acknowledged that getting a visa appointment in Pakistan can be difficult and frustrating.
Decisions on individual applications sit largely with each member state's embassy or consulate. The European Commission, Brunner said, is trying to improve coordination and speed up processing under its visa strategy.
Irregular migration down sharply
The commissioner said irregular migration from Pakistan to the EU has fallen by more than half thanks to bilateral cooperation. Pakistani officials separately put the decline at 64% over the past 18 months.
He warned young Pakistanis against human smugglers, calling the routes through Gulf countries, Egypt and Libya towards Italy and Greece particularly dangerous, and urged them to build skills and use legal pathways to Europe.
Tips for applicants
- Book appointments early and apply only through official visa centres.
- Submit genuine, consistent documents: bank statements, salary slips or business records, travel history and a clear itinerary.
- Show strong ties to Pakistan, such as employment, property or family.
- Never pay agents who promise guaranteed visas.
Questions people are asking
Why are so many Schengen visas refused in Pakistan?
According to Commissioner Brunner, weak or incomplete supporting documents are a major factor. Applicants should submit genuine bank statements, travel history, invitation letters and proof of ties to Pakistan.
Who decides on a Schengen visa?
The embassy or consulate of the EU member state you are visiting. The European Commission coordinates policy but individual countries make the decisions.
How we verified this story
GlobeHourly wrote this report in its own words after checking the facts against 3 independent sources: official statements, wire agencies and established news outlets. Read our standards.
