Schengen Visa From Pakistan: €90 Fee, Which Embassy, and Documents

A Schengen visa from Pakistan costs €90 for an adult and €45 for a child aged 6 to 12, under the EU visa code. You apply to the embassy of the country where you will spend the longest time. A decision normally takes 15 days, and up to 45.

The visa lets you visit the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. One visa covers all the member countries, but only one embassy handles your file.

We read the European Commission's Home Affairs page on Schengen visas, the German Missions in Pakistan visa pages, the Embassy of Italy in Islamabad's visa pages and the Embassy of Spain in Islamabad's Schengen page on 30 September 2026. We also read the EU's official pages on the new Entry/Exit System and ETIAS.

Which embassy to apply to for a Schengen visa from Pakistan

You apply to the embassy of your main destination, meaning the country where you will spend the most days. If the stays are equal, you apply to the first country you enter. You apply in Pakistan if you live here legally.

The European Commission sets out three rules on its Home Affairs page:

1. Visiting one Schengen country: apply at that country's embassy or consulate.
2. Visiting more than one: apply to the country where you will spend the longest time.
3. Equal time in several countries: apply to the country you will visit first.

So a 10-day trip with 6 nights in Italy and 4 in France goes to Italy. A trip with 5 nights in Spain and 5 in Portugal, entering through Spain, goes to Spain. Book your hotels to match what you say.

As a general rule, you apply at the consulate that covers the country where you legally live. For most readers that means a mission in Islamabad or Karachi, even if you were born elsewhere.

Schengen visa fee for Pakistanis in 2026

The EU visa code fee is €90 for an adult and €45 for a child aged 6 to 12, as the European Commission states it. Embassies in Pakistan charge the rupee equivalent. A visa service centre can add its own charge on top.

The German Missions say fees are due in rupees at the current exchange rate and must be paid in cash at the counter. For a Spain visa from Pakistan, the centre charges a fixed rupee amount plus its own service charge. Carry the exact cash, because the rupee figure moves with the euro.

Schengen appointment centres named by the embassies in Pakistan

Each embassy chooses how it takes applications. Germany runs its own waiting list and takes files at its missions. Italy and Spain use Intiana centres in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. Always book through the link on the embassy's own website.

Germany's page is blunt about agents. It says you do not need an agent to join the waiting list, and joining is free. You get a waiting list number by email, then an appointment when one opens. Its Karachi visa section works Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 12:00.

Italy says you must apply at the centre that covers the area where you permanently live.

Documents for a Schengen visa application from Pakistan

Every applicant needs a valid passport, the signed application form, an ICAO standard photo, travel medical insurance of at least €30,000, and proof of purpose, money, accommodation and your plan to return. Fingerprints are taken when you apply.

1. Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area.
2. The Schengen application form, filled in and signed.
3. A recent photo that meets ICAO rules.
4. Travel medical insurance covering at least €30,000, including emergency treatment, hospital care and repatriation, valid across the whole Schengen area.
5. Return flight reservation and hotel bookings, or an invitation letter from your host.
6. Proof of money, such as bank statements, salary slips or business papers. Spain's checklist for Pakistan asks for six months of statements.
7. Proof you will come back: a job letter with approved leave, a business, property or family ties.

The Embassy of Spain in Islamabad states the €30,000 insurance minimum in its own words. It also asks for it to cover the first planned trip on a multiple entry visa. Spain's checklist for Pakistan also adds local papers, such as a Family Registration Certificate from NADRA and two years of tax returns.

Your passport matters here. Pakistan is reported to be ending machine-readable passports in favour of e-passports, so renew first if yours is close to expiry.

Schengen visa processing time and when to apply

The normal decision time is 15 days under EU rules. It can stretch to 45 days if the embassy needs more checks or papers. Apply no earlier than six months and no later than 15 days before you travel.

Germany says a short-stay visa usually takes about 14 calendar days from the day you apply, and longer in the summer peak. The real wait in Pakistan is often the appointment, not the decision.

If you are refused, the embassy must tell you why and how to appeal. Germany ended its voluntary objection step, called remonstration, on 1 July 2025. A refused German applicant now has to follow the formal route in the refusal letter.

Airport transit visa rule for Pakistani passport holders

Pakistan is on the EU's common list of countries whose citizens need an airport transit visa. That applies even when you only change planes inside a Schengen airport and never pass immigration. Check before you book a cheap connection through Europe.

The EU's Annex 7A lists 12 countries in total, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The Visa Code exempts some groups of travellers, so read Article 3 or ask the airline before you rely on an exemption.

EES and ETIAS: what the new EU border systems mean for you

The Entry/Exit System has been fully running at all Schengen external borders since 10 April 2026. It records your fingerprints and face at the border and replaces passport stamps. ETIAS is not running yet, and it is for visa-free travellers, not Pakistanis.

The EU's travel site says EES was rolled out over six months and the phase-in ended on 9 April 2026. Your first entry after that date will take your biometrics. The 90 days in 180 rule has not changed. EES now counts your days electronically, so an overstay shows up at once.

ETIAS is a travel authorisation for citizens of 59 visa-exempt countries. The EU says it is not in operation and no applications are being collected. Pakistanis need a full visa, so ETIAS does not replace anything for you. Any site selling an "ETIAS for Pakistanis" today is selling nothing.

Common questions

What is the Schengen visa fee in Pakistan?

€90 for an adult and €45 for a child aged 6 to 12, charged in rupees at the current rate. A visa centre may add its own service charge.

Which country should I apply to for a Schengen visa?

The country where you will spend the most days. If your days are equal, apply to the country you will enter first.

How much travel insurance do I need for a Schengen visa?

At least €30,000 of medical cover, including emergency treatment and repatriation, for the whole stay and the whole Schengen area.

How long does a Schengen visa take from Pakistan?

Usually 15 days after you apply, and up to 45 days if the embassy needs more checks. Getting the appointment can take longer than the decision.

Do Pakistanis need ETIAS for Europe?

No. ETIAS is only for visa-free nationalities, and it has not started. Pakistanis apply for a Schengen visa instead.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked on 30 September 2026. The €90 and €45 fees, the main destination rule, the six months to 15 days application window, the document list and the 15 to 45 day decision period are read on the European Commission's Schengen visa page. The German waiting list, 14 day processing, fees in cash and the end of remonstration are read on the German Missions in Pakistan pages. The Italian centres are read on the Embassy of Italy in Islamabad's visa page, and the €30,000 insurance wording on the Embassy of Spain in Islamabad's Schengen page. EES and ETIAS status is read on the EU's Travel to Europe site. The airport transit list is the Commission's Annex 7A. We did not apply for a visa.