Pakistani travellers faced one of the toughest short-term visa approval environments in 2025, according to newly compiled visa data. The latest figures show that thousands of applicants were refused entry permits for both the United Kingdom and the Schengen Visa area, resulting in major financial losses.
During 2025, the UK and Schengen countries rejected a combined 112,387 short-term visa applications submitted by Pakistani nationals. This means that nearly one out of every two applications for these destinations was unsuccessful.
The United Kingdom rejected around 72,000 short-term visa applications from Pakistan. This was the second-highest number of refusals among all nationalities included in the data.
Pakistan also recorded a UK visitor visa rejection rate of 44 percent. Among the UK’s 20 largest visitor visa applicant nationalities, this was the second-highest refusal rate.
Only Bangladesh recorded a higher rejection rate, with 51.8 percent of applications being refused.
The high refusal rate also had a financial impact. Rejected Pakistani applicants lost an estimated £9.17 million in non-refundable UK visa application fees during the year.
The Schengen Visa process also proved difficult for Pakistani travellers. Schengen countries rejected 40,199 visa applications submitted by Pakistani citizens in 2025.
The rejection rate for Schengen Visa applications stood at approximately 46 percent. This means applicants experienced almost the same level of difficulty when applying for either a UK visitor visa or a Schengen short-stay visa.
Together, UK and Schengen visa refusals cost Pakistani applicants an estimated €14.35 million, or about $16.39 million, in non-refundable application fees. This amount is equal to approximately Rs. 4.56 billion.
These figures only include visa application charges. Many applicants also spend additional money on document preparation, certified translations, travel insurance, appointment bookings, and visa processing services. These costs are generally not recoverable if an application is rejected.
Experts say Pakistani travellers continue to face a growing mobility challenge. Factors such as income verification, incomplete documentation, and concerns about visa overstays often lead to stricter scrutiny during the application process.
Pakistan’s passport ranking also limits the number of countries that offer visa-free travel. As a result, many citizens must rely on expensive visa applications to visit Europe and the United Kingdom.
Repeated visa refusals may also affect future applications. Applicants are often required to submit stronger financial records and additional supporting documents after previous rejections.
In other news read more about GCC countries Embrace Schengen Model with Unified Visa Stamp of Approval
The 2025 data highlights the financial and travel difficulties faced by Pakistani citizens seeking short-term international travel. The high Schengen Visa and UK refusal rates continue to create both economic and mobility challenges for many travellers.
