EU Calls Pakistan’s Nearly 50% Schengen Visa Rejection Rate ‘Too Much’

European Union Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner has called Pakistan's almost 50% Schengen visa rejection rate "too much, " saying both Pakistan and the EU need to address the problem.

Key points

• Brunner remarked irregular migration from Pakistan to the EU had fallen by more than 50% through bilateral cooperation.
• The commissioner cautioned young Pakistanis against relying on human smugglers, describing routes through the Gulf countries, Egypt, and Libya toward Italy and Greece as particularly dangerous.
• "We have to do a better job there as a European Union, " Brunner remarked, referring to visa access.
• Brunner additionally acknowledged the difficulties Pakistanis face in securing visa appointments, saying the process could be frustrating for residents seeking to travel legally to the EU.

While the EU additionally had to do more to facilitate legal travel, in an interview with The Express Tribune during his first visit to Pakistan, Brunner remarked the quality of documents submitted by Pakistani applicants needed to improve. Govt Announces E-Passport Fees in Pakistan.

"We have to do a better job there as a European Union, " Brunner remarked, referring to visa access. He continued that the quality of visa application documents was a factor contributing to Pakistan's high refusal rate and stressed that both sides needed to work on the problem.

Brunner additionally acknowledged the difficulties Pakistanis face in securing visa appointments, saying the process could be frustrating for residents seeking to travel legally to the EU. He remarked visa decisions largely remained the responsibility of individual member states, but the European Commission was working to improve coordination and speed up the process through its visa strategy.

Brunner remarked irregular migration from Pakistan to the EU had fallen by more than 50% through bilateral cooperation. Pakistani authorities separately noted a 64% decline over the past 18 months. Pakistanis Can No Longer Apply for Machine-Readable Passports.

In practice, the commissioner cautioned young Pakistanis against relying on human smugglers, describing routes through the Gulf countries, Egypt, and Libya toward Italy and Greece as particularly dangerous. He pressed them to pursue education, develop relevant skills, and seek legal routes to Europe. Stay Connected with ProPakistani. Obtain the latest news and stories wherever you prefer. Follow on Google Discover. Follow on Google News Join WhatsApp. See more ProPakistani stories in Google Search and Top Stories.

Taken together, the developments around EU Calls Pakistan's Nearly 50% Schengen Visa Rejection Rate 'Too Much' point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.