Key Takeaways
- In 2025, Pakistanis faced one of the world's toughest short-term visa approval environments.
- UK rejected around 72,000 Pakistani visa applications in 2025, with a rejection rate of 44%.
- Together, UK and Schengen countries cost Pakistani applicants an estimated Rs. 4.56 billion in non-refundable fees.
Pakistani travellers encountered one of the most stringent short-term visa approval processes globally in 2025, according to newly compiled data from UK and Schengen countries.
The United Kingdom alone rejected approximately 72,000 Pakistani visa applications during this period, making it the second-highest number of rejections among the nationalities included in the dataset. The rejection rate for Pakistanis was a staggering 44%, placing them second behind Bangladesh’s 51.8%.
In parallel, Schengen countries rejected over 40,199 Pakistani visa applications, with a rejection rate of about 46%. This indicates that Pakistani applicants faced similar levels of scrutiny when applying for both UK and Schengen short-stay visas.
The financial burden on Pakistani applicants was significant. Together, the non-refundable fees from UK and Schengen refusals amounted to an estimated €14.35 million ($16.39 million), equivalent to approximately Rs. 4.56 billion. This represents a substantial direct financial loss for households, as embassies and visa authorities generally do not refund application fees after rejection.
The high rejection rates have broader implications beyond the immediate financial cost. Applicants often incur additional expenses such as document preparation, translations, travel insurance, appointments, and visa processing services. These costs add to the overall burden on individuals seeking short-term travel opportunities abroad.
Pakistan’s weak passport ranking further exacerbates the situation by limiting visa-free travel options for its citizens. As a result, Pakistanis must rely heavily on costly visa application processes when travelling to Europe and the UK. Repeated refusals can also affect future applications, necessitating more extensive financial and supporting documents from applicants.
The 2025 figures underscore the growing economic and mobility costs faced by Pakistani citizens in their quest for short-term travel opportunities abroad. The data highlights a significant mobility penalty despite Pakistan not being the largest applicant group.
