How Long Does a Schengen Visa Take from Pakistan?

Source for stages 3 and 4: European Commission – Applying for a Schengen visa.

Stages 2 and 5 are where most real-world delay comes from, and neither has an EU-wide time limit.

The Commission's wording is: "The normal processing time for a visa application is 15 days. This period may be extended to up to 45 days if a more detailed examination of the application and/or additional documents are required."

A few points follow from this:

• The clock starts when the consulate accepts your application, not when you book the appointment.
• A request for more documents or an interview is exactly the kind of event that can push a file towards the 45-day limit. Answer quickly and completely.
• Some files need consultation with other Schengen countries. GVCW's Greek page gives this as a reason a case may take up to 45 calendar days.
• The Commission page does not describe any paid fast-track for the decision. Premium lounges, SMS alerts and courier services sold at visa centres make your visit more convenient, but they do not change how long the consulate takes to decide. The centres themselves say they play no part in the decision.

Each embassy repeats the EU rule, and some add local guidance:

• Germany: the German missions in Pakistan say short-term applications usually take about 14 calendar days from the day you apply, and longer in peak seasons (pakistan.diplo.de). Germany's waiting list before the appointment is separate and can be long.
• Greece: GVCW's tourism page says applications may take up to 15 days, extendable to 45 calendar days, and should be lodged no later than 15 calendar days before departure, although one section of the same page still says 30 days (GVCW Greece – tourism).
• Netherlands: NetherlandsWorldwide warns that the Ministry may ask for an interview or extra documents. You follow progress online with the reference number VFS gives you (NetherlandsWorldwide).
• France: France-Visas' Pakistan page says a short-stay visa takes 15 to 20 days minimum after the interview at the embassy, plus the time needed to get an AEG appointment. Its tracking page explains that you follow your file through the visa centre where you applied.

No EU rule sets how long you wait for a slot. It depends on demand, the season and the country's system:

• Waiting lists (Germany) allocate dates in turn, so you cannot speed things up by checking more often.
• Open calendars (Netherlands via VFS, Greece via GVCW) show what is free. Check each centre's own page for its submission days.
• Jurisdiction rules (Italy) mean you cannot switch to a centre in another city because it has earlier slots.

Our Schengen visa appointment guide explains each country's booking channel.

Visa centres in Pakistan close on national and religious holidays. GVCW's closure list includes Kashmir Day, Eid-ul-Fitr, Pakistan Day, Labour Day, Eid-ul-Azha, Youm-e-Takbeer, Independence Day and Quaid-e-Azam Day/Christmas. Embassies also close on their own national days, and a centre can reschedule appointments at short notice. If you plan to lodge near Eid or in late December, allow extra days.

Work backwards from your departure date:

1. Departure date: your fixed point.
2. Decision buffer: allow for the full 45-day maximum plus a few days for the passport to be returned, not just the 15-day standard. This is the safest way to plan, not an official prediction.
3. Lodging date: aim to lodge roughly two months before departure. You cannot lodge more than six months ahead, and you must lodge at least 15 days before.
4. Appointment search: start as soon as your dates are firm. For summer trips, that often means the start of the year.
5. Documents: some items take weeks, such as a NADRA Family Registration Certificate, a legalised Dutch sponsor form, or a Greek host's certified invitation. Start these before you book.

Example: for a family trip leaving on 1 August, lodging in early June leaves room for a 45-day decision. Lodging on 10 July would still be allowed, but a 15-day decision would then be your only realistic outcome.

• Missing or inconsistent documents: use our Schengen visa documents checklist for Pakistan along with your mission's list.
• Insurance that does not meet Article 15: see our Schengen travel insurance guide.
• Applying to the wrong country: your main destination decides the mission.
• Slow replies: answer requests for documents or interviews quickly.
• Changing plans: changing your dates after lodging can raise questions. Settle your plans first.

The EU's list of supporting documents for applicants in Pakistan asks for a flight reservation, and the Netherlands says explicitly that you do not need a paid ticket. Keep flights and hotels refundable or on hold until the visa decision, because refusals and delays are possible. GVCW's Greece page, for example, states that the visa fee is not refunded if a visa is refused.

The Commission says a refused applicant is told why and how to appeal. The Commission's page sets no waiting period before you apply again, but a new application starts the whole timeline from the beginning.