ISLAMABAD: In a major development, Sweden has announced the resumption of visa processing for Pakistani citizens, effective April 9, 2025.
The Swedish Embassy in Islamabad confirmed that applications for work and study residence permits will now be processed locally, offering a significant relief to applicants who previously had to travel to Ethiopia for visa procedures.
According to the embassy, individuals applying for residence permits for work, study, or family reunification can now complete their application process at the Swedish Embassy in Islamabad.
However, this resumption does not apply to Schengen or short-term visit visas (valid for up to 90 days). Such applications must still be submitted through VFS Global offices in designated international cities, including Bangkok, Jakarta, and Tokyo.
The embassy emphasized that this partial restoration of services is intended to assist students, skilled professionals, and individuals seeking family reunification—groups affected by the 2023 suspension of services. The earlier requirement to travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, had posed serious challenges, especially for students.
This change is expected to significantly ease the visa application process for Pakistani citizens, making it more accessible for those pursuing education and employment opportunities in Sweden.
The embassy also confirmed that biometric data collection, passport verification, and interviews will now take place at its Islamabad office.
Short-term Schengen visa applications will continue to be processed through VFS Global centers in the aforementioned locations.
This decision follows extensive consultations aimed at streamlining and simplifying visa procedures for Pakistani nationals.
Previously, Pakistani citizens seeking entry into Sweden were required to complete a number of formalities. These included submitting a completed visa application form, a valid passport (issued within the past 10 years), a recent passport-sized photograph, and fingerprint data—unless already registered in the Visa Information System.
Additionally, all applicants, regardless of nationality, were required to demonstrate sufficient financial resources to cover their stay in Sweden. This involved submitting recent bank and credit card statements (covering the past three months) as proof of financial means.
