Sweden to Resume Residence and Work Permit Services in Pakistan Starting April 9

Sweden Resumes Residence and Work Permit Services for Pakistani Nationals from April 9

Starting April 9, 2025, Pakistani citizens will once again be able to apply for Swedish residence and work permits directly in Islamabad, following the Swedish Migration Agency’s decision to resume specific consular services in Pakistan.

This update brings relief to many applicants, especially those seeking permits for family reunification, employment, or study purposes. Previously, applicants from Pakistan were required to travel to the Swedish Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to complete their applications — a journey lasting 5 to 11 hours by air, costing between €500 to €700.

Schengen Visa Applications Still Processed Abroad

Despite the resumed services for residence and long-term permits, Pakistani nationals still need to apply for Swedish Schengen visas outside of Pakistan. Applications must be submitted via VFS Global offices in one of the following cities:

Bangkok, Yangon, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila, Cebu, Jakarta, Bali, Phnom Penh, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul

The Embassy of Sweden in Bangkok will continue to oversee and issue decisions for Schengen visa applications submitted through these regional VFS centers.

Pakistan Ranked 27th in Schengen Visa Applications in 2023

In 2023, Pakistani nationals submitted 86,698 Schengen visa applications, according to data published by AtoZSerwisPlus. Of these, 40,843 visas were approved, reflecting a visa approval rate of just 47.1% — among the lowest globally.

The countries issuing the most visas to Pakistani applicants were:

• Germany – 11,030 visas approved
• Italy – 7,549 visas approved

However, Germany and Spain received the highest volume of applications from Pakistanis, highlighting the continued demand for mobility between Pakistan and the Schengen Area.

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