Good news for Pakistanis: Sweden has announced the resumption of visa processing for Pakistani citizens from April 9, 2025.
Good news for Pakistanis, According to ARY News, the Swedish Embassy in Islamabad confirmed that Swedish visa applications for work and study permits will now be processed locally, providing relief to applicants who previously had to travel to Ethiopia for visa-related procedures.
The Swedish Embassy clarified that individuals applying for a residence permit to work, study or reunite with family in Sweden will be able to complete their application process at the embassy in Islamabad. The Swedish Embassy stressed that the aim of this partial resumption is to facilitate students, skilled workers and family reunification, which could help clear the backlog of applications due to the suspension in 2023.
The previous requirement for Pakistani applicants to travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for visa processing posed significant challenges, especially for students. The announcement is expected to ease the Swedish visa application process for Pakistani nationals, providing a more accessible route for those seeking educational and employment opportunities in Sweden.
The Swedish Embassy confirmed that biometric data collection, passport verification and interviews will now take place in Islamabad. Short-term Schengen visa applications will continue to be processed at designated locations through VFS Global offices. The decision has been taken after extensive discussions to streamline the visa procedure for Pakistani applicants.