Islamabad (TDI): In a major development for bilateral ties, Sweden has resumed visa services in Islamabad and Pakistani nationals will be able to apply for a Schengen visa from today onwards.
Sweden in April 2023 indefinitely closed its embassy in Islamabad, citing the security situation as the reason.
At the time, the embassy’s migration section had stopped processing applications, and no visa-related documents could be issued or dispatched.
A notice on the embassy’s website had explained that the closure was due to “the safety of our applicants and staff members being the highest priority.”
Read More: All You Need to Know About Kazakhstan’s Visa for Pakistani Nationals
The embassy quietly reopened in April 2025, and the resumption of visa services was confirmed during bilateral consultations held on July 2 in Stockholm, according to the Foreign Office.
The Pakistani delegation was led by the Additional Foreign Secretary for Europe, while Sweden was represented by its Director General for Global Affairs.
Read More: Germany Starts New Online Portal for Work Visa Applications from Pakistan
“Effective July 7, 2025, Pakistani citizens can now apply for a Schengen visa from within Pakistan for short visits to Sweden of up to 90 days,” the FO said in a statement.
The Foreign Office welcomed the move, calling it a “positive development that reflects the strengthening of bilateral relations” between Pakistan and Sweden.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
