# Schengen visa rejection: EU's Magnus Brunner says Pakistan's nearly 50% refusal rate is 'too much'

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/world/schengen-visa-rejection-eus-magnus-brunner-says-pakistans-nearly-50percent)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 15 Oct 2026
Updated: 15 Oct 2026
Retrieved: 15 Oct 2026

> On his first visit to Pakistan, the EU's migration commissioner blamed weak paperwork and scarce appointments, and warned young Pakistanis off smuggling routes to Italy and Greece.

**Nearly half of all Schengen visa applications from Pakistan are refused, and the European Union's own migration commissioner says that is "too much".** Magnus Brunner, the EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, said both Pakistan and the EU need to bring the **Schengen visa rejection rate** down, in an interview with The Express Tribune during his first visit to Pakistan, [ProPakistani reported](https://propakistani.pk/2026/10/15/eu-calls-pakistans-nearly-50-schengen-visa-rejection-rate-too-much/) on 15 October.

## Why so many Pakistani visas are refused

Brunner pointed to two problems:

- **Paperwork:** the quality of documents Pakistani applicants submit needs to improve, he said.
- **Appointments:** he accepted that Pakistanis struggle to get visa appointments at all, and said the EU must "do a better job" on access.

Visa decisions are made by each member state, not by Brussels, but the European Commission is trying to make embassies coordinate better and work faster under its visa strategy, he said.

## What the refusal costs you

A Schengen short-stay application costs **EUR 90** for an adult, and the fee is not returned if the visa is refused. At the open-market euro rate on our [currency converter](/tools/finance/currency-converter), that is roughly Rs 28,000, before the visa centre's service charge, travel to the city where the centre is, insurance and document costs. A refusal also stays on your record and is asked about in later applications to any Schengen country.

## How to give your application a better chance

The EU's point about documents is the part you control:

1. **Bank statements:** six months of ordinary activity in your own name. Large deposits just before applying are a common reason for refusal.
2. **Ties to Pakistan:** an employer's letter with leave dates, a business registration with tax returns, or a university enrolment letter.
3. **A clear plan:** hotel bookings and a flight reservation that match your stated dates and the country you apply to (apply to the country where you spend the most nights).
4. **Tax status:** being on the FBR's Active Taxpayers List and showing a return helps show steady income. Our [income tax calculator](/tools/tax/income-tax-calculator) works out what you owe.
5. **Insurance:** travel medical cover of at least EUR 30,000 valid across the Schengen area.

If you are refused, the letter gives the ground ticked by the embassy. You can appeal under that country's procedure, or reapply once you have fixed the problem.

## Irregular migration down, warning on smugglers

Brunner said irregular migration from Pakistan to the EU had fallen by more than half through cooperation between the two sides; Pakistani officials put the fall at 64% over 18 months. He warned young Pakistanis against human smugglers, naming the routes through the Gulf, Egypt and Libya towards Italy and Greece as especially dangerous, and urged them to use education, skills and legal routes instead.

## Frequently asked questions

**What is the Schengen visa rejection rate for Pakistan?**

Nearly 50%, according to EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner, who called it too much on his visit to Pakistan in October 2026.

**Is the Schengen visa fee refunded if the visa is refused?**

No. The EUR 90 adult fee is not refunded after a refusal.

## Sources

- EU Calls Pakistan's Nearly 50% Schengen Visa Rejection Rate 'Too Much' (ProPakistani): https://propakistani.pk/2026/10/15/eu-calls-pakistans-nearly-50-schengen-visa-rejection-rate-too-much/
- Visa policy: Schengen visa fees (European Commission): https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/visa-policy_en

How to cite: "Schengen visa rejection: EU's Magnus Brunner says Pakistan's nearly 50% refusal rate is 'too much'", Searchable, 15 Oct 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/world/schengen-visa-rejection-eus-magnus-brunner-says-pakistans-nearly-50percent