Pakistan, Sweden Strengthen Ties, Visa Services Resume
The resumption of visa services is a result of successful bilateral consultations between Pakistan and Sweden, and is expected to have a positive impact on the relations between the two countries, with increased cooperation in areas like trade, education, and culture.
Pakistan and Sweden have taken a significant step towards strengthening their bilateral relations, with the resumption of visa services in Islamabad, allowing Pakistani citizens to apply for short-stay visas to Sweden for up to 90 days.
The 19th round of bilateral political consultations between Pakistan and Sweden was held in Sweden on July 1, led by Pakistan's Ambassador and Additional Secretary Muhammad Ayub. The talks focused on strengthening cooperation in areas like green transition technologies and ICT, and expanding diplomatic and economic collaboration. The decision to resume visa services was made following bilateral consultations between the two countries' foreign ministries.
The Swedish government had suspended visa services in April 2023 due to security concerns, but the recent decision to resume services reflects the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries. The Foreign Office announced on July 7, 2025, that Swedish visa services have resumed in Islamabad, enabling Pakistani nationals to apply for Schengen visas from within Pakistan for visits to Sweden of up to 90 days.
The resumption of visa services is seen as a positive development, indicating a strengthening of ties between Pakistan and Sweden. This move is expected to facilitate travel and cooperation between the two countries, promoting people-to-people contacts and economic collaboration.