In an official statement from the German Consulate in Karachi, the consulate confirmed the suspension of all non-EU applicants commencing immediately. The mission announced on Monday July 28, 2025, regarding the suspension including applicants whose visa appointment were already confirmed. This indefinite suspension of visa services on the grounds of unavoidable circumstances has led to the disruption and all the appointments are canceled and may not be re-scheduled. It was not explained further as to what kind of circumstances caused the suspension and when the suspension might be lifted.
This indefinite suspension has affected the visa categories of student visas, work permits, family reunion applications, and tourist visas for Germany. This will adversely affect many Pakistanis, who had planned to travel to Germany for education, employment, or personal visits. Despite this disruption the consulate has declared that the services for European Union (EU) citizens will continue as scheduled stating that individuals with EU passports will continue to receive consular support and travel document services.
There is no official schedule regarding the date of the resumption of the services as well as the consulate has not divulged any specific causes of the suspension. This has raised concerns among the visa applicants and even more to the students who have upcoming academic deadlines in Germany.
The German Consulate general in Karachi serves Sindh and Baluchistan provinces. The effect of such suspension on the students, professionals and family visitors of these areas interested in travelling to Germany is expected to be significant. With Germany introducing the Opportunity Card and being an established popular destination for foreign students and professionals seeking employment, the suspension of services may be a big inconvenience and cause an unnecessary delay to most of them. The applicants will be left in uncertainty regarding the resumption time of the service and the re-application procedure.
Previously the visa process has been affected in August 2024, when the German Embassy in Islamabad implemented restrictions on winter semester student visa processing, prioritizing scholarship holders and top-ranking applicants due to high application volumes. Similarly, from January 1, 2025, Germany introduced a digital visa portal (Digital Diplo.de) to simplify and accelerate the national visa application process worldwide. Additionally, the Federal Foreign Office has discontinued the remonstration procedure, which is a formal appeal after visa refusal to speed up processing and free staff capacity.
However, in the current circumstances the applicants can wait for updates by checking the official page of the German Consulate, particularly at their web site or on social media pages. When the services are resumed, you must again apply to a visa appointment online at the Digital Diplo.de portal while, ensuring that all the documents you will need are ready and up to date so that you are able to apply immediately. You should also consider your backup plans, depending on your timeline, you can apply under other German consulates such as Islamabad or Lahore in case they are taking applications.
