The German Consulate General in Karachi has announced the suspension of all consular services for non-European Union (non-EU) citizens, including visa processing, “until further notice.” The update was shared via the consulate’s official social media channels on Monday and later reflected on its website.
According to the announcement, all confirmed visa appointments for non-EU citizens have been cancelled and will not be rescheduled at this time. The consulate instructed affected applicants to re-register through its online appointment system when services resume.
“All confirmed visa appointments for non-EU citizens for an undisclosed time are cancelled and will not be rescheduled. Applicants will need to register again via our appointment system,” the notice stated.
The notice does not provide a specific reason for the abrupt suspension, nor does it specify when services may resume. As of now, the German Embassy in Islamabad has not issued a similar directive, and its visa operations appear to be unaffected. Dawn.com has contacted the embassy for further clarification but has not received a response.
This move follows recent visa-related procedural changes by other Western missions in Pakistan. Last month, U.S. consulates in Karachi and Lahore began requiring applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas to make their social media profiles public for vetting purposes — a policy introduced after similar guidance was issued by the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi.
The German consulate’s decision to halt non-EU services has left many visa applicants in uncertainty, particularly students, business travelers, and family reunion applicants, who are now being advised to monitor the consulate’s website and official channels for updates.
