The German Embassy in Islamabad has announced it will “most likely only be possible to process” the “most deserving” student visa applications for the winter semester, citing a surge in demand that has exceeded their capacity.
The decision follows numerous complaints from students who reported significant delays in securing visa interview appointments despite having admission offers from German universities. In a statement released on Monday, the embassy attributed the delays to an unprecedented number of applications.
The embassy’s website update reveals that while student visa registration for the winter semester 2024-2025 opened on May 21, many applicants found that appointments through the “normal track” were unavailable. Only those using the “fast-track” option appeared to be receiving appointments.
The statement explained: “Due to the enormous interest from potential students, we were unable to fulfill all appointment requests for the summer semester 2024. This demand far exceeded our capacities. We understand the disappointment this may have caused to those applicants who could not be considered.”
Registrations for students holding admission letters for the summer semester 2024 were canceled after May 15. The embassy has advised that holders of scholarships and PhD candidates will be prioritized, as well as Master’s program applicants with a CGPA of 3.7 or above.
Students are now advised to expect extended waiting times, especially for Bachelor and Master student visas, with preparation times potentially reaching around 12 months.
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