Malta Tourist Visa Strategy: Can Entering Schengen via Portugal Benefit Pakistani Applicants?

 For many hopeful travelers from regions with high rejection rates for Schengen visas, such as Pakistan and India, the aspiration to explore Europe often seems challenging. Malta, despite its attractions, has a well-known history of high rejection rates (reported at 38.5% for all applicants in 2024, the highest among Schengen countries). This leads to an important question: could applying for a visa through a country considered to have a more lenient stance, like Portugal, and then entering the Schengen area from there improve the chances for applicants from Pakistan and India? This "Schengen visa strategy" isn’t a loophole but rather a thoughtful approach that makes use of the Schengen Area's regulations to your benefit.

The key behind this strategy lies in the Schengen Visa Code, which specifies that you should submit your visa application to the consulate of the country where you plan to stay the longest or, if visiting multiple countries for similar lengths of time, the country of your first entry. For Pakistani and Indian applicants who often encounter rigorous scrutiny and higher rejection rates due to reasons such as perceived immigration risks or insufficient ties to their country of origin, selecting a country like Portugal—which has demonstrated a relatively high success rate for tourist visas from Pakistan (with some sources estimating success around 90%, while others vary between 12-15% for tourist visas and 50-60% overall for all visa types—indicating the need for thorough research)—can be a well-planned tactic. The goal is to present a valid itinerary with Portugal as your primary point of interest, obtain the visa, and then continue your travels across Europe.

Nonetheless, this "strategy" necessitates careful planning and complete transparency. You cannot simply submit a Portuguese visa application without genuine intentions to visit Portugal. Your application must credibly indicate Portugal as your main destination or first point of entry if durations are equal. This entails having confirmed flight itineraries arriving and departing through Portugal, detailed accommodation bookings in Portugal for the longest length of your visit, and a comprehensive plan outlining your activities in the country. Any inconsistencies or lack of genuine intent could lead to rejection, and even with an approval, border officers at your actual first entry point (if it is not Portugal) have the right to refuse entry if they suspect any misrepresentation of your travel intentions.

For Worldify Overseas Pvt. Ltd., assisting Pakistani and Indian clients in navigating this complicated landscape involves more than merely picking a "friendlier" consulate. It requires a solid application that demonstrates strong ties to the home nation, sufficient financial resources, and an intricately designed itinerary that aligns with the selected country of application. While the reality of Malta's high rejection rates persists, and Portugal might provide a more advantageous starting point, success depends on meeting all visa requirements with the highest level of integrity and clarity. This isn’t about exploiting the system, but rather comprehending its regulations and presenting a persuasive case that genuinely satisfies the criteria set forth by the issuing country, ultimately allowing our clients to pursue their European travel aspirations with assurance.