ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – The Italian Embassy in Pakistan has issued a fresh advisory for Pakistani citizens seeking visas, urging applicants to follow only official procedures for appointments and warning against fraudulent agents charging money for fake bookings.
In an official statement, the embassy clarified that all visa appointments must be obtained through authorized channels and stressed that applicants should avoid individuals or agencies claiming they can secure priority appointments in exchange for payment.
The advisory comes amid growing concerns over visa-related scams targeting Pakistani citizens planning to travel to Italy for tourism, employment, education and family reunification.
According to the embassy, applications for short-term Schengen visas, Family Reunion visas and Work visas are being processed through BLS Visa Application Centers operating in Islamabad, Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad.
Officials said appointments for these visa categories can only be booked through the official online appointment system managed by the authorized visa service provider.
The embassy further explained that because of the high demand for Family Reunion and Work visas, a waiting list system has been introduced to ensure appointments are allocated fairly.
Under this system, applicants registered on the waiting list will receive appointments in chronological order as additional slots become available. Authorities emphasized that registration on the waiting list remains the only legitimate method for obtaining appointments in these categories.
The embassy also outlined separate arrangements for Pakistani citizens applying for Family Reunion visas involving Italian or other European Union nationals.
Such applicants may request appointments directly through the Italian Embassy by contacting it via certified Italian electronic mail (PEC), subject to eligibility and submission of the required supporting documents.
Officials advised applicants to carefully review the embassy’s guidelines before submitting requests to avoid delays or incomplete applications.
The advisory also included important instructions for Pakistani students intending to pursue higher education in Italy.
According to the embassy, students must first complete the mandatory pre-enrollment process through the Universitaly portal before applying for a visa.
Once the pre-enrollment process has been verified, eligible students will be contacted by the authorized visa application center to receive an appointment for submitting their visa applications.
The embassy urged students not to rely on unofficial sources promising faster processing or guaranteed appointments.
In its warning, the embassy said it had received reports of unauthorized agents and middlemen demanding money from applicants while falsely claiming they could arrange visa appointments.
Officials stressed that such offers are fraudulent and have no connection with the Italian government or its authorized visa partners.
The embassy made it clear that visa appointments should never be purchased from private individuals or unauthorized agents.
Applicants were advised to ignore advertisements or social media posts offering paid appointment services, as these are often part of fraudulent schemes designed to exploit visa applicants.
The embassy encouraged anyone approached by individuals demanding money for appointments to report the matter immediately so appropriate action can be taken.
Officials reiterated that the official appointment system is designed to provide equal opportunities for all applicants without requiring payments beyond the approved visa processing charges.
The latest advisory reflects the embassy’s ongoing efforts to improve transparency in the visa process while protecting Pakistani citizens from scams that may result in financial losses or fraudulent applications.
Applicants have been advised to obtain information only from official embassy announcements and authorized visa application centers to ensure their applications are processed safely and correctly.
