Norway, Spain or Portugal — Which Schengen is Easiest to Get?
A frank, fact-based comparison of processing times, consulate quirks and reviewer strictness across three popular Schengen routes for Pakistani and UK applicants.
There's no such thing as a universally 'easy' Schengen visa — every application is judged on the strength of your own file. But there are real, structural differences in how Norway, Spain and Portugal handle applications, and knowing them helps you plan realistically rather than being surprised mid-process.
How we're comparing these three
We're looking at three things that actually affect your experience as an applicant: who processes your file, how long it realistically takes, and what tends to trip applicants up at each consulate.
Norway — fast on paper, slower in practice
Norway has no embassy in Pakistan, so VFS Global forwards every application to the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Abu Dhabi for a final decision. The official window is 15–45 calendar days, but the Abu Dhabi forwarding step adds a little extra time that isn't always obvious upfront. A cash service fee is also payable directly at the VFS centre alongside the €90 embassy fee.
Where Norway applications trip up
- •Underestimating processing time and applying too close to travel dates
- •Insufficient funds for a Nordic trip, which typically runs higher per day than southern Europe
- •Inconsistent hotel bookings across a multi-city fjord or northern-lights itinerary
Spain — high volume, strict formatting
Spain's applications go through BLS International, with centres in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. Processing typically runs 15–21 working days, occasionally extending to 45–60 in complex cases. Spain is one of the highest-volume Schengen routes, and BLS is notably strict on document formatting — unattested or informally presented bank statements are refused far more often here than elsewhere.
Portugal — the slow one
Portugal's applications go through VFS Global on behalf of the Portuguese Embassy in Islamabad, but the official 15-day EU standard rarely holds in practice — real timelines closer to 60–90 days are common. Applicants who leave this until a few weeks before travel are the ones who end up refused simply because their dates have lapsed by the time a decision is reached.
The verdict
- •Fastest realistic turnaround: Norway or Spain, if your file is complete and submitted early
- •Strictest on document formatting: Spain
- •Needs the most lead time regardless of file strength: Portugal — apply at least 3 months out
- •Best for frequent, well-documented travellers: any of the three — approval depends far more on your file than the country
Frequently asked questions
On paper, all three fall within the EU-standard 15-day window, but in practice Norway and Spain tend to be more predictable. Portugal is consistently the slowest of the three for Pakistani applicants, often taking 60–90 days.
No — Norway has no embassy in Pakistan. VFS Global collects your application locally and forwards it to the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Abu Dhabi for the final decision.
Spain's visa centre, BLS International, processes a very high volume of Schengen applications and enforces attested, stamped bank statement formatting closely as a result — informally presented documents are a common cause of refusal.
No. Schengen rules require you to apply to the country where you'll spend the most nights, or your first point of entry if the trip is split evenly. Applying to a different country because it's faster can result in refusal for misrepresentation.
Yes — we file for Norway, Spain and Portugal (and every other Schengen destination) from both Pakistan and the UK, with route-specific document checklists for each.
