My Journey to Germany as a Pakistani

Guest post by Isma Khalid

As a fresh Pakistani graduate, I was clueless about my future, just like any other graduate. Until graduation, it felt like the biggest milestone. But once I handed in my last exam and stepped out of the examination hall, I wondered: Am I now a fresh graduate, a study abroad aspirant, or an unemployed graduate?

But deep down, I knew these were just post-graduation blues. When you give yourself time to explore each option, you eventually find your way but it takes time. The transition from student life to the corporate world or to life in another country is a big step, so it’s normal for the process to feel slow and overwhelming.

Yet, this “I don’t know what to do next” phase is often the real driving force behind finding your path. In my case, it pushed me toward studying abroad, specifically in Germany. I was inspired by German work culture, the abundance of working student jobs, and the healthy work–life balance.

But making the decision was just the first step. Ahead of me felt like a mountain. Figuring out everything, from securing an admission letter to applying for a visa and planning how to live in another country seemed overwhelming. But in reality, once you take it step by step and later look back, it’s not as difficult as it seems at first.

Here are the small steps I took to get Germany student visa from Pakistan:

After receiving my bachelor’s transcript, I applied for an urgent degree certificate the very same day. At my university, the University of the Punjab, this process alone can take at least two months. Since I wanted to start my Master’s without much gap, I made sure to begin everything as early as possible.

While waiting for my degree, I prepared for and took my English language test and started shortlisting Master’s programs in Germany. I used a template to keep a track of my applications. I applied to three universities, and each had a slightly different application procedure. In Germany, there are generally three common ways for international students to apply to universities. At the same time, I was also learning German and had already completed my A1 certificate, as some universities require it at the time of admission, while others allow you to complete it after arriving in Germany.

In the meantime, I received admission offers from two universities. For the third one, my mathematics ECTS (credit hours) from my bachelor’s degree were not sufficient to meet the program requirements.

By then, I also received my degree certificate and applied for urgent attestation through the HEC website. The initial scrutiny message was taking longer than expected, so I personally visited their office in Lahore and requested faster processing. Thankfully, it was done the same day. 

To enroll at the university, I had to send my documents by post. The copies needed to be attested by HEC and notarized. I would strongly suggest that when you get your documents attested by HEC, you get at least two copies of both your transcript and degree certificate attested as well, it really helps later. Once everything was ready, I sent my documents to my university in Germany through Leopard courier.

Then came the most confusing part: figuring out the visa application process.Which documents were required? Where could I get them from?

For almost a week, I had more than 30 tabs open on my laptop, and every new website seemed to say something different. I felt completely lost about what was actually correct. Luckily, around that time, I received an email from my university’s international office introducing my lifesaver: VisaFlow. It’s an interactive platform that provides a step-by-step guide for the entire visa process based on your country and situation. Since my university is one of VisaFlow’s partner institutions, I received free access through a code. There are over 50 partner schools in total.

From that moment on, my only task was to blindly follow the steps on the platform, as it was officially recommended by my university.

According to the VisaFlow roadmap, I started preparing my documents, including my Letter of Motivation and CV. Although I had already prepared these for my university applications, it’s very important to adapt them specifically for your visa application. Still, I wasn’t fully sure if my versions were embassy-ready, so I requested a review through VisaFlow, as they also provide document support. Fortunately, they spotted a few mistakes well in advance, which helped me improve them and go into my interview with much more confidence.

For the German embassy in Islamabad, I also needed to get my transcript and degree certificate attested by MOFA as well. For my school-leaving certificate (FSc pre-medical in my case), I needed proof from Anabin showing that my qualification was valid for studying in Germany. VisaFlow guided me through this process and helped me get the proof I needed for submission.

Other steps included getting biometric pictures and my birth certificate. You can find the complete checklist directly on the VisaFlow platform, which made sure I didn’t miss anything.

Next, I started the process of opening a blocked account. Depending on the package you choose, it can also include health and travel insurance. For university enrollment, it’s mandatory that your health insurance provider sends a digital notification directly to the university. And for the visa application, you need proof of both health and travel insurance.

Once all my documents were ready, I submitted my application through the Consular Services Portal and began preparing for my visa interview. VisaFlow had sample interview questions on the platform, which were extremely helpful for practice.

After some waiting, the day of my embassy interview finally arrived. I was nervous, of course but also confident, because I knew my documents were complete and properly prepared. And then, after a bit more waiting, I received the passport with my visa on it!

That’s when everything started to feel real. I began preparing for my journey to Germany and for this new chapter of my life. Thanks to VisaFlow, what once felt like a huge mountain turned into a series of manageable steps. Their guidance gave me clarity, confidence, and peace of mind at a time when I needed it the most.