Europe business travel guides from Pakistan
Three visa systems, dozens of trade fairs and a calendar that rewards early planning. Our European guides cover the cities Pakistani companies visit most, the Schengen and UK visa routes, and the 2027 fair dates, each with the date it was checked.
Schengen, UK or Türkiye: which visa does your trip need?
| Destination | Route for Pakistanis | When to apply | Fee | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schengen area (29 countries) | Schengen short-stay visa from the mission of the main destination | Up to 6 months before; at least 15 days | €90 | Up to 90 days in any 180 |
| United Kingdom | Standard Visitor visa, applied online with biometrics in Pakistan | Up to 3 months before | £135 (6 months) | Up to 6 months per visit |
| Türkiye | e-Visa for eligible travellers, otherwise a sticker visa from a Turkish mission | Depends on route | Varies | Depends on visa |
How to plan a multi-country European trip
The first question for any European trip is which countries are inside Schengen. Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Sweden and Switzerland are; the UK and Ireland are not, and Türkiye has its own system. A trip that combines a Frankfurt fair with London buyers therefore needs two visas, two sets of biometrics and two timelines.
Inside Schengen, the mission of your main destination decides the visa. Count the nights: a week in Germany with a day in Paris is a German application. Each national mission has its own appointment system and checklist, which is why our country guides go into the details for Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands.
Plan the visa before the flights. Schengen applications open six months ahead and the UK three months ahead, and appointment waiting times grow before the January textile fairs and the spring industrial fairs.
Germany: the fair capital of Europe
Most Pakistani exporters’ European year starts in Germany, with Heimtextil in Frankfurt and DOMOTEX in Hannover in January, and ends there with MEDICA in Düsseldorf in November.
Frankfurt
Heimtextil, Ambiente, ISH and the banking district.
Open guideBerlin
ITB, Fruit Logistica and government meetings.
Open guideMunich
Engineering principals, BAU and IAA Mobility.
Open guideDüsseldorf
MEDICA and Rhine-Ruhr industry.
Open guideCologne
Anuga and the Koelnmesse calendar.
Open guideHannover
ITMA 2027 and Hannover Messe.
Open guideGermany business visa
The German mission process.
Open guideHeimtextil guide
The January home-textile fair.
Open guideFrance, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium
Paris and Milan for fashion and sourcing, Barcelona for MWC, Madrid for IFEMA and Spanish buyers, Amsterdam and Rotterdam for importers, and Brussels for EU trade policy.
Paris
Texworld and the interview in Islamabad.
Open guideMilan
Fiera Milano and machinery makers.
Open guideAmsterdam
Importers, Schiphol and Rotterdam.
Open guideBrussels
EU institutions and GSP+.
Open guideBarcelona
MWC week and Fira Gran Via.
Open guideMadrid
IFEMA, FITUR and Spanish buyers.
Open guideFrance business visa
The French mission process.
Open guideItaly business visa
Consular areas and checklist.
Open guideSpain business visa
Centres and decision times.
Open guideNetherlands business visa
Checklist and Orange Carpet.
Open guideMore European business cities
London
Districts and the visitor visa.
Open guideManchester
North West retail and apparel buyers.
Open guideBirmingham
The NEC and Midlands industry.
Open guideZurich
Banking and machinery principals.
Open guideGeneva
UN agencies and conference season.
Open guideVienna
UN, IAEA and OPEC meetings.
Open guideStockholm
Telecom principals and winter travel.
Open guideUK business visitor visa
The Standard Visitor file.
Open guideSchengen business visa
The Schengen basics.
Open guideIstanbul
Türkiye’s business capital.
Open guideTürkiye business visa
e-Visa or sticker visa.
Open guideEuropean fairs in 2027 that matter to Pakistani companies
| Fair | Dates |
|---|---|
| Heimtextil, Frankfurt | 12–15 January 2027 |
| BAU, Munich | 11–15 January 2027 |
| DOMOTEX, Hannover | 17–20 January 2027 |
| FITUR, Madrid | 20–24 January 2027 |
| Texworld, Paris | 25–27 January 2027 |
| Ambiente, Frankfurt | 29 January–2 February 2027 |
| Fruit Logistica, Berlin | 3–5 February 2027 |
| Spring Fair, Birmingham | 7–10 February 2027 |
| MWC, Barcelona | 1–4 March 2027 |
| ISH, Frankfurt | 15–19 March 2027 |
| ITB, Berlin | 16–18 March 2027 |
| Hannover Messe | 5–8 April 2027 |
| Salone del Mobile, Milan | 13–18 April 2027 |
| ITMA, Hannover | 16–22 September 2027 |
| Anuga, Cologne | 9–13 October 2027 |
| MEDICA, Düsseldorf | 15–18 November 2027 |
Planning European trips, 24/7
Go Global has handled 100,000+ trips, including exhibition teams, buyer visits and factory training trips across Europe. We plan the visa route first, then flights, fair-week hotels and trains, and our team works 24/7 for travellers already on the road.
Europe travel questions
Does one Schengen visa cover all of Europe?
No. It covers the 29 Schengen countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Sweden and Switzerland. The UK and Ireland need their own visas, and Türkiye has its own e-Visa and sticker visa routes.
Which country do I apply to for a multi-country trip?
The country where you spend the most time or, if the stays are equal, the one with the main purpose of the trip. If that is unclear, the country you enter first.
How early should we apply for a European fair?
As early as allowed: up to six months ahead for Schengen visas and three months for the UK. Missions get busy before the January and spring fairs.
Do these guides replace official advice?
No. Each guide lists its official sources and the date checked. Rules change, so we confirm them for every trip.
More fair and visa guides
Hannover Messe 2027
5–8 April, industrial technology.
Open pageITMA 2027
16–22 September, Hannover.
Open pageMEDICA
Medical technology, November.
Open pageAnuga 2027
9–13 October, food.
Open pageAmbiente 2027
29 Jan–2 Feb, home and kitchen.
Open pageTexworld Paris 2027
25–27 January, fabrics.
Open pageDOMOTEX 2027
17–20 January, carpets.
Open pageISPO 2027
2–4 November, Amsterdam.
Open pageMWC Barcelona 2027
1–4 March, telecom.
Open pageITB Berlin 2027
16–18 March, travel trade.
Open pageWTM London 2027
2–4 November, travel trade.
Open pageCPHI 2027
9–11 November, Frankfurt.
Open pageBelgium business visa
The Belgian process.
Open pageSwitzerland business visa
The Swiss process.
Open pageIreland business visa
Not Schengen, not UK.
Open pageMore guides: Americas and Asia
Planning a European business trip?
Tell us who is travelling, when and why. We reply with a plan, the visa route and a quote. Go Global has handled 100,000+ trips, and our team works 24/7 for travellers on the road. Email insights@goglobal.pk or WhatsApp 0320-4111222.