In 2023, Indians were among the top five nationalities with the highest number of rejected Schengen visa applications. According to a report by Schengen.news, as many as 151,752 visa applications from India were rejected.
This resulted in an estimated loss of €12.1 million in visa application fees for Indian applicants, underscoring the financial burden on those wishing to travel to Schengen countries.
According to Schengen.news, Schengen states rejected a total of 1.6 million euros in visa applications in 2023, generating 130 million euros in fees. Among the nationalities affected, Indian applicants suffered significant financial losses due to the high rejection rate. Other nationalities with significant rejection rates included Turks, Algerians, Moroccans and Chinese.
Moroccan citizens also faced a large number of visa rejections. Of the 591,000 visa applications from Morocco, 136,367 were rejected. Meanwhile, Chinese applicants saw 60,554 visa rejections, making China the fifth country with the most visa rejections. Despite this, China had one of the highest approval rates for the year.
Turkish citizens suffered the greatest financial loss, spending 13.5 million euros on rejected visa applications. The Algerians followed closely with a loss of 13.3 million euros. Moroccans lost 10.9 million euros, and Chinese applicants suffered a loss of 4.8 million euros despite a high approval rate.
In terms of percentage rejection, Comoros from East Africa had the highest percentage at 57.7 percent, followed by Pakistani nationals with a rejection rate of 48.2 percent.
What are the Schengen Member States?
The Schengen area includes 26 countries, including 23 member states of the European Union (EU) and four non-EU countries that are part of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The four non-EU countries are Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Switzerland. The EU Member States are Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Denmark, Greece, Belgium, Slovenia, Italy, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, France, Sweden, Spain, and Croatia.
How does a Schengen visa work?
A Schengen visa allows travel or short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period in any country in the Schengen area. A visa issued by one Schengen State is valid in all other Schengen States. Applicants must apply for the visa in the country of their main destination. If you are visiting multiple Schengen countries without a primary destination, the visa must be obtained from the country of first entry.
First print: June 26, 2024 | 5:23 PM IST