france tourist visa rejection rate 2023

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Nearly 3 million visas were requested in 2023.

More than 506,000 visa applications were refused in 2023, according to provisional figures from France’s Interior Ministry.

Just under 3 million visas requested across the year, meaning that a little more than one in six were refused.

The figure includes short-stay visas for those without visa-free access to the Schengen Zone, which accounted for the vast majority of applications.

This includes people from countries including China, India, and those in North Africa, but not, for example, Australians, Britons or Americans, who do not need tourist visas.

The list of countries that currently do not need a visa (but will soon need a visa waiver) can be found below:

Read more: 59 countries affected by new EU visa-free scheme

However one-year long-stay visas and ‘talent passport’ visas are also included in the figures.

Despite an increase in applications compared to 2022 (an extra 700,000), only 6,000 additional visas were refused compared to the year before, when 500,000 were denied.

These figures are considerably below pre-Covid levels, however, where 4.2 million visas were demanded and over 680,000 refused.

There are a number of reasons visas can be refused, ranging from incorrect paperwork to a lack of funds to cover your visit.

What visas are included in the figures?

The Interior Ministry's provisional information for 2023’s visa applications mostly covers visa de court séjour applications.

As a reminder, those from a country which does not have a visa-free access agreement with the EU need to obtain a visa to enter, which is a visa de court séjour .

These visas last for 90 days, and are obtained for people visiting the country mostly for tourist reasons.

Britons, Americans, Australians, Canadians, Japanese, New Zealanders, Brazilians, and many others do not currently need any visa to enter the EU, provided they leave within 90 days and do not break the 90/180 day rules.

This will soon change, thanks to the implementation of the EU’s new border security systems, the Entry/Exit System and Etias.

They will instead have to apply for a visa waiver before their visit.

Read more: What is the EU’s Etias visa waiver scheme?

There were 2,139,937 short-stay visas requested, an increase of 47.2% on the year before, largely spurred by a return to global tourism after the pandemic and in particular from Chinese visitors.

Long-stay visas ( visa de long séjour ) were broken down into reasons for application, with ‘economical’ reasons (full-time employment, job transfers, seasonal workers) and ‘familial’ ones being the most common.

The number of ‘humanitarian’ long-stay visas (not the same as asylum seekers) saw a 39% drop compared to the previous year, with only 9,579 being approved.

A 20.2% increase in long-stay visitor visas (such as the VLS-TS or visa long séjour valant titre de séjour) was recorded, although there are no national breakdowns for who applied for these specifically.

Overall, 295,447 of these visas were handed out, only a 6.6% increase on the previous year.

Who applied for the most visas?

The Chinese were the highest number of applicants, requesting over 370,00 visas.

This was followed by Moroccan (240,000), Indian (213,000), Algerian (209,000) and Turkish (130,000).

These, alongside the rest of the top 15 – Russian, Saudi Arabian, Tunisian, Lebanese, Filipino, Thai, Egyptian, Ivorian, South African, and Nigerian – made up almost 75% of all visa applications.

Why can visas be rejected?

There is no breakdown for the reason visas were refused precisely, however there are a number of common reasons that visas can be refused.

The most likely of these is issues with supporting documents.

People coming on short-stay visas need to prove they have suitable health insurance for their journey, a place to stay, and proof of travel arrangements to leave the bloc before their visa expires.

They also need to prove they have enough funds to cover their journey – around €65 per day spent in the bloc, and if staying with a host, the host needs to have at least €33 per day.

Another common reason a visa can be denied is if you applied for the wrong one (i.e a tourist visa as opposed to a seasonal worker visa), in which case you will need to reapply.

Any doubt over the validity of your travel documents (passport, ID card etc) will also see your visa refused.

Finally, people who have previously overstayed their visa requirements, particularly for the Schengen bloc, may be refused entry.

The full provisional data from the Interior Ministry can be found here .

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Home > Blog > Statistics > Latest France Travel Statistics & Data

Latest France Travel Statistics & Data

on 19 Oct, 2022

Last updated: October 19, 2022, by Grant Thomas 

🔖Cite this webpage (Thomas, Grant. “Latest France Travel Statistics & Data”. visasassociation.com, October 19, 2022, https://visasassociation.com/statistics/france-travel-statistics ) 

Note : The latest statistics and travel data available about France are for 2021. We will update this page as soon as the 2022 Schengen Visa and tourism statistics on France are available.     

Highlights : Latest France Tourism Statistics & Trends 

• Over the past years, France has been the most popular destination country with the highest number of Schengen Visa applications .
• In 2021, France received 0.9% fewer Schengen Visa applications compared with 2020.  
• In 2021, France’s Schengen Visa approval rate was 78.9% . 
• In 2021, the occupancy of tourist accommodation establishments in France was a quarter lower compared with the pre-pandemic levels. 
• During the first quarter of 2021, only a third of the rooms in hotels in Metropolitan France was occupied.
• In 2021, the Île-de-France region accounted for half of the tourism decline in France.
• In 2021, domestic and international tourists spent 141 billion euros in Metropolitan France.
• In 2021, the Paris region recorded 22.6 million domestic and international visitors, an increase of 30% compared to 2020.  
• In 2021, the contribution of the travel and tourism sector to the GDP in France increased by 33% compared to 2020, reaching 161.5 billion euros.
• In 2021, Algeria submitted over 88,500 ( 13.6% ) Schengen Visa applications for France.
• In 2021, the countries with the highest France Schengen Visa rejection rate were Iraq ( 48.2% ) and Angola ( 44.9% ).
• In 2021, France recorded the highest number of overnight stays spent by resident visitors in July since 2011 ( 14.8 million ).

Tourism recovering in France, but not back to pre-pandemic levels

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak dramatically affected the tourism sector in France, with the contribution of the travel and tourism sector falling to just 108 billion euros from 211 billion euros in 2019. 

With the gradual lifting of travel restrictions in 2021, a rise in the number of nights spent by residents has provided some relief to the country. 

According to the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) , the recovery of the tourism sector was more significant on the coast and in the mountains than in large urban zones.  

However, the numbers achieved in 2021 were not enough to reach the pre-pandemic 2019 levels. 

This is because the return to non-resident visitors remained flat in 2021, especially in the Île-de-France region where arrivals of non-residents were at 21% of their summer pre-pandemic levels. 

In addition, employment remained stagnant in 2021, after suffering a loss of nearly 200,000 jobs due to restrictions on travel and daily life.  

• In 2021, France received 652,331 Schengen Visa applications, -0.9% compared with 2020.
• In 2021, France received 84% fewer Schengen Visa applications compared with 2019.
• France issued 480,057 Schengen Visas in 2021, 13% or 72,336 fewer than in 2020. 
• In 2021, France recorded 961.3 million overnight stays, an increment of 12% compared to 2020. 
• During the first quarter of 2021, the Île-de-France region recorded a drop of 81% in hotel occupancy compared with the same period in 2019.  
• In the first quarter of 2021, hotel overnight stays in France recorded a drop of 63.7% compared with the same period in 2019.   
• In the second quarter of 2021, hotel occupancy was 39% of the pre-pandemic levels. 
• In the second quarter of 2021, hotel overnight stays in France recorded a drop of 60.9% compared with the same period in 2019.    
• In the third quarter of 2021, hotel overnight stays in France recorded a drop of 18% compared with the same period in 2019.    
• In the fourth quarter of 2021, hotel overnight stays in France recorded a drop of 12.4% compared with the same period in 2019.   
• During the fourth quarter of 2021, France recorded a drop of 42% in overnight stays from the United Kingdom compared with the same period in 2019.    
• In August 2021, the number of nights spent at hotels by non-resident tourists in Metropolitan France increased by 35% over the same period in 2020. 
• In August 2021, the number of arrivals at hotels in Metropolitan France increased by 11% over the same period in 2020. 
• In August 2021, France recorded approximately the same number of arrivals of resident tourists at hotels in Metropolitan France as in August 2020 ( 8,600 and 8,200 , respectively). 
• In August 2021, the occupancy rate in hotels in Paris was 49.8% , with 18.7 percentage points higher than in August 2020. 
• In 2021, 3-star hotels were the most popular among visitors of Metropolitan France. 
• In 2021, France recorded 25,800 overnight stays in 1 and 2-star hotels, a very slight increase compared with 2020 ( 0.39% ).
• In 2021, France recorded 47,300 overnight stays in 3-star hotels, an increase of 13% compared with 2020.
• In 2021, France recorded 30,915 overnight stays in 4 and 5-star hotels, an increase of 20% compared with 2020.
• In August 2021, the hotel occupancy rate in France was 63.4 , showing an increase of 3.9 percentage points compared with the same period in 2020.
• In October 2021, France recorded 51.3% fewer international visitors compared with the same period in 2019. 
• In October 2021, France recorded 56.9% fewer business visitors compared with the same period in 2019. 
• Between 2019 and 2021, the average length of stay in hotels in France was 1.8 days.
• In 2021, France recorded 118,195 overnight stays in hotels, an increase of 10% compared to 2020. 
• In October 2021, the international arrivals in Metropolitan France from Western Europe dropped by 37.2% compared to the same period in 2019. 

International Arrivals in Metropolitan France in October 2021 Compared with October 2019 (%)

• In 2021, France ranked no.1 for the number of Schengen Visa applications received.
• In July 2021, domestic and international visitors spent 18.9 million overnight stays in hotels in France which represents 81% of the pre-pandemic level.
• In July 2021, resident tourists spent 14.8 million overnight stays in hotels in France.  
• In July 2021, international tourists from EU countries spent 3.5 million overnight stays in hotels in France.  
• In July 2021, tourists from countries outside the EU spent 0.6 million overnight stays in hotels in France.  
• In 2021, France recorded 66,520 arrivals in hotels, an increase of 10% compared with 2020.
• In 2021, France recorded 66,520 arrivals in hotels, a drop of 52% compared with 2019.
• In 2021, France recorded 18.4 million trips for professional purposes, an increase of 11% compared to 2020. 
• In 2021, France recorded 181.8 million trips for professional purposes, an increase of 18% compared to 2020.

France: Latest Schengen Visa Applications and Tourism Trends

France’s schengen visa approval rate from 2015 to 2021, countries that submitted the highest number of schengen visa applications for france from 2015 to 2021, contribution of travel and tourism to gdp in france from 2015 to 2021, top 5 countries that submitted the highest number of schengen visa applications for france in 2021, approval rates for the countries that submitted the highest number of schengen visa applications for france in 2021, top 5 third countries that had the highest rejection rates for the schengen visa for france in 2021, total overnight stays in hotels in france from 2015 to 2021, total number of arrivals in hotels in france from 2015 to 2021, total overnight stays in 1 and 2-star hotels in france from 2015 to 2021, total overnight stays in 3-star hotels in france from 2015 to 2021, total overnight stays in 4 and 5-star hotels in france from 2015 to 2021, sources:  .

European Commission – Statistics on short-stay visas issued by the Schengen States  

EUROSTAT – Tourism Statistics  

INSEE – National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies    

Atout France – Note de conjoncture de l’économie touristique  

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10 Schengen countries with the lowest visa rejection rates

Europe beckons you, with sandy shores, antique castles, and in some cases, low Schengen visa rejection rates. With the  Schengen visa statistics of 2022 out, we now have a list of the 10 easiest countries to get a Schengen visa to. Take your pick, and get cracking on that summer trip. The countries have been listed as per ascending order. Rates are for a seven-day round trip in July.

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon

The Nordic country received 7,715 visa applications in 2022, and rejected only 146 of them. That’s a rejection rate of  1.9% —the lowest across the Schengen region. Go for : The phenomenal beauty of glaciers and geysers, lava fields and waterfalls, and the Northern Lights. Iceland is also the world’s most peaceful country, as per the Global Peace Index of 2022. Flights to Reykjavik : From Delhi: Rs3,40,000* onwards; Mumbai: Rs3,41,000* onwards; Kolkata: Rs71,600* onwards

Vilnius Old Town

Lithuania got 25,556 visa applications, and accepted most of them. Its rejection rate was only 7.8% . Go for : Forested national parks teeming with wildlife and a taste of Jewish history and culture. The capital city of Vilnius is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a treasure trove of Baroque architecture. It’s the only European capital city that allows hot air balloons to cruise over its skyline. Flights to Vilnius : From Delhi: Rs69,570* onwards; Mumbai: Rs71,650* onwards; Kolkata: Rs72,670* onwards

Latvia’s rejection rate was at 9.5% , with the country granting 18,890 of 21,142 visas. Go for : The Art Nouveau district in Riga; Gauja National Park, the largest in Latvia; bird watching and bobsleigh riding. Flights to Riga : From Delhi: Rs67,000* onwards; Mumbai: Rs68,000* onwards; Kolkata: Rs78,100* onwards

Slovakia received 12,211 applications in 2022, and rejected only 9.7% of them. Go for : The spa town of Piestany, natural beauty around the Danube River, folk traditions, handicrafts and vintage architecture . Flights to Bratislava : From Delhi: Rs1,05,000* onwards; Mumbai: Rs1,11,000* onwards

Helsinki Cathedral

Finland’s rejection rate was also at 9.7% . However, the country received a lot more applications than Slovakia. Of the 1,64,427 applications, it rejected only 15,530. Go for : Arctic Finland, where you can spend your entire time outdoors as the sun doesn’t set for six months straight. Also look out for the Northern Lights, visit some of the 50,000 islands and mingle with people of the happiest country in the world. Flights to Helsinki : From Delhi: Rs66,390* onwards; Mumbai: Rs67,800* onwards; Kolkata: Rs87,600* onwards

Luxembourg received only 6,931 applications in 2022, but granted visas to 6,222 of them. That’s a rejection rate of 10.5% . Go for : Hiking trails, stunning castles and fine-dining at a number of Michelin-starred restaurants. Flights to Luxembourg : From Delhi: Rs58,800* onwards; Mumbai: Rs56,600* onwards; Kolkata: Rs62,000* onwards

In 2022, Poland made it into the list of countries with the lowest visa rejection rates at 11.6% . The country received 83,114 Schengen visa applications and rejected 9,841 of them. Go for : Craft beer ; saunter through the hip bars of Warsaw and historical buildings of Kraków; and visit the Tatra mountains, which create a natural boundary between Slovakia and Poland. Flights to Warsaw : From Delhi: Rs40,530* onwards; Mumbai: Rs63,370* onwards; Kolkata: Rs84,200* onwards

Switzerland

Switzerland rejected 49,263 visas in 2022—not bad for a country that received over four lakh visa applications. Go for : The galleries and nightlife of Zurich and the hikes and adventures that await you in Bern. In Basel, you’ll trace the roots of the international art event, Art Basel, in the city’s graffiti, museums and local artworks. Flights to Zurich : From Delhi: Rs58,200* onwards; Mumbai: Rs58,500* onwards; Kolkata: Rs84,860* onwards

Greece rejected 12.5% of the 1,59,129 visa applications it got. That’s l 4,02,573 visas granted in 2022. Go for : The thousands of Greek islands and beaches, hundreds of which have now been made wheelchair-accessible. Visit the Acropolis in Athens, of course, but also the rock formations of Meteora. And how can you miss the picture-perfect landscape of Santorini? Flights to Athens : From Delhi : Rs45,100* onwards; Mumbai: Rs37,700* onwards; Kolkata: Rs78,650* onwards

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Italy received over seven lakh Schengen visa applications from around the world. With only 92,186 of them rejected, the country’s rejection rate was 12.7% . Italy also had some of the lowest rejection rates  in India (11.5%). Go for : The marvels, from the colosseum in Rome to the Sistine Chapel and Vatican City itself. The country has 55 UNESCO World heritage sites, lip-smacking food and stunning natural landscapes from lakes to peaks. Flights to Florence : From Delhi: Rs56,000* onwards; Mumbai: Rs55,600* onwards; Kolkata: Rs68,000* onwards

*Prices are subject to change.

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Accepting, Serving in, or Performing Duties of a Position with the Government of a Foreign State - Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) Section 349(a)(4)

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Calculation of the Adjusted Visa Refusal Rate for Tourist and Business Travelers Under the Guidelines of the Visa Waiver Program

What is the Visa Waiver Program?

The Visa Waiver Program enables nationals of certain countries to travel without a visa to the U.S., when the intended travel is for "B" visa purposes (tourism or business) for stays of 90 days or less, if the traveler meets certain requirements. For more information, see Visa Waiver Program section . The Visa Waiver Program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security.

What is a Visa Refusal?

Under U.S. immigration law, a visa must be denied if the applicant cannot establish his or her eligibility, either because the application does not meet the requirements of an established visa category, or because there are grounds for ineligibility based on other aspects of the visa case. A visa refusal is the formal denial of a nonimmigrant visa application by a U.S. consular officer acting pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act. (More about visa refusals may be found in the Visa Denials section ).

What is a Refusal Overcome?

Some visa refusals can be overcome by the presentation of additional information. "Overcomes" are cases in which an initial decision to deny a visa or suspend processing in a visa case is overcome by the new information or changed circumstances that establishes an applicant's eligibility for the visa (and the visa is then issued).

What is a Waiver of Ineligibility?

Some visa refusals require a waiver of ineligibility which must be approved by the Department of Homeland Security before a visa may be issued.

How is the Visa Waiver Program Adjusted Visa Refusal Rate Calculated?

The Visa Waiver Program nonimmigrant visitor visa refusal rate is based on the worldwide number of applicants for visitor (B) visas who are nationals of that country. B visas are issued for short term business or pleasure travel to the United States. For information about qualifying for a B visa for business or tourism, please see the Visitor Visa page . 

The Department identifies multiple applications from a unique applicant and omits all but the last action from the calculation. Thus, an applicant is counted only once each year and is assigned the status in which he or she ended the year. For example, if an applicant who was refused in April re-applies and is issued in July, he or she will count only as an issuance. Similarly, if an applicant who was refused in April re-applies and is refused again in July, he or she will be counted as only one refusal. Rarely, an applicant may end the year in a third category, “overcome.” This happens when an officer has the information he needs to overcome a refusal but has not processed the case to completion.

The adjusted refusal rate equals: [Refusals minus Overcomes] divided by [Issuances plus Refusals minus Overcomes].

Determination of B Visa Adjusted Refusal Rate for Country X:

Country X, worldwide, had 305,024 B visa applicants end the fiscal year in the “issuance” status;

20,548 end in “refused” status; and 88 end in “overcome” status.

Refusals minus Overcomes = 20,548 - 88 = 20,460

Issuances plus Refusals minus Overcomes = 305,024 + 20,548 - 88 = 325,484

20,460 divided by 325,484 = 6.3 percent (Adjusted Refusal Rate)

The number of visa applicants who receive waivers of ineligibility is not considered when calculating Visa Waiver Program adjusted refusal rates. This is because a visa applicant requiring a waiver of ineligibility must apply for that waiver and receive approval before obtaining a visa with the waiver annotated. Therefore, applicants requiring such a determination would not be eligible to participate in the Visa Waiver Program, because the decision regarding the application for waiver of ineligibility could not be made at a port of entry.

Other Considerations Regarding the Visa Waiver Program Adjusted Refusal Rate

A country's visa refusal rate is just one of the criteria considered when determining a country's eligibility for Visa Waiver Program status. For more information, see "How a Country Qualifies for the Visa Waiver Program," in the Visa Waiver Program section . It is important to note that the Visa Waiver Program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security. Adjusted visa refusal rates for nationals of Visa Waiver Program countries reflect only visa applications submitted at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. They do not take into account persons who, under the Visa Waiver Program, travel to the U.S. without visas. Visa Waiver Program country refusal rates therefore tend to be higher than they would be if the Visa Waiver Program travelers were included in the calculation, since such travelers would in all likelihood have been issued visas had they applied.

Visa Waiver Program Refusal Rate Data

• FY2023 NIV B Adjusted Refusals by Nationality
• FY2022 NIV B Adjusted Refusals by Nationality
• FY2021 NIV B Adjusted Refusals by Nationality
• FY2020 NIV B Adjusted Refusals by Nationality  
• FY2019 NIV B Adjusted Refusals by Nationality
• FY2018 NIV B Adjusted Refusals by Nationality
• FY2017 NIV B Adjusted Refusals by Nationality
• FY2016 NIV B Adjusted Refusals by Nationality
• FY2015 NIV B Adjusted Refusals by Nationality
• FY2014 NIV B Adjusted Refusals by Nationality
• FY2013 NIV B Adjusted Refusals by Nationality
• FY2012 NIV B Adjusted Refusals by Nationality  
• FY2011 NIV B Adjusted Refusals by Nationality
• FY2010 NIV B Adjusted Refusals by Nationality
• FY2009 NIV B Adjusted Refusals by Nationality
• FY2008 NIV B Adjusted Refusals by Nationality
• FY2007 NIV B Adjusted Refusals by Nationality
• FY2006 NIV B Adjusted Refusals by Nationality

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Schengen Visa Rejection: Top 10 Countries with the Most Denied Applications

• Statistics / Visas & Passports

Travelling to Europe requires a Schengen visa, and some countries have higher rejection rates than others. In 2023, more than 1.6 million visa applications were denied, representing 15.8% of all requests filed.

Here’s a closer look at the top 10 countries with the highest Schengen visa rejection rates.

Countries with High Schengen Visa Rejection Rates

The data from the EU Commission reveals that the overall global Schengen visa rejection rate decreased slightly to 16% in 2023, compared to 17.9% in 2022 and 13.4% in 2021. The top five countries in the list alone accounted for 70% of all rejected visas, totalling 1.1 million denials. However, certain countries saw significant numbers of rejections:

• Visa Applications Denied: 436,893
• Rejection Rate: 16.6%

France tops the list of countries with the highest number of Schengen visa rejections. In 2023, the French authorities denied 436,893 visa applications, amounting to a rejection rate of 16.6%. Despite the high numbers, this is consistent with France’s position as the country receiving the most visa applications annually.

• Visa Applications Denied: 251,000
• Rejection Rate: 15%

Spain , a land of vibrant culture and stunning beaches, rejected a significant number of applications in 2023 – a total of 251,000. While the rejection rate isn’t the highest (around 15%), it’s still something to consider when planning your trip.

• Visa Applications Denied: 208,000

Germany , known for its efficiency, also implements a stringent visa process. In 2023, they rejected 208,000 applications. Ensure your paperwork is flawless and your itinerary is well-defined when applying for a German Schengen visa.

• Visa Applications Denied: 133,000

The land of Coliseums and gondolas also has a reputation for visa rejections. Italy rejected 133,000 applications in 2023. Meticulously prepare your application to increase your chances of approval for that Italian adventure.

5. Netherlands

• Visa Applications Denied: 114,000
• Year-on-Year Increase: 61.9%

The Netherl ands , famous for its canals and tulips, saw a significant jump in rejections in 2023. They rejected a whopping 114,000 applications, a 61.9% increase compared to 2022. Be extra prepared with a strong application if you plan to visit the Netherlands.

Must Read: Easiest Countries to Get a Schengen Visa From

• Visa Applications Denied: 91,000
• Year-on-Year Increase: 61.5%

Greece , with its idyllic islands and ancient ruins, also saw a substantial increase in rejections (61.5%). They rejected 91,000 applications in 2023. Researching Greece’s specific visa requirements can significantly boost your chances of approval.

7. Switzerland

• Visa Applications Denied: 64,000

Switzerland , the land of breathtaking landscapes, rejected 64,000 visa applications in 2023. While the rejection rate isn’t the highest, thorough preparation remains key for a successful Swiss visa application. Switzerland’s consistent position in the top 10 reflects its strict visa policies.

• Visa Applications Denied: 60,000

Sweden , known for its Viking heritage and stunning natural beauty, emerged as a new contender on the “most rejections” list in 2023. They rejected 60,000 applications. Ensure your application is complete and demonstrates a genuine travel itinerary for Sweden.

• Visa Applications Denied: 38,000

Belgium , the land of delectable chocolates and medieval architecture, also joined the ranks of countries with a higher number of rejections in 2023. They rejected 38,000 applications. A well-prepared application can significantly improve your chances of obtaining a Belgian visa.

10. Portugal

• Visa Applications Denied: 33,000

Portugal , known for its stunning coastline and rich history, maintained its position as the country with the least rejections among the top 10. They rejected 33,000 applications in 2023. While Portugal seems slightly less strict, thorough preparation is still advised.

Also Read: Schengen Visa: Reasons for Delays, Rejections, and How to Avoid Them

While some countries have higher rejection rates, visa applications are assessed individually. A strong application, a clear purpose for travel, and sufficient financial resources are crucial for approval in any Schengen country.

Significant Increases in Rejection Rates

The Netherlands recorded the highest year-on-year increase in rejected applications among the top 10, with a 61.9% jump from 70,000 to 114,000. Greece followed closely with a 61.5% increase. Sweden’s rejection numbers remained stable, with only a marginal rise of 28 applications.

France also saw a 6.9% increase in rejections, maintaining its position as the country with the highest number of applications and rejections.

Key Takeaways

• The overall visa rejection rate for Schengen visas decreased slightly in 2023.
• France remains the country with the most rejections, followed by Spain, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.
• Sweden and Belgium have entered the top 10 list for visa rejections.
• The Netherlands experienced the highest year-on-year increase in rejections.

Navigating the Schengen visa application process can be challenging, especially with high rejection rates in these countries. Travellers should ensure their applications are thoroughly prepared to increase their chances of approval. Being aware of these statistics can help applicants better understand the complexities and demands of the Schengen visa process.

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Manish Khandelwal

Manish Khandelwal, a travel-tech enthusiast with over a decade of experience in the travel industry. Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Travelobiz.com, he's passionate about writing.

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This is the most popular destination in Schengen area for Indians

Schengen visa 2023: the schengen area is eu passport-free zone that covers most european countries..

France is the most popular destination for Indian travellers among Schengen states, a report by the Schengen Visa Statistics 2022 showed. But France also had the largest visa rejections in 2022, the report added. The country- one of the five most popular Schengen destinations for Indians- saw 1.38 lakh visa applications in 2022, followed by Switzerland at 1.06 lakh applications, Spain at 80,098 applications, Germany at 76,352 applications and the Netherlands at 52,616 applications, the report showed.

France's visa rejection rate was 20.12 per cent, Spain's 18.5 per cent and Switzerland’s was as low as 13.2 per cent, data showed.

Read more: Australia tourist visa explained: Types, application process and extension

The Schengen area is EU passport-free zone that covers most European countries. It is the largest free travel area in the world and can be visited using a short stay visa- Schengen visa. A person with a Schengen visa- the most common visa used for travelling in Europe- can stay up to 90 days in the Schengen area.

The visa allows its holder to enter the country and travel freely in the Schengen zone from any of the Schengen member countries. There are no border controls within the zone.

Germany saw the lowest rate of visa rejection in 2022 at 11.33 per cent with 8,615 visas being rejected, the report claimed while Iceland saw 1,861 applications rejected. Hungary refused 9,046 applications, Belgium 4,824 visa applications and Norway 18,016 application.

Currently, there are 27 European countries in the Schengen Area. These include Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Croatia.

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Schengen visa rejection rates for Indians among the highest in the world: Report

Estonia, malta and slovenia rejected the most number of schengen visa applications from india, while germany, italy and hungary accepted the most..

• Updated May 16, 2023, 9:54 AM IST

A recent Schengen visa statistics has revealed that Indian travellers have one of the highest rejection rates in the world when it comes to Schengen visa. To give a perspective, Indians filed over 6 lakh Schengen visa applications in 2022, which happens to be the third highest in the world, but also faced a steep rejection rate of 18 per cent, as per a report.

Estonia, Malta and Slovenia rejected the most number of Schengen visa applications from India, while Germany, Italy and Hungary accepted the most,  Economic Times  reported citing the recent Schengen visa statistics.

Estonia rejected the highest share of visas from India in 2022 - 56 per cent of 1,986 applications. Malta had a 45 per cent rejection rate, while Slovenia rejected 44.5 per cent of 2,732 visas.

On the other hand, Germany had the lowest rejection rate for Indians. The Bengaluru consulate reportedly rejected only eight out of 6,345 Schengen visas, Kolkata rejected one application and Chennai two.

A total of 7,572,755 short-term visa application were received by Schengen visa embassies located worldwide. Türkiye occupies the first spot with 778,409 applications, with Russia second with 687,239, and India third with 671,928 applications.

What is a Schengen visa?

A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows a person to travel to any member of the Schengen Area. A person with Schengen visa can stay up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes in the Schengen Area.

It is the most common visa for Europe. It enables its holder to enter, freely travel within, and leave the Schengen zone from any of the Schengen member countries. There are no border controls within the Schengen Zone.

Currently, there are 27 European countries in the Schengen Area. The 27 Schengen countries are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Also Read:  Dust storms likely over Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan for the next few days; AQI in national capital moves beyond 'severe' levels

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• #schengen visa application
• #schengen visa for indians
• #what is a Schengen visa

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France, Spain, Germany lead countries rejecting Schengen visa applications

The three nations had the highest rejection rates of visa applications submitted by travellers from third-country nationals wishing to visit their territory.

Applicants filling a Schengen visa application at the embassies of France, Germany, and Spain have had their applications rejected, according to newly published statistics. 

The three nations had the highest rejection rates of visa applications submitted by travellers from third-country nationals wishing to visit their territory. 

Out of the 379,207 Schengen Visa applications submitted for consideration, 252,522 were rejected by France, Germany, and Spain, in the statistics published on SchengenVisaInfo.com, showing they are responsible for rejecting 66.5 per cent of the total number of short-term visas rejected in 2021.

According to the data, France had the largest share of rejected applications after denying a visa to 128,672 applicants out of the 652,331 received by its embassies worldwide in the same year under review. 

This also makes France the EU country with the highest number of applications for short-term visas in 2021. Spain followed as the second most Schengen country, which rejected 483,469 visa applications in the same year. 

Germany is listed as the third after receiving 346,284 applications, rejecting 53,987. 

Although the three countries have the highest number of rejected applications, the list changes when it comes to the Schengen countries that have rejected the highest shares of the applications they received. 

In 2021, the number of Schengen visa applications filed at the Schengen embassies and consulates worldwide plummeted by 83 per cent, compared to 2019, before the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.

However, the difference in the number of visa applications lodged in 2021 compared to 2019 is even deeper than the difference in the number of applications filed in the first year of the pandemic, 2020. 

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