Schengen Countries Reject 121,188 Indian Visa Applications, Rejection Rate Hits 18%

A recent report has revealed that the Schengen countries, known for their visa-free travel policy, rejected a staggering number of Indian visa applications last year. The rejection rate stands at 18 per cent, indicating a significant hurdle for travellers from India seeking entry into the Schengen region.

According to statistics provided by the Schengen authorities, a total of 121,188 Indian visa applications were turned down in 2022. This rejection rate is a cause for concern and has sparked discussions on the reasons behind the high number of denials.

Algeria Tops the List

The report highlights that Algerian nationals faced the highest number of rejections for Schengen visa applications in 2022. A total of 179,409 visa applications were denied, resulting in a staggering rejection rate of 45.8 per cent. This trend among Algerian applicants raises questions about the factors contributing to such a high refusal rate.

Top Ten Countries with High Rejection Rates

In addition to Algeria and India, several other countries also faced significant rejections for Schengen visas. Turkey, Morocco, and Russia were among the top ten countries with the highest rejection rates.

Turkey had 120,876 visa applications rejected, followed closely by Morocco with 119,346 and Russia with 68,753 denials. The refusal rates for these countries were 15.2 per cent, 15.5 per cent, and 28.2 per cent, respectively.

Visa applications from Tunisia were rejected 48,909 times, indicating a substantial challenge for its citizens wishing to travel to the Schengen area. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) also experienced a high number of rejections, with 42,105 applications being denied.

The report also highlights the challenges faced by applicants from Nigeria, Iran, and Egypt. These three countries collectively had around 30,000 visa applications denied. Specifically, 39,189 visa applications were rejected from Nigerian applicants, followed by 33,679 from Iran and 31,271 from Egypt.

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Expenses Incurred

The report sheds light on the financial implications of these rejections. In 2022, a total of 76,352 individuals from India applied for Schengen visas, resulting in expenses exceeding €6.1 million in application fees.

Breakdown of Expenses

Germany received the highest number of visa applications from India, with 76,352 applicants paying an €80 fee. The Mumbai consulate recorded the highest amount spent on visa applications, totalling €4.4 million.

Similarly, the New Delhi and Bangalore consulates followed, with expenses of almost €1.1 million and €508,000, respectively. Notably, the number of applicants in New Delhi was 13,341, while Bangalore had 6,345 applicants.

Must Read: Schengen Visa Applications in India Surpass 76,000, Generating €6.1 Million in Fees

Denials and Expenses

Detailed data shows that 13 visas were not issued at the Bangalore consulate, resulting in expenses of €1,040 for those applicants. Similarly, at the Mumbai consulate, expenses for denied visa applications reached €586,800, affecting a total of 7,335 applicants.

Rejection Rates in Other Cities

New Delhi witnessed 1,519 rejected applications, resulting in an expensive loss of €121,520. Kolkata and Chennai had three and five applications rejected, causing losses of €240 and €400 in visa fees, respectively.

Conclusion

The high number of Indian visa rejections within the Schengen area in 2022 has raised concerns about the visa application process and the reasons behind these denials. The rejection rates for countries like Algeria, Turkey, Morocco, and Russia also indicate the need for further analysis and improvement in the visa application process.