Last Updated:
Indian applicants for Schengen visas encountered major obstacles in 2024; more than 1.65 lakh were denied, costing Rs 136 crore in non-refundable costs.
Most of these rejections came from Germany, France, and Switzerland.
More than 1.65 lakh Schengen visa applications from India were rejected in 2024, resulting in a financial loss of approximately Rs 136 crore due to non-refundable fees. With the average application fee at €85 (about Rs 8,270), India ranks third among countries with the highest monetary losses from rejected Schengen visa applications, surpassed only by Algeria and Turkey.
A Conde Nast report stated that of the 11.08 lakh total Schengen visa applications submitted from India, 5.91 lakh were approved, while 1.65 lakh were declined. Data from the European Commission indicated that the rejection rate was close to 15 per cent.
India was among the countries with high Schengen visa rejection rates, alongside Algeria, Turkey, Morocco, and China. In 2024, over 17 lakh applications were rejected globally, resulting in €145 million (Rs 1,410 crore) collected in non-refundable fees. Indian applicants alone accounted for €14 million (Rs 136.6 crore) of this amount.
France recorded the highest number of Schengen visa rejections for Indian applicants, turning down 31,314 applications and causing a financial loss of approximately Rs 25.8 crore, the Conde Nast report stated.
Several other countries also contributed notably to the overall rejection-related losses. Switzerland denied 26,126 applications, resulting in a loss of Rs 21.6 crore. Germany followed with 15,806 rejections, amounting to Rs 13 crore in losses. Spain rejected 15,150 applications, leading to a Rs 12.5 crore loss, while the Netherlands turned down 14,569 applications, adding another Rs 12 crore to the total. These rejections collectively formed a substantial financial setback for Indian travellers.
In 2024, the Schengen visa fee for Indian applicants aged 12 and above rose from €80 to €90 mid-year, resulting in an annual average fee of €85. This standard charge did not apply to specific groups like children under 12, students, nonprofit organisation representatives, and other exempt categories. Based on this average, Indians reportedly collectively spent close to Rs 916 crore on Schengen visa applications during the year.
The significant number of visa rejections and the resulting financial burden have become a growing concern for frequent travellers and travel agencies. These denials not only impact individual applicants but also hinder tourism, business interactions, and educational exchanges between India and Schengen nations.
While the European Commission has not released detailed demographic insights on those rejected, the scale and financial implications underline the difficulties Indian citizens encounter in obtaining Schengen visas.
As interest in European travel for leisure, study, and employment continues to rise among Indians, improving the visa approval process has become an increasingly important issue.
- First Published:
