Indians were among the top five nationalities with the most rejected Schengen visa applications in 2023. Out of the 151,752 visa requests filed by Indian nationals, a substantial number were denied.
This led to an estimated loss of €12.1 million in visa application fees for Indian applicants, highlighting the financial burden on those attempting to travel to Schengen countries.
In 2023, Schengen states rejected a total of 1.6 million visa applications, resulting in €130 million in generated funds, according to Schengen News.
Among the affected nationalities, Indian applicants faced significant financial losses due to high visa rejection rates.
Other nationalities facing high rejection rates included Turks, Algerians, Moroccans, and Chinese.
Turkish nationals experienced the highest monetary loss, with €13.5 million spent on rejected visa applications.
Algerians followed closely, losing €13.3 million, while Moroccans lost €10.9 million, and Chinese applicants faced losses of €4.8 million despite having one of the highest approval rates.
The rejection rate represents the proportion of visas denied relative to the total number of applications.
Although the absolute number of rejections for Indians was high, the list of nationalities with the highest rejection rates was dominated by African and Asian countries.
Comoros had the highest rejection rate at 57.7%, followed by Pakistan (48.2%), Guinea-Bissau (47.9%), Ghana (46.7%), and Mali (46.4%).
For Indian applicants, the high rejection rates and associated financial losses underscore the challenges faced in securing Schengen visas.
Many applicants are left with the frustration of "wasted money" as they bear the cost of application fees without obtaining the desired visa approval
Schengen Visas became costlier starting June
Starting June 11, 2024, Schengen visa fees increased from €80 to €90 for adult applicants and from €40 to €45 for children aged six to twelve.
Countries not cooperating with the readmission of their irregularly staying citizens in the EU may see visa fees rise to €135 or even €180.
This fee hike follows a European Commission decision aimed at addressing inflation and civil servants' salary adjustments, reflecting the first increase since February 2020.
Indian Travelers to Europe
Indian nationals have shown a growing interest in European travel, with a 43% increase in Schengen visa applications in 2023 compared to 2022. India ranked third in visa applications, with 966,687 filings.
The European Commission has introduced a new visa "cascade" regime for Indian nationals, easing access to multi-entry visas with extended validity.
Indian nationals residing in India can now obtain a two-year multi-entry visa after lawfully using two visas within the previous three years. This can be followed by a five-year visa, allowing short stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period
The increased fees and evolving visa policies present both challenges and opportunities for Indian travelers.
While the financial burden has grown, the new multi-entry visa regime could simplify travel plans for frequent visitors, potentially encouraging more Indians to explore European destinations
Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/visit/indians-spent-over-12-million-in-rejected-schengen-visa-applications-last-year/articleshow/111282859.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
