These 5 Countries Received Lowest Number of Schengen Visa Applications in 2024

The Schengen Area is a popular destination for travellers around the world. While many travellers can easily travel to the zone, the remaining have to apply for a Schengen visa in order to be able to visit the magnificent landmarks and cities in the EU.

Due to this particular requirement for visa applications, some countries receive a high volume of applications while others experience a much lower demand, Schengen.News reports. 

The difference in the number of applications received by Schengen states can be tied to different factors such as economic conditions, regional travel patterns, and the appeal of European destinations. 

According to statistics published by SchengenVisaInfo, countries that have received the lowest number of visa applications for 2024 include the following: 

Luxembourg 
Luxembourg received a total of 11,227 visa applications in 2024, which is the lowest number of applications received for the year in all 26 recipient countries. 

To put it in perspective, Luxembourg received 0.1 per cent of the 10.3 million requests that all the countries received in 2024. Luxembourg’s neighbouring country, France, was the top recipient, as 2.6 million visa applications were received. 

Most applicants who filed their visa applications for Luxembourg, came from India, Türkiye, China and Russia, with these four countries representing 7,251 or 64.5 per cent of the total.

Estonia 
This Baltic country has received 13,190 visa applications, which is the second-lowest in the EU. While Luxembourg received the lowest number of applications, the country had quite a high approval rate with 81.5 per cent of visa requests being approved. 

That is not the case with Estonia, which had an approval rate of 61 per cent – the lowest rejection rate among countries on this list and second lowest compared to other EU countries, falling behind Malta (60 per cent). 

Russians, Indians, Turks, Belarus and applicants from the United Kingdom, filed most applications to Estonia, representing 9,250 or 70.1 per cent of the total. 

Slovakia 
With a minor difference of 278 visa applications from Estonia, Slovakia is positioned as the third country with the fewest applications received for the year. 

Applicants from Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates and India are the top applicants, filing 2,519, 1,678, and 1,332 visa applications, respectively. Egyptians also filed a high number of applications – 1,012. 

Latvia 
Despite receiving a low visa application number – 18,897, Latvia had a high approval rate as nearly 87 per cent of visas were approved. This country has the third-highest approval rate among EU countries. 

There are seven countries from where most applicants to Latvia came; Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, the United Kingdom, Russia and Türkiye. 

Slovenia 
Slovenia received 19,990 visa applications and had an approval rate of 63 per cent. The main applicants came from Kosovo (4,095), India (2,827) and Türkiye (2,671).

Source: https://schengen.news/these-5-countries-received-lowest-number-of-schengen-visa-applications-in-2024/