Applying for a Schengen visa can be expensive and requires a lot of effort & time. Getting rejected at the end of the process can be demotivating and happens more often than not. To avoid this and to successfully get your tourist visa, there are certain things you can do to improve your chances.
Countries with highest rejection rates
Here are the top 10 countries globally that have the highest rejection rates for a tourist visa in 2022. The raw data is from this site and I did my own analysis on the data. The data is not guaranteed to be official.
Here are the explanations for the columns:
Country is where the Schengen application was made
Total number of applications denotes the number of visa applications submitted in 2022
Total number of rejections denotes the rejected applications
Note that a person may apply for a visa multiple times, therefore the total number does not mean that a application was made by unique individuals. Example: for Malta, there were 22,275 applications made by individuals all over the world and 7,915 of those were rejected.
Destination Country | Total number of applications | Total number of rejections | Rejection rate (in %) |
|---|---|---|---|
Malta | 22,275 | 7,915 | 35.53% |
Sweden | 135,946 | 38,652 | 28.43% |
Belgium | 171,966 | 46,569 | 27.08% |
France | 1,918,515 | 408,876 | 21.31% |
Norway | 72,463 | 14,719 | 20.31% |
Estonia | 23,151 | 4,533 | 19.58% |
Spain | 1,197,457 | 227,712 | 19.02% |
Portugal | 150,915 | 27,378 | 18.14% |
Denmark | 73,947 | 13,167 | 17.81% |
Slovenia | 17,680 | 3,085 | 17.45% |
Netherlands | 412,967 | 70,566 | 17.09% |
Germany | 1,043,297 | 167,517 | 16.06% |
Austria | 151,566 | 23,984 | 15.82% |
Hungary | 144,227 | 21,757 | 15.09% |
Czech Republic | 117,624 | 16,941 | 14.4% |
Italy | 727,490 | 92,186 | 12.67% |
Greece | 459,139 | 56,566 | 12.32% |
Switzerland | 410,036 | 49,263 | 12.01% |
Poland | 83,114 | 9,841 | 11.84% |
Luxembourg | 6,931 | 709 | 10.23% |
Slovakia | 12,211 | 1,181 | 9.67% |
Finland | 164,427 | 15,530 | 9.44% |
Latvia | 21,140 | 1,989 | 9.41% |
Lithuania | 26,556 | 2,037 | 7.67% |
Iceland | 7,715 | 146 | 1.89% |
As you can see from the table, Malta leads the rejection rate with 35.53%; every third application is likely to be rejected where as your chances significantly improve for Iceland / Lithuania / Latvia / Finland.
A high rejection rate from a country or a consulate does not mean it is more difficult or impossible to get a visa. It does indicate that the country's visa application process is stricter and may require more documentation or proof of ties to the applicant's home country. A common reason for rejection includes lack of proof that you will return to your home country after your visit; stronger proof that indicates you will come back after your vacation like submitting proof of property, work / employment, Verpflichtungserklärung will increase your chances.
Applying for Schengen visa for Indians
When I applied for my Schengen visa in 2016 and 2018, I applied from Chennai for the German consulate. Different consulates in various cities can improve your chances of getting the visa. You can usually only apply at a certain city based on your jurisdiction. Here is the list of consulates you can apply from India and their respective rejection rates.
Destination Country | Total number of applications | Total number of rejections | Rejection rate (in %) |
|---|---|---|---|
Estonia | 1,986 | 1,107 | 55.74% |
Slovenia | 2,732 | 1,199 | 43.89% |
Malta | 1,220 | 516 | 42.3% |
Lithuania | 985 | 405 | 41.12% |
Czech Republic | 5,396 | 1,840 | 34.1% |
Greece | 27,457 | 9,118 | 33.21% |
Portugal | 5,326 | 1,593 | 29.91% |
Slovakia | 999 | 275 | 27.53% |
Latvia | 616 | 162 | 26.3% |
Austria | 24,791 | 5,945 | 23.98% |
Hungary | 15,962 | 3,810 | 23.87% |
France | 138,643 | 27,681 | 19.97% |
Poland | 10,372 | 2,008 | 19.36% |
Spain | 80,098 | 14,852 | 18.54% |
Sweden | 27,775 | 5,110 | 18.4% |
Denmark | 8,033 | 1,446 | 18% |
Italy | 35,982 | 6,411 | 17.82% |
Finland | 7,950 | 1,323 | 16.64% |
Luxembourg | 2,268 | 344 | 15.17% |
Netherlands | 52,616 | 7,940 | 15.09% |
Belgium | 18,467 | 2,784 | 15.08% |
Norway | 18,016 | 2,618 | 14.53% |
Switzerland | 106,025 | 13,984 | 13.19% |
Germany | 76,352 | 8,615 | 11.28% |
Iceland | 1,861 | 102 | 5.48% |
More than half of applications at Estonia's consulate in India get rejected whereas Iceland stands out (again). Germany processes a large number of applications and has a low rejection rate of only 11.28%. I can attest to this, I have applied for visas myself there and for my parents on a family visit visa; I was rejected only once initially.
Schengen Visa for Indians by Cities
In 2022, I applied for visa for my parents in Chennai VFS for Germany. When we got back the visa, it was issued in Mumbai. So the data above could indicate where the visa was issued, rather than where the visa was applied for.
Destination Country | Consulate | Total number of applications | Total number of rejections | Rejection rate (in %) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Estonia | New Delhi | 1,986 | 1,107 | 55.74% |
Slovenia | New Delhi | 2,732 | 1,199 | 43.89% |
Malta | New Delhi | 1,220 | 516 | 42.3% |
Lithuania | New Delhi | 985 | 405 | 41.12% |
Hungary | New Delhi | 6,916 | 2,712 | 39.21% |
Portugal | New Delhi | 3,439 | 1,246 | 36.23% |
Czech Republic | New Delhi | 5,396 | 1,840 | 34.1% |
Greece | New Delhi | 27,457 | 9,118 | 33.21% |
Slovakia | New Delhi | 999 | 275 | 27.53% |
Latvia | New Delhi | 616 | 162 | 26.3% |
France | New Delhi | 39,276 | 10,296 | 26.21% |
Italy | New Delhi | 12,660 | 3,176 | 25.09% |
Spain | New Delhi | 39,495 | 9,717 | 24.6% |
Austria | New Delhi | 24,791 | 5,945 | 23.98% |
Poland | New Delhi | 3,496 | 807 | 23.08% |
France | Pondichery | 21,075 | 4,520 | 21.45% |
France | Kolkata | 9,670 | 1,788 | 18.49% |
Sweden | New Delhi | 27,775 | 5,110 | 18.4% |
Portugal | Goa | 1,887 | 347 | 18.39% |
Denmark | New Delhi | 8,033 | 1,446 | 18% |
Poland | Mumbai | 6,876 | 1,201 | 17.47% |
France | Mumbai | 46,000 | 7,691 | 16.72% |
Finland | New Delhi | 7,950 | 1,323 | 16.64% |
Belgium | Mumbai | 13,643 | 2,207 | 16.18% |
Luxembourg | New Delhi | 2,268 | 344 | 15.17% |
Netherlands | New Delhi | 52,616 | 7,940 | 15.09% |
France | Bangalore | 22,622 | 3,386 | 14.97% |
Italy | Mumbai | 16,413 | 2,441 | 14.87% |
Norway | New Delhi | 18,016 | 2,618 | 14.53% |
Switzerland | New Delhi | 106,025 | 13,984 | 13.19% |
Germany | Mumbai | 55,870 | 7,161 | 12.82% |
Spain | Mumbai | 40,603 | 5,135 | 12.65% |
Hungary | Mumbai | 9,046 | 1,098 | 12.14% |
Belgium | New Delhi | 4,824 | 577 | 11.96% |
Italy | Kolkata | 6,909 | 794 | 11.49% |
Germany | New Delhi | 13,341 | 1,443 | 10.82% |
Iceland | New Delhi | 1,861 | 102 | 5.48% |
Germany | Chennai | 147 | 2 | 1.36% |
Germany | Kolkata | 649 | 1 | 0.15% |
Germany | Bangalore | 6,345 | 8 | 0.13% |
Which country gets rejected more often
Apart from seeing which country's consulate rejects you more, let's see which country's citizens get rejected more often than not. In this case, Slovenia has a much smaller sample size; Certain residents of Slovenia may need a visa to Germany for example (they are part of Schengen already so the nationals do not require one).
Algeria gets rejected most often at 45.76% while Indians have a rejection rate of 18.06%
Source Country | Total number of applications | Total number of rejections | Rejection rate (in %) |
|---|---|---|---|
Slovenia | 201 | 134 | 66.67% |
Algeria | 392,053 | 179,409 | 45.76% |
Guinea-Bissau | 7,990 | 3,611 | 45.19% |
Nigeria | 86,815 | 39,189 | 45.14% |
Sri Lanka | 17,594 | 7,691 | 43.71% |
Ghana | 42,124 | 18,363 | 43.59% |
Haiti | 6,270 | 2,655 | 42.34% |
Senegal | 56,866 | 23,683 | 41.65% |
Guinea | 11,806 | 4,791 | 40.58% |
Pakistan | 76,080 | 30,841 | 40.54% |
Mali | 23,117 | 9,219 | 39.88% |
Nepal | 6,718 | 2,570 | 38.26% |
Iraq | 48,536 | 18,211 | 37.52% |
Djibouti | 4,530 | 1,602 | 35.36% |
Comoros | 2,774 | 976 | 35.18% |
Burundi | 3,110 | 1,094 | 35.18% |
Tajikistan | 3,818 | 1,334 | 34.94% |
Bangladesh | 30,399 | 10,340 | 34.01% |
Sudan | 8,374 | 2,845 | 33.97% |
Congo (Democratic Republic) | 33,817 | 10,715 | 31.69% |
Congo (Brazzaville) | 15,886 | 5,032 | 31.68% |
Syria | 1,277 | 402 | 31.48% |
Bolivia | 18,718 | 5,773 | 30.84% |
Central African Republic | 2,004 | 616 | 30.74% |
Cameroon | 34,271 | 10,508 | 30.66% |
Mauritania | 21,399 | 6,380 | 29.81% |
Gabon | 17,388 | 5,074 | 29.18% |
Tunisia | 168,346 | 48,909 | 29.05% |
Eritrea | 1,277 | 370 | 28.97% |
Cape Verde | 17,572 | 5,055 | 28.77% |
Madagascar | 15,027 | 4,303 | 28.64% |
Brazil | 1,627 | 465 | 28.58% |
Ethiopia | 21,099 | 5,977 | 28.33% |
Morocco | 423,201 | 119,346 | 28.2% |
Cote D'Ivoire | 57,319 | 15,967 | 27.86% |
Libya | 16,543 | 4,327 | 26.16% |
Angola | 56,172 | 14,621 | 26.03% |
Hungary | 31 | 8 | 25.81% |
Rwanda | 10,112 | 2,586 | 25.57% |
Cuba | 39,931 | 9,787 | 24.51% |
Benin | 13,672 | 3,348 | 24.49% |
Chad | 6,785 | 1,655 | 24.39% |
Burkina Faso | 13,784 | 3,355 | 24.34% |
Uganda | 11,925 | 2,830 | 23.73% |
Togo | 7,844 | 1,858 | 23.69% |
Iran | 142,243 | 33,679 | 23.68% |
Kenya | 48,892 | 11,436 | 23.39% |
United Arab Emirates | 187,196 | 42,105 | 22.49% |
Dominican Republic | 43,996 | 9,589 | 21.8% |
Ecuador | 75,094 | 16,339 | 21.76% |
Equatorial Guinea | 10,540 | 2,258 | 21.42% |
Venezuela | 160 | 34 | 21.25% |
Colombia | 1,956 | 411 | 21.01% |
Kyrgyzstan | 21,087 | 4,286 | 20.33% |
Chile | 1,593 | 323 | 20.28% |
Suriname | 16,990 | 3,416 | 20.11% |
Jordan | 61,695 | 12,327 | 19.98% |
Egypt | 167,995 | 31,271 | 18.61% |
Tanzania | 10,144 | 1,868 | 18.41% |
Lebanon | 99,254 | 18,232 | 18.37% |
India | 671,928 | 121,188 | 18.04% |
Niger | 8,111 | 1,452 | 17.9% |
Portugal | 28 | 5 | 17.86% |
Mongolia | 15,107 | 2,494 | 16.51% |
Uzbekistan | 39,509 | 6,385 | 16.16% |
Argentina | 793 | 128 | 16.14% |
Myanmar | 5,154 | 811 | 15.74% |
Zambia | 2,012 | 313 | 15.56% |
Türkiye | 778,409 | 120,876 | 15.53% |
Malaysia | 3,769 | 585 | 15.52% |
Netherlands | 897 | 139 | 15.5% |
Georgia | 2,606 | 395 | 15.16% |
Laos | 3,007 | 451 | 15% |
Palestinian Authority | 4,971 | 714 | 14.36% |
Sweden | 49 | 7 | 14.29% |
Cyprus | 8,855 | 1,206 | 13.62% |
Timor-Leste | 62 | 8 | 12.9% |
Armenia | 62,025 | 7,884 | 12.71% |
Honduras | 33 | 4 | 12.12% |
South Korea | 2,629 | 316 | 12.02% |
Panama | 1,124 | 130 | 11.57% |
Kosovo | 121,972 | 13,674 | 11.21% |
Israel | 25,385 | 2,843 | 11.2% |
Qatar | 79,859 | 8,837 | 11.07% |
Cambodia | 10,563 | 1,143 | 10.82% |
Croatia | 2,105 | 222 | 10.55% |
Saint Lucia | 164 | 17 | 10.37% |
Russian Federation | 687,239 | 68,753 | 10% |
North Macedonia | 9,074 | 876 | 9.65% |
Lithuania | 52 | 5 | 9.62% |
Romania | 5,317 | 506 | 9.52% |
Japan | 6,211 | 576 | 9.27% |
China | 92,780 | 8,240 | 8.88% |
Mozambique | 16,177 | 1,427 | 8.82% |
Vietnam | 79,559 | 6,843 | 8.6% |
Uruguay | 250 | 21 | 8.4% |
Macao S.A.R. | 60 | 5 | 8.33% |
Greece | 86 | 7 | 8.14% |
Kazakhstan | 106,097 | 8,625 | 8.13% |
Thailand | 208,356 | 16,869 | 8.1% |
Zimbabwe | 6,017 | 487 | 8.09% |
Azerbaijan | 52,570 | 4,233 | 8.05% |
Peru | 783 | 60 | 7.66% |
Sao Tome And Principe | 4,133 | 315 | 7.62% |
Oman | 30,885 | 2,287 | 7.4% |
Namibia | 4,508 | 320 | 7.1% |
Serbia | 6,572 | 466 | 7.09% |
Bahrain | 19,422 | 1,294 | 6.66% |
Moldova | 1,557 | 95 | 6.1% |
Jamaica | 3,657 | 218 | 5.96% |
Bulgaria | 4,579 | 272 | 5.94% |
South Africa | 165,893 | 8,644 | 5.21% |
Mexico | 1,718 | 89 | 5.18% |
Saudi Arabia | 357,764 | 18,292 | 5.11% |
Philippines | 152,817 | 7,776 | 5.09% |
Indonesia | 134,616 | 6,760 | 5.02% |
Hong Kong S.A.R. | 6,195 | 309 | 4.99% |
Albania | 1,256 | 62 | 4.94% |
Kuwait | 147,694 | 7,208 | 4.88% |
Trinidad And Tobago | 373 | 18 | 4.83% |
Canada | 25,678 | 1,201 | 4.68% |
Finland | 22 | 1 | 4.55% |
Italy | 176 | 8 | 4.55% |
Singapore | 29,743 | 1,334 | 4.49% |
Germany | 251 | 11 | 4.38% |
Mauritius | 657 | 28 | 4.26% |
Turkmenistan | 2,660 | 113 | 4.25% |
Switzerland | 71 | 3 | 4.23% |
Taiwan | 710 | 29 | 4.08% |
United Kingdom | 282,109 | 11,482 | 4.07% |
Usa | 124,841 | 5,003 | 4.01% |
Vanuatu | 50 | 2 | 4% |
Slovakia | 101 | 4 | 3.96% |
Poland | 228 | 9 | 3.95% |
Montenegro | 1,735 | 66 | 3.8% |
Australia | 9,612 | 333 | 3.46% |
Botswana | 1,114 | 35 | 3.14% |
Bosnia And Herzegovina | 2,261 | 63 | 2.79% |
Spain | 182 | 5 | 2.75% |
Ukraine | 29,558 | 789 | 2.67% |
Costa Rica | 263 | 7 | 2.66% |
New Zealand | 1,277 | 31 | 2.43% |
Paraguay | 87 | 2 | 2.3% |
Belgium | 88 | 2 | 2.27% |
Belarus | 120,893 | 2,292 | 1.9% |
France | 279 | 5 | 1.79% |
San Marino | 114 | 2 | 1.75% |
Ireland | 24,714 | 362 | 1.46% |
Guatemala | 278 | 4 | 1.44% |
Luxembourg | 93 | 1 | 1.08% |
Liberia | 219 | 2 | 0.91% |
Austria | 459 | 3 | 0.65% |
Andorra | 207 | 1 | 0.48% |
Denmark | 1,405 | 2 | 0.14% |
Iceland | 42 | 0 | 0% |
Norway | 12 | 0 | 0% |
Latvia | 2 | 0 | 0% |
Malta | 15 | 0 | 0% |
El Salvador | 69 | 0 | 0% |
Estonia | 1 | 0 | 0% |
Nicaragua | 42 | 0 | 0% |
Czech Republic | 3 | 0 | 0% |
South Sudan | 4 | 0 | 0% |
