The Schengen visa remains one of the most widely used travel permits globally, granting access to a large part of Europe under a single short-stay system. Every year, millions of applications are processed through consulates across different countries, each handling them uniquely despite shared rules. In 2025, nearly 12 million visa applications were processed through EU and Schengen-related embassies and consulates, marking a 1.8% increase from 2024 (11.7 million) and a 15.5% rise from 2023 (10.3 million), as reported by the European Commission. However, despite these demand increases, the number remains far below the pre-pandemic period of 2019, which saw 17 million applications.
Over 10 million visas were granted in 2025, 3% more than in 2024 (9.7 million), but still 50% less than the 15 million issued in 2019. The average rejection rate remained unchanged at 14.8%. Visa refusal trends varied greatly by country. Some nations saw increased approvals, such as Russia (+6.4%), Algeria (+31%), and Ethiopia (+34%), while others experienced significant drops, including Senegal (-51.9%), Burundi (-53.4%), and Congo (-40.1%). Among the top applicant countries, no changes occurred: China, Türkiye, India, Russia, and Morocco remained the leaders. Notably, 51.2% of all issued visas were multiple-entry visas, slightly down from 51.7% last year.
Top 10 Schengen Countries with Highest Visa Rejection Rates
According to the latest data from the European Commission, the following are the Schengen countries most likely to reject visa applications:
- Malta – 38.40%
- Belgium – 26.10%
- Estonia – 24.60%
- Sweden – 23.30%
- Portugal – 23.30%
- Denmark – 21.70%
- Slovenia – 21.40%
- Croatia – 18.50%
- Netherlands – 17.70%
- Norway – 15.70%
Detailed Analysis of Rejection Rates
Malta tops the rejection list with a rate of approximately 38.4%. This is partly structural: as a small country heavily exposed to seasonal tourism, its consulates tend to filter applications more tightly when demand surges. Short stays linked to tourism or temporary work often face closer scrutiny, especially when paperwork is thin or inconsistent.
Belgium has a rejection rate of about 26.1%, largely stemming from document evaluation. Evaluators focus on clarity of documents, financial proof, and consistency of travel plans.
Estonia employs a strict filtering process, resulting in a 24.6% rejection rate. Its visa program is strongly influenced by security evaluations for short-term business visits.
Sweden's refusal rate of around 23.3% reflects close examination of financial stability and travel intent. Applications lacking clear employment background or stable income are more likely to be questioned.
Portugal records a similar rate of 23.3%, though reasons differ. Demand spikes during tourist seasons, particularly from Asia and parts of Africa, leading to uneven application quality.
Denmark maintains a cautious stance on immigration and short-stay visas, reflected in a 21.7% rejection rate. First-time applicants without strong ties to their home country often face additional questioning.
Slovenia processes fewer applications than larger Schengen states, yet its rejection rate sits at 21.4%. The pattern is less about volume and more about consistency in screening.
Croatia's rejection rate of roughly 18.5% is in the middle zone. As a relatively recent Schengen member, it has seen rising demand and is still adjusting to the broader visa framework. Applications are generally assessed in a balanced way, though growing tourist interest means tighter checks during peak months.
Netherlands handles a large share of Schengen applications and applies a highly structured assessment model. Its 17.7% rejection rate tends to stem from technical issues rather than broader risk profiling.
Norway records the lowest rejection rate in this group at about 15.7%. Even so, the process remains firm on financial proof and travel purpose.
