Record Year for Schengen Visa Rejections
More travelers wishing to visit the Schengen Zone are facing rejection this year. So far, Schengen countries have rejected 1.7 million Schengen visa applicants. Out of this number, 14.8% received visa denials.
Overall, these figures have notably surged following the pandemic. In particular, Malta has been the most difficult Schengen country to obtain a visa for.
Topping Schengen Visa Rejections
Malta denied 38.5% of visa applicants—16,905 rejections from just over 45,000 applications. That’s nearly two out of every five requests that the country refused. Furthermore, the tiny island nation’s rejection rate surpassed that of all other Schengen members.
Estonia, Belgium, and More
Following closely is Estonia, which rejected 27.2% of applications—over 3,000 refusals from 12,125 applications.
Meanwhile, Belgium issued 61,724 rejections from 255,564 applications—about 24.6%. Next, Slovenia and Sweden trailed closely at 24.5% and 24% respectively.
Moreover, Denmark rejected 23.7% of applicants. Croatia denied 19.3%, Poland 17.2%, and France 15.8%. On the other hand, even the Czech Republic denied nearly 16% of applicants. Clearly, rejection rates varied sharply across Europe.
High Scrutiny and Tight Controls
So why are rejection rates so high?
Generally, Malta, Belgium, and Estonia handle heavy tourist and diplomatic traffic. Hence, this leads to stricter screening processes. Meanwhile, newer Schengen countries like Slovenia and Croatia often apply tighter controls.
Moreover, some countries faced overwhelming demand after COVID-19 travel restrictions eased. As a result, this added strain to already overwhelmed embassies. Not long after, processing delays and extra document checks became common.
The Human Cost
In particular, travelers from South Asia bore the brunt of these denials. For instance, Bangladesh and Pakistan saw rejection rates soar to 62% in some countries. Evidently, applicants from developing nations faced the toughest hurdles.
Furthermore, applicants often found themselves facing rejection because of missing documents or insufficient ties to their home countries. Consequently, many lost time, money, and travel opportunities.
High Schengen Visa Approval Rate
On the flip side, here are the countries which had the highest Schengen visa approval rates.
Leading the pack were Portugal, with 88.3%, Poland with 86%, Netherlands with 85.2%, and Spain with 84.5%.
Future Changes on the Horizon
Looking ahead, the EU plans to roll out a digital Schengen visa system by 2028. In particular, this aims to standardize applications and reduce discrepancies. Nevertheless, national embassies will still have the final say.
While this may streamline the process, individual countries’ strict controls could remain a major challenge. Correspondingly, travelers need to prepare thoroughly before applying.
Tips for Travelers
Applicants should check each embassy’s requirements carefully. Moreover, providing complete documentation is crucial. Additionally, demonstrating financial ties and commitments to one’s home country can strengthen an application.
Also, choosing an embassy with a lower rejection rate may help, though demand and availability can vary. Therefore, travelers should plan early and research thoroughly.
Conclusion
Overall, Malta, Estonia, and Belgium top the list for Schengen visa rejections, stemming from strict screening and heavy traffic. In time, changes may come with the EU’s digital visa system.
Photo by CALIN STAN on Unsplash
