Iceland Leads Schengen Visa Approvals in 2024 as Approval Rate Across Schengen Zone Hits 52.20%

In 2024, Schengen countries collectively approved just over half of all visa applications submitted, with the overall approval rate reaching 52.20 per cent. Despite the modest average, several Schengen states stood out for their notably high approval rates, making them particularly favorable destinations for applicants.

Topping the list once again was Iceland, which recorded a 91.25 per cent approval rate for Schengen visa applications. Though this figure reflects a slight decrease compared to its 2023 approval rate of 94.26 per cent, the number of applications Iceland received in 2024 surged to 35,416—marking a 57.1 per cent increase from the 22,541 applications filed the year prior.

Several other countries also demonstrated high approval rates in 2024, offering hope to travelers aiming to secure visas during the summer season. Slovakia followed Iceland with an approval rate of 89.25 per cent, while Italy recorded 88.72 per cent. Romania stood at 88.36 per cent, Switzerland at 88.12 per cent, and Hungary at 87.23 per cent. Norway was close behind with 87.20 per cent, followed by Greece at 85.86 per cent, Austria at 85.78 per cent, and Luxembourg at 85.65 per cent.

For comparison, in 2023, the ten Schengen countries with the highest visa approval rates included Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.

When looking at approval rates by applicant nationality, individuals from smaller applicant groups and certain African nations fared particularly well. Liberia emerged at the top with a remarkable 97.6 per cent approval rate, with 125 applications filed and nearly all granted. Vanuatu was close behind with a 95.79 per cent approval rate from 261 applications, of which 250 were approved.

Botswana saw 1,633 visa applications filed in 2024, with 1,357 approved, equating to an approval rate of 83.10 per cent. Niger had 2,460 applications, of which 1,940 were successful, resulting in a 78.86 per cent approval rate. Zambia also performed strongly, with 2,750 visa applications and 2,444 approvals, reaching an 88.87 per cent approval rate.

Some countries, however, had less favorable outcomes. Comoros submitted 2,853 visa applications but had a low approval rate of just 36.35 per cent, with only 1,037 visas granted. Burundi filed 3,735 applications, of which 1,037 were approved, translating to a 58.63 per cent success rate. In Tajikistan, 4,019 applications were submitted and 2,433 approved, yielding a 60.54 per cent approval rate.

Guinea-Bissau submitted 4,336 applications and had 1,901 approved, while Haiti filed 4,614 applications, with 2,400 granted, bringing its approval rate to 52.02 per cent.

The statistics highlight the disparities in visa approval rates among different countries and applicant nationalities, reflecting both geopolitical and administrative trends within the Schengen visa system for the year 2024.

By fLEXI tEAM