Schengen Visa Applicants Faced Higher Costs and Rejections in 2024, EU Revenues Near €1 Billion

In 2024, Schengen visa applications rose sharply to 11.7 million, a 13.4 percent increase from 2023’s total of 10.3 million, according to data published. The increase in demand was accompanied by a rise in rejections—from 1.6 million in 2023 to 1.7 million last year—resulting in a 4.4 percent uptick in denied applications.

This climb in both applications and rejections translated to a heavier financial burden for applicants. In June 2024, the EU raised the cost of applying for a Schengen visa from €80 to €90. When averaged across the entire year, the typical application cost came to €85. That hike, combined with higher application numbers, led to a significant boost in revenues for the EU and higher losses for rejected applicants.

Altogether, rejected applications cost visa hopefuls €145 million in 2024—an increase of €14.3 million or 11 percent over 2023’s €130 million in rejection-related losses. However, that total accounted for a slightly smaller share of overall fees. In 2023, rejected applications represented 15.8 percent of the EU’s €826 million in collected visa fees; in 2024, the proportion dropped to 14.5 percent of the €995.9 million total.

Visa revenues jumped by 20.5 percent compared to the previous year, driven by the higher fee and increased applications. Out of the 11.7 million applications filed in 2024, the EU received a total of €995,921,455 in visa fees.

Visa applicants from several countries made up the lion’s share of these expenses. Chinese nationals led the way, filing 1.7 million applications and spending €151.2 million. Of those, 80,703 applications were rejected—amounting to €6.8 million in lost fees.

Turkish applicants were next, submitting 1.17 million applications and paying €99.7 million. They also faced one of the highest rejection totals, with 170,129 denied applications resulting in €14.5 million in losses. Indian citizens followed closely behind, lodging 1.1 million applications, spending €94.2 million, and losing €14 million on 165,266 rejected requests.

Moroccans submitted 606,800 applications and spent €51.6 million, of which €9.8 million were lost due to 115,774 rejections. Russian nationals filed 606,594 applications, also amounting to €51.6 million in total costs, with €3.8 million in losses stemming from 44,885 rejections.

Algerians lodged 544,634 applications at a cost of €46.3 million. The country faced one of the steepest financial hits, with 185,101 rejections resulting in €15.7 million in losses. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabian citizens submitted 505,455 visa requests, spending €43 million; 29,517 were denied, causing €2.5 million in lost fees.

From the United Kingdom, 470,569 visa applications were submitted, costing £40 million in total, with 32,390 of them rejected—amounting to €2.75 million in losses. Thai nationals filed 265,243 applications, paying €22.5 million in total and losing €1.39 million on 16,361 denied requests.

The United Arab Emirates completed the top ten in terms of expenses, with 260,229 applications and €22.1 million in costs. Of those, 61,738 were rejected, resulting in €5.2 million lost.

Additionally, the data revealed that smaller nations with high rejection rates experienced sharp financial losses relative to the number of applications filed. Applicants from Comoros filed 2,853 applications and lost €149,090 on 1,754 rejections. Bangladeshis lost €1.7 million, while Pakistanis forfeited €2.9 million due to rejections. Other nationalities significantly impacted included Guinea-Bissau (€143,480), Senegal (€2.7 million), Haiti (€176,290), Nigeria (€4.2 million), Ghana (€2.1 million), Congo (€955,145), and Mali (€387,600). As with 2023, applicants from African nations remained the most financially burdened by high rejection rates.

France received the most visa applications among Schengen countries, processing over three million and collecting €261.1 million in fees. Spain followed with 1.6 million applications, generating €138.9 million, while Germany handled 1.5 million submissions and collected €128.5 million. Italy accepted 1.2 million applications, resulting in €104.8 million in application fees.

Together, the top five visa-receiving countries accounted for 63.6 percent of all Schengen applications in 2024 and collectively brought in €633.5 million of the total €995.9 million that Schengen states earned from visa processing fees last year.

By fLEXI tEAM