Schengen Visa Fees and Application Rejections: Insights from 2022

Applying for a Schengen Visa comes with a fee, and for third-country nationals, this can vary based on their nationality. While most pay €80, exceptions exist; citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Kosovo pay €35, while those from the Gambia shoulder the highest cost at €120.

The latest data from Schengen Statistics reveals the top three nationalities that contributed the most to visa application fees in 2022. Turks, Russians, and Indians took the lead, collectively submitting over 2.1 million applications.

In terms of expenditures, Turkish nationals topped the list, paying a staggering €62.2 million solely for visa applications in 2022. This marked the highest spending among all countries.

Following closely, Russians and Indians accounted for €55 million and €53.7 million, respectively, for visa applications. Notably, a significant portion of Indian applicants, about 121,188, faced visa denials, resulting in approximately €9.7 million in non-refundable losses.

The rates of visa rejections were more favorable for Turkish nationals, with 120,876 denied applications leading to losses of €9.6 million. Russians experienced even fewer losses, approximately €5.5 million, due to a lower rejection rate.

Moroccan and Algerian applicants had a different experience, encountering higher rates of application denials. Moroccans faced a rejection rate of 28.2%, resulting in losses of €9.5 million. Meanwhile, Algerians, despite not having the highest application numbers, experienced significant financial setbacks, with €14.3 million going to waste due to 179,409 denied applications. Algeria witnessed the most negative responses to its applications.

For Algerian nationals, the impact is significant, as their average income hovers around €400. This translates to approximately 20% of an average applicant's salary being spent on a Schengen Visa application.

Other countries with substantial visa application expenses in 2022 include Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and Thailand, contributing €28.6 million, €22.5 million, and €16.6 million, respectively.

In contrast, Emiratis and Tunisians combined their resources, spending €28.3 million on applications. Tunisians, however, faced a higher number of denials, resulting in more financial losses – around 48,909 rejected applications amounting to €3.9 million.

These insights shed light on the financial implications and disparities faced by different nationalities when navigating the Schengen Visa application process.

By fLEXI tEAM