For Indian travel enthusiasts, Europe, particularly the Schengen area, remains the ultimate dream destination. The Schengen visa allows travellers to explore over 29 European countries with border-free movement, making travel hassle-free. However, this dream often faces a harsh reality due to frequent visa rejections.
A recent report by Schengen News revealed that Indian applicants suffered a financial loss of ₹109 crore (approximately €12.1 million) in 2023 due to rejected Schengen visa applications. The non-refundable visa fee, despite initial impressions of affordability, poses a significant financial burden. When a visa application is rejected, the fee is lost, with no possibility of a refund. This financial strain is particularly concerning as visa prices continue to rise annually.
In 2023, out of 966,687 visa applications filed by Indians, 151,752 were rejected. This places India among the top countries with the highest number of denied Schengen visas. In comparison, Schengen countries refused 1.6 million visa applications globally last year, resulting in a total fee loss of ₹1,172 crore.
The top nationalities facing the highest visa rejections in 2023 were:
- Turkish applicants: 169,514 visas rejected
- Algerian applicants: 169,514 visas rejected
- Indian applicants: 151,752 visas rejected
- Moroccan applicants: 136,367 visas rejected
- Chinese applicants: 60,554 visas rejected
Visa officials cite various reasons for rejecting applications, including ambiguous travel purposes, incomplete documents, and insufficient proof of financial means for travel expenses. Past visa violations and poor employment records also contributed to the rejections.
Adding to the burden, visa fees have surged. The European Commission implemented a 12% increase in Schengen visa prices, effective from June 11, 2024. Adult fees have risen to €90 (approximately Rs. 8,000) from €80 (approximately Rs. 7,000). Children aged 6 to 12 will now pay €45 (approximately Rs. 4,000), up from €40 (approximately Rs. 3,500).
Countries seen as uncooperative in repatriating citizens may face even higher increases, with fees potentially rising to €135 to €180 (approximately Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 16,000). This decision follows a scheduled review of EU visa fees in December 2023, conducted every three years under the Schengen Visa Code.
