Over 181,000 Indian Schengen Visa Applications Rejected In 2025: Check Country With Highest Refusal Rates
· Free Press Journal
Statistics released by the European Commission revealed that more than 181,000 Schengen visa applications filed by Indians were rejected in 2025.
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India remained the world's third-largest source market for Schengen visas, with more than 1.15 million applications. However, 181,111 of those applications were rejected, resulting in an overall non-issuance rate of 15.8%, meaning roughly one in every six Schengen visa applications submitted by Indians was denied, according to News18.
Slovenia topped the list as the toughest Schengen destination for Indian applicants, with a non-issuance rate of 46.1%. Bulgaria followed with 37%, while Greece recorded 33%. Malta and Estonia also reported high rates of 31.7% and 30.1%, respectively.
Croatia reported 27.1%, Austria 21.6%, and the Netherlands 20.6%. Switzerland reported 13.6%, and Germany, which processed more than 153,000 applications from India, recorded a non-issuance rate of 10.5%. Italy remained below the average at 12.7%.
Planning A Long Thailand Holiday? Here’s How The Country’s New Visa Rules Will Affect Your TripThe figures indicate that approval outcomes can vary significantly across Schengen countries, even though all applicants apply under the same visa framework.
What is a Schengen Visa?
A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows travel across 27 European countries. It is valid for tourism, business, visiting family, or transit, with a maximum stay of 90 days within 180 days.