Which European countries grant the most Schengen visas each year?

Don’t forget! Travel insurance is mandatory to obtain a Schengen visa.

Written by the AXA Schengen Team
Date: 08/19/2025

Where do you have the best chance of getting your Schengen visa?

Planning a trip to the Schengen area? If you are a national of one of the 100 countries which haven’t signed a visa waiver agreement with the EU, chances are you applied for a Schengen visa. Because you are a wise traveller, you’ve followed our advice and guidelines. You’ve discovered what consular services and visa centres do, learned the requirements of compulsory travel insurance, collected your mandatory documents and even discovered how to track your Schengen visa application!

But do you know which countries issue the most Schengen visas and to whom?
Do you know which nationalities have seen their hopes of visas crushed the most often or what applicants’ most common travel purposes are?

The latest official figures are out (published in May 2025), and now is the time to perfect your Schengen knowledge!

It will be an intense ride, full of surprises, sometimes shock and disappointment but, in the end, you will come out as the ultimate Schengen nerd, sorry, expert.

Let’s get to it!

Schengen visas: a few key figures
Which countries received the most Schengen visa applications?
Which countries granted the most Schengen visas?
Focus on the 3 European countries which granted the most visas in 2024
Which countries have the lowest Schengen visa refusal rate?
Which countries have the highest Schengen visa refusal rate?
Travellers from which countries applied the most for Schengen visas?
Applicants from which countries were the least denied a visa?
Applicants from which countries were the most denied a visa?
How can AXA help you get a Schengen visa?

Schengen visas: the latest key figures

The latest 2024 figures released by the European Commission concerning short-stay, type C visas reveal that:

11.7 million Schengen visa applications were submitted in 2024

9.8 M Schengen visas were granted (including 85, 119 visas issued at border crossing points).

1.7 M visa applications were denied (i.e. a 14.8% refusal rate)

5.1 M multiple-entry visas (MEV) were issued (i.e. over 52% of the overall number of granted visas)

65,300 visas were with limited territorial validity (LTV)*.

6,468 type A visas (ATV- Airport Transit Visas) were granted, with 8, 606 ATV applications submitted.

* A short-stay visa with limited territorial validity (LTV) does not allow its holder to travel freely in the Schengen area. It only grants the right to stay in one or several Member States specifically mentioned on the visa but not in the entire Schengen zone.

5 things to remember

The number of Schengen visa applications increased in 2024: + 13.6 % compared to 2023 and more than 56% compared to 2022.

The number of visas granted also increased: + 14.1 % compared to 2023 (8.5 M visas issued).

Visa refusal rate decreased: 14.8% in 2024, 16% in 2023.

Even if the number of visas issued in 2024 rose, it remains far below the pre-Covid figures:

In 2019, over 17 million Schengen visa applications were submitted, 11.7 million in 2024. That same year, 15 million visas were granted, 9.8 million in 2024.

Bulgaria and Romania only started to issue Schengen visas on March 31^st, 2024, when they partly entered the Schengen area (air and sea borders). They became full members on January 1^st, 2025, the number of member countries reaching 29.

Which countries received the most Schengen visa applications?

Now, for one of the great reveals! Where do aspiring travellers submit their Schengen visa applications the most?

Top 5 countries with the highest Schengen visa applications in 2024

France: 3 million applications (3, 072, 728)

Spain: 1. 6 million applications (1, 634, 887)

Germany: 1.5 million applications (1, 512, 675)

Italy: 1.2 million applications (1, 233, 316)

The Netherlands: 728,656 applications.

Bonus info
In 2023, this ranking was a little different, but France was already in 1^st place:

France

Germany

Spain

Italy

The Netherlands

AXA Schengen at your service!

You want to apply for a Schengen visa to visit one of these beautiful countries? Follow our step-by-step guides:

Which countries granted the most Schengen visas?

One could think that countries which receive the highest number of applications are also the ones issuing the most Schengen visas or with the lowest refusal rate. While this might sometimes be true, it is not always the case.

Before looking more thoroughly into the figures of the European Commission, let’s have a look at this recap chart:

The 10 countries which granted the most Schengen visas in 2024

Schengen States	Visa applications received	Visas issued	Refusal rate
1.France	3 million	2.5 million	15.8%
2. Spain	1.6 million	1.3 million	15.7%
3. Germany	1.5 million	1.3 million	13,7%
4. Italy	1.2 million	1.1 million	10,9%
5. Greece	710,024	609,612	13,2%
6. The Netherlands	728,656	602,158	15,5%
7. Switzerland	636,077	560,493	11,3%
8. Austria	262,017	224,747	13,7%
9. Hungary	251,364	219,272	12,8%
10. Belgium	255,564	188,766	24,6 %

3 things to note!

The Netherlands received more applications than Greece. However, Greece satisfied more visa requests.

Among the 10 countries which granted the most Schengen visas, 6 have a refusal rate which is lower than average (14.8%):

Germany

Austria

Greece

Hungary

Switzerland

Italy

While Belgium is one of the 10 countries which granted the most visas in 2024, its refusal rate is still high: 24.6%.

AXA by your side!

Find out:

Focus on the 3 European countries which granted the most visas

Here’s a look into the key figures and the reasons behind the ranking of the three Schengen countries which granted the most visas (long stay and short stay visas) in 2024:

France

Spain

Germany

Visas granted by France: key figures

France remains at the top of the ranking of European countries which received the most applications and issued the most visas!

On June 26, 2025, the French Ministry of the Interior released its annual statistics report detailing insightful information concerning the issuing of visas for France:

Almost 3.5 million visas for France were requested: + 17% compared to 2023

Over 2.8 million visas for France were issued: + 16.8% compared to 2023.

578,441 visa applications for France were denied: 14.1% compared to 2023.

French short stay visas (less than 90 days) issued in 2024

• 2.5 M short-stay visas were issued: + 19.7% compared to 2023.

• Candidates mostly applied for a French visa for tourism (+ 24.6%) and economic (business trips) purposes.

• The number of multiple-entry visas increased by 18.1%

• While the number of transit visas dropped by 65.6% as did those issued for humanitarian reasons (-14%).

French Long-stay visas (more than 90 days) issued in 2024

• 290,000 long-stay visas for France were granted i.e. a slight 2.8% drop compared to 2023.

• More than half of the visas are what the French administration calls “long-stay visas equivalent to residence permits” (VLS-TS) which allow their holders to stay in France without carrying out further administrative process.

• The main purposes for applying for a type D visa for France were education (38%), family reunification (26.2%) and economic reasons (17.8%).

Note: The significant drop in the number of visas granted for humanitarian purposes, 63.1% compared to 2023.

→ Find out how to apply for a long-stay visa for France.

What are the top 10 nationalities to which France has granted the most visas?

Here are the 10 countries whose nationals were issued the highest number of French short-stay visas in 2024:

China

Morocco

Algeria

India

Saudi Arabia

Russia

Türkiye

Tunisia

Lebanon

The Philippines

3 Highlights About French Tourism Visas

Tourism is one of the main reasons (nearly 80%) why the number of short-stay visas issued rose. However, while the 2024 Paris Olympics probably attracted more visitors than usual, this impact was part of a more generalised upward trend, according to the general directorate for Foreigners in France (the Direction générale des étrangers en France).
In other words, France remains one of the most favourite destinations for visitors all year long, with or without special events!
Last year, it welcomed more than 100 million international visitors, reaching a new record and confirming its place as the first world destination for tourists, just ahead of Spain.
To help you get your French visa, the AXA team has prepared several step-by-step guides:

Visas granted by Spain: the latest figures

Spain climbs on the 2^nd step of the podium of European countries which granted the most visas last year.

In 2024, Spain issued over 1.5 million visas (all types combined) i.e. a rise of 16.7% compared to the previous year according to the annual report of the OPI (Permanent Observatory on Immigration) published in May 2025.

1.3 million short-stay visas issued by Spain in 2024, representing 85% in total.

226,195 long-stay visas granted i.e. 15% of visas issued.

719 airport transit visas issued, the only decrease compared to 2023.

Which nationalities were granted the most visas for Spain?

Here are the countries whose nationals were issued the highest number of short-stay visas for Spain in 2024:

China: 303,077 visas for Spain issued, i.e. a rise of 53.4% compared to 2023.

Morocco: 150,025 visas granted (+ 12. 4% compared to 2023)

India: 116,953 visas granted (+ 9.3% compared to 2023)

Russia: 98,394 visas granted (+ 17.1% compared to 2023)

Algeria: 80,138 visas granted (- 1.7% compared to 2023)

Main travel purposes for visas granted by Spain in 2024

Among the short-stay visas granted:

66% were granted for tourism or private travel purposes

28% were multiple-entry visas

3% concerned applicants joining or travelling with a relative, citizen of an EU country.

The remaining 3% combine transit visas and visas issued for professional purposes or other.

Did you know? Citizens of the US are among the youngest visa applicants, average age 25, while Ecuadorians are the oldest, average age 41.

Just ask AXA!
Once again, the AXA team has detailed the visa for Spain application process in these step-by-step guides:

Visas granted by Germany in 2024: key information

• According to the Federal Foreign Office, in 2024, the year it hosted the Euro Football Championship, Germany processed almost 1.5 million short-stay visa applications in its consulates worldwide.
With this figure, the country takes the third place on the podium of the most popular European destinations, just after France and Spain.

• While the number of applications reached 1.5 M, Germany issued 1.3 million short-stay visas, i.e. a 13.7% refusal rate.

• 419,108 national visas (long-stay) were granted, i.e. a 4.7% rise compared to 2023.

• Germany granted the most visas to the applicants of the 5 following countries:

China

Türkiye

India

Belarus

Egypt

• Interesting titbit: refusal rates vary greatly depending on where the visa application was submitted. Only 2.4% of the applications processed in China were denied but reached 20.7% in Türkiye.

Did you know?

According to the 2025 issue of the Global Peace Index (GPI) which ranks 163 countries according to their level of peace and security, Germany ranks as the 20^th most peaceful nation. Spain is 25^th and France 74^th.

To help you through your Schengen visa application process:

Which European countries have the lowest Schengen visa refusal rate?

Now that we’ve focused on our visa frontrunners, let’s have a look at the European countries with the lowest refusal rates.

As you may have understood by now, the more a country receives applications, the more it issues Schengen visas. This, however, does not mean that you are more likely to see your visa demand accepted in those countries as the decision depends on many factors.

While examining these figures, bear in mind that wars, pandemics or different immigration policies can change the situation in the blink of an eye. Countries which seemed very generous in their granting of visas today might not be tomorrow.

Let’s have a look at which countries refuse Schengen visa requests the least.

The 5 European countries with the lowest visa refusal rate

Iceland (6.6% of visas denied in 2024)

Bulgaria (9.4% of visas denied in 2024)

Romania (9.4% of visas denied in 2024)

Slovakia (9.9% of visas denied in 2024)

Latvia (10.9% of visas denied in 2024)

5 things to keep in mind

1. For a few years, Iceland has been the Schengen country with the lowest refusal rate.
It also processes far fewer visa applications (35,413 in 2024) than more coveted destinations such as France, Spain, and Germany.
This leads to shorter processing time and thus quicker answers for applicants.

However, while Iceland’s visa refusal rate is the lowest, it has increased since 2023, from 2.2% to 6.6% in 2024.

2. Bulgaria and Romania, which have only recently joined the Schengen area, have, consequently, only just started applying the EU’s common visa policy. As the number of visa applications is still rather low, they can process files faster and in a more individualised way. This could be a possible explanation for their relatively low refusal rate.

3. Slovakia is this year’s new challenger in the top 5 of Schengen countries with the lowest refusal rate. Once again, with fewer applicants than the main destinations for tourists, it manages to keep up efficient processing and a low refusal rate.

4. Latvia, which held 3rd place in 2023, dropped to 5th position this year, even though its refusal rate slightly decreased—from 11.7% in 2023 to 10.9% in 2024. However, the country remains one of the most welcoming to Schengen visa applicants

5. Reminder! If a Schengen visa allows you to visit all the countries of the area for 90 days over a 180-day period, you must spend most of your stay in the country which issued your visa.
If you intend to visit several Schengen states, you need to submit your visa application with the consular services of the country where you will be staying the longest or the country of your first port of entry (i.e., where you will enter the Schengen area first).

AXA makes your life easier!

Want to apply in one of these countries? The AXA team explains how to prepare your visa application, step-by-step:

Which European countries have the highest Schengen visa refusal rate?

In 2024, the countries part of the largest area of free circulation in the world, have issued more than 9.8 million short-stay visas, which represents a 14.1% increase compared to last year. However not all visa applications were accepted.

While the free circulation of people remains a key and founding principle of the Schengen area, some Member States are more restrictive than others in their issuing of visas with much higher refusal rates than the European average (14.8% according to recent statistics).

Which countries stand out because of their acute vigilance and thus higher refusal rate? Let’s find out!

The 5 countries where Schengen visa refusals are the most frequent

Malta. Refusal rate: 38.5%

Estonia. Refusal rate: 27.7%

Belgium. Refusal rate 24.6%

Slovenia. Refusal rate 24.5%

Sweden. Refusal rate: 24%

3 things to remember

In 2023, six countries exceeded a 20% refusal rate. In 2024, there were only 5.

In 2023, Malta’s refusal rate was slightly higher than in 2023 which already reached 36.7%.

While the country is the most restrictive in terms of Schengen visa requests, it also stands out for another reason.

According to Ilga Europe’s 2025 Rainbow map, the Maltese archipelago remains, for the 10^th consecutive year, the most respectful of LGBTQ+ rights in Europe.

Insufficient supporting documents, unclear return dates, non-compliant travel documents, uncertified travel insurance, find out the most common reasons for visa refusal and how to avoid it.

Good to know!

If your Schengen visa application is denied, AXA refunds your travel insurance subscription.

Being granted a visa from those countries is not impossible. However, better work a little harder on your application by following our step-by-step guides:

Travellers from which countries applied the most for Schengen visas?

Every year, Europe attracts millions of international visitors. In some countries particularly coveted by tourists, the number of Schengen visa applications is particularly high. But who are these applicants and where do they come from?

Here is a list of the 10 countries with the highest number of Schengen wannabes in 2024.

Top 10 nationalities applying for Schengen visas in 2024

China: 1,779,255 applications

Türkiye: 1,173,917 applications

India: 1,108,239 applications

Morocco: 606,800 applications

Russia: 606,594 applications

Algeria: 544,634 applications

Saudi Arabia: 544,6343 applications

United Kingdom: 470,569 applications

Thailand: 265,243 applications

United Arab Emirates: 260,229 applications

Good to know!

Check out our guides on how to get a Schengen visa from each country.

Schengen visas: From which countries are applicants most likely to be approved?

The figures below concern the Schengen consulates where visa applications were submitted and where the refusal rate is particularly low.

This data thus reflects how easy it is to obtain a visa in these consulates and not only the applicants’ nationality.

Bear in mind that one consulate can process applications from several different nationalities which impacts the general refusal rate recorded.

In a nutshell: the refusal rate featured corresponds to where the application was submitted and not necessarily the applicant’s nationality.

Top 10 countries whose visa applications were most often approved

El Salvador: 0% refusal rate

Saint-Lucia: 0.5% refusal rate

Liberia: 0.8% refusal rate

São Tomé and Príncipe: 0.9% refusal rate

Honduras: 1.3% refusal rate

Vanuatu: 1.6% refusal rate

Timor Leste: 1.7% refusal rate

Trinidad and Tobago: 2.1% refusal rate

Costa Rica: 2.3% refusal rate

Hong Kong (S.A.R.): 2.6% refusal rate

Applicants from which countries were the most denied a Schengen visa?

The refusal rates mentioned below concern the Schengen consulates of these countries and not directly the applicants’ nationalities. However, in most cases, applications come from citizens of the country where the consulate is based.

The 10 countries whose visa requests were the most often denied

Comoros: 62.8% of applications denied

Bangladesh: 54.9% of applications denied

Pakistan: 47.5% of applications denied

Guinea- Bissau: 47% of applications denied

Senegal: 46.8% of applications denied

Haiti: 46.3% of applications denied

Nigeria: 45.9% of applications denied

Ghana: 45.5% of applications denied

Democratic Republic of Congo (Brazzaville): 43% of applications denied

Mali: 42.9% of applications denied

How can AXA help you get a Schengen visa?

To be granted a Schengen visa, subscribing to travel insurance is compulsory and a travel insurance certificate must be enclosed with your Schengen visa application. However, this travel insurance must meet several requirements determined by the European Union Visa Code to be considered as valid and be accepted with the application.

It must:

Guarantee a coverage of minimum €30,000.

Be valid in all Schengen states.

Be certified by the consular services of all Schengen States.

Cover emergency hospitalisation and medical care due to health issues occurring during your stay.

Bear the costs of repatriation to your home country in case of serious health issues or even death.

Be valid during the entire duration of your stay.

Good news!

Online AXA Schengen travel insurance meets all the criteria imposed by the European Union.

Compare all our different insurance plans to choose the one that best suits your needs and budget.

Get your commitment-free online quote now!

You might find these articles interesting:

FAQ

Can I apply for a Schengen visa in any country part of the Schengen area?

No. Even if a uniform short-stay visa allows you to move freely in all the countries of the Schengen area, you must submit your visa application at the consular services of the country where you will be staying the longest.
If you are staying in each country for the same amount of time, your application must be submitted at the consular services of the first country you are going to visit i.e. through which you will enter the Schengen area.

How long does a Schengen visa application examination process take?

On average, the visa examination process lasts 15 days. However, it can be longer and reach 30 to 60 days, depending on the time of the year.

Are application fees refunded if the visa request is denied?

No. Schengen visa application fees and additional service fees are not refundable. However, AXA Schengen will reimburse your travel insurance contract if your visa demand is denied.

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AXA Schengen's Travel Insurances

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