Schengen Visa Refusal Rate for Indians (2025 Data)
In 2025, Indian travellers filed 1,153,748 Schengen visa applications and 181,111 were refused (15.8%), up from about 15% in 2024. Below are the 2025 headline numbers, followed by the detailed 2024 country breakdown.
2025 at a glance
European Commission short-stay visa statistics for 2025, published in May 2026.
15.8%
2025 non-issuance rate for Indian applicants
181,111
Indian applications refused in 2025
1,153,748
Indian applications lodged in 2025
3rd
India’s rank among source countries (after China and Türkiye)
Worldwide, nearly 12 million short-stay applications were lodged in 2025, over 10 million visas were issued, and the global refusal rate held at 14.8%, so Indian applicants were refused slightly more often than average.
Refusal rate for Indian applicants by country, 2025
- Slovenia46.1%
- Bulgaria37%
- Greece33%
- Malta31.7%
- Estonia30.1%
- Croatia27.1%
- Austria21.6%
- Netherlands20.6%
- Switzerland13.6%
- Italy12.7%
- Germany10.5%
Sources: European Commission visa statistics 2025, as reported by Free Press Journal (30 May 2026), ETV Bharat and Travel Trade Journal (June 2026). Rates are for Indian applicants at each country’s consulates. For what these numbers mean for your application, read our 2025 Schengen visa statistics guide.
Detailed breakdown: 2024
Country-level refusal counts and costs from the 2024 statistics.
~15%
2024 refusal rate for Indian applicants
165,266
Indian applications refused in 2024
₹136 crore
lost in non-refundable fees & costs
3rd
highest visa-rejection losses worldwide
Refusals by Schengen country (Indian applicants, 2024)
Number of Indian applications refused, by the country that decided them.
Refusal rate by country
Refusals as a share of applications processed (where both figures are available).
Germany: 15,806 refused of 142,955 applications. Switzerland: 26,126 of 217,373. France: 31,314 of 197,959.
Where Indians apply
Switzerland
217,373 applications
processed centrally via New Delhi
France
197,959 applications
across five consulates
Germany
142,955 applications
mostly western India; ~121,086 via Mumbai
Why so many strong applicants are refused
A 15% refusal rate is not about money — well-off, salaried and business applicants are refused too. The file usually failed on one fixable ground: unproven return intent, weak finances, an inconsistent itinerary or non-compliant insurance.
Sources & methodology
Figures are for calendar year 2024, compiled by FastVisa123 from EU Commission Schengen visa statistics and 2025 reporting. You are welcome to cite this page with a link to fastvisa123.com.
- European Commission — Short-stay visas issued by Schengen countries
- Business Standard — “1 in 6 Indian Schengen visa requests rejected in 2024”
- VisaHQ — “Schengen visa rejections cost Indian travellers ₹136 crore in 2024”
- Gulf News — Schengen visa rejection losses, India 2024
Schengen refusal data — FAQ
What is the Schengen visa refusal rate for Indians?
Which Schengen country rejects the most Indian applicants?
How much do refusals cost Indian travellers?
Which country has the lowest refusal rate for Indians?
How can I avoid a Schengen visa refusal?
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