Schengen refusal rates are often presented as if they measure the risk attached to a passport. The official European Commission dataset is more precise than that. It reports applications, visas issued, and visas not issued by the country where the consulate is located. That is usually where the applicant applied, but it is not a pure nationality table.
That distinction matters. A person with an Indonesian passport may apply in Indonesia, Singapore, or another country where they legally reside. The official spreadsheet records the consulate location, not a simple passport based outcome.
Key takeaways
- The European Commission recorded 11,716,723 uniform visa applications and 1,706,003 refusals in 2024, a refusal rate of 14.75%.
- The 2025 dataset recorded 12,201,026 applications and 1,768,605 refusals, a refusal rate of 14.65%.
- The country tables below describe application location, not a guaranteed refusal rate for every passport holder.
- Small application volumes can produce very high percentages, so a rate should never be read without its application count.
- You must apply through the consulate responsible for your real main destination. Choosing an easier looking country is not a safe strategy.
What the official Schengen data actually measures
The European Commission publishes a workbook called Short stay visas issued by Schengen countries. Its 2024 and 2025 consulate tables include the country where each consulate is located, the number of uniform visa applications, visas issued, and visas not issued.
The refusal rate in this article uses the official spreadsheet definition:
uniform visas not issued ÷ uniform visas applied for
The dataset does not prove that a passport is refused at a specific rate. It also does not tell us whether every applicant in a country held the same nationality, had the same residence status, or applied for the same destination. Use it to understand patterns in application locations, not to predict an individual decision.
Sources: European Commission short stay visa statistics and the 2024 and 2025 consulate workbooks.
What was the global Schengen refusal rate?
The official figures were close in 2024 and 2025. The number of applications increased in 2025, while the calculated refusal rate moved slightly lower. These are all consulate applications in the workbook, not a forecast for the next year.
| Year | Uniform visa applications | Uniform visas not issued | Calculated refusal rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11,716,723 | 1,706,003 | 14.75% |
| 2025 | 12,201,026 | 1,768,605 | 14.65% |
A global rate is useful for context, but it says very little about one applicant. A refusal can relate to the purpose of travel, financial evidence, doubts about departure, document quality, insurance, or an inconsistency in the file. Nationality or application location is only one part of the context, and the public table does not explain the reason for each refusal.
Which application locations had the highest refusal rates?
The table below uses the official Totals by third country worksheet. It includes locations with at least 2,000 uniform applications so that very small counts do not dominate the list. The ranking is not a ranking of passport nationalities.
2024 application location figures
| Application country or consulate location | Applications | Not issued | Refusal rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comoros | 2,853 | 1,754 | 61.5% |
| Bangladesh | 39,345 | 20,957 | 53.3% |
| Nigeria | 111,201 | 50,376 | 45.3% |
| Senegal | 72,412 | 32,519 | 44.9% |
| Pakistan | 78,362 | 35,139 | 44.8% |
| Ghana | 56,032 | 24,945 | 44.5% |
| Mali | 11,048 | 4,560 | 41.3% |
| Guinea | 17,887 | 7,167 | 40.1% |
| Guinea Bissau | 4,336 | 1,688 | 38.9% |
| Sri Lanka | 25,721 | 9,027 | 35.1% |
2025 application location figures
| Application country or consulate location | Applications | Not issued | Refusal rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | 38,642 | 20,918 | 54.1% |
| Comoros | 2,538 | 1,355 | 53.4% |
| Burundi | 5,288 | 2,765 | 52.3% |
| Guinea Bissau | 6,308 | 3,274 | 51.9% |
| Guinea | 22,335 | 11,531 | 51.6% |
| Senegal | 71,923 | 36,980 | 51.4% |
| Nigeria | 113,359 | 53,196 | 46.9% |
| Ghana | 63,725 | 29,354 | 46.1% |
| Pakistan | 89,270 | 40,026 | 44.8% |
| Sri Lanka | 25,663 | 7,431 | 29.0% |
A percentage without the application count can be misleading. Comoros had a refusal rate above 50% in both tables, but the number of applications was much smaller than the volume from India, China, or Indonesia. That does not make the percentage irrelevant. It means the number needs context before anyone uses it to make a personal decision.
What about Indonesian applicants?
The official table reports applications lodged at consulates in Indonesia. It does not label every applicant by passport nationality. In 2024, consulates in Indonesia recorded 203,557 uniform applications and 8,645 uniform visas not issued, a calculated refusal rate of 4.2%.
In 2025, the table recorded 223,862 applications and 11,504 not issued, a calculated refusal rate of 5.1%. These figures are useful for understanding applications lodged in Indonesia. They should not be described as a guarantee for every Indonesian passport holder, especially when the applicant lives and applies elsewhere.
For comparison, the same official worksheet recorded these figures in 2025:
| Application location | Applications | Not issued | Refusal rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 1,915,149 | 76,655 | 4.0% |
| India | 1,153,748 | 181,111 | 15.7% |
| Philippines | 235,674 | 16,245 | 6.9% |
| Vietnam | 116,289 | 10,916 | 9.4% |
| Thailand | 264,190 | 15,544 | 5.9% |
| Indonesia | 223,862 | 11,504 | 5.1% |
These comparisons do not explain why the rates differ. They also do not justify saying that one passport is inherently safer or riskier. The public file combines many application circumstances into one location level number.
Why do refusal rates differ between locations?
The public statistics do not provide a reason for each refusal, so it would be irresponsible to turn a country table into a claim about fraud, overstay, income, or applicant character. Those explanations may be discussed in policy research, but they cannot be assigned to every applicant from a location.
What the official visa framework does tell us is more practical. Consulates assess the purpose and conditions of the intended stay, the evidence of sufficient means, the reliability of the information, and the applicant's intention to leave before the visa expires. That is why the quality of the individual file matters more than a headline percentage.
A strong preparation process checks four things:
- The itinerary is realistic and matches the declared purpose.
- The financial documents explain the cost of the trip and the source of funds.
- The accommodation, insurance, and flight evidence cover the stated dates.
- The applicant can explain their work, study, family, business, or other reason to return.
Read the visa document checklist before you organize the file. For finances, use the bank balance guide, but treat planning examples as editorial guidance, not consular rules.
Can you apply through the easiest Schengen country?
No. You should apply through the country responsible for your actual trip. Under the Schengen rules, the main destination is generally the country where you will spend the most time. If the stays are equal, the country of first entry can become relevant. The European Commission visa policy guidance explains the general framework.
Applying through a country only because its published refusal rate looks lower can create a problem. Your itinerary, hotel bookings, transport, and cover letter need to support the country handling the application. A mismatch can raise questions about the purpose and conditions of the stay.
A refusal rate table is for context. It is not a list of embassies to shop between.
If your main destination is Germany, use the Indonesia to Germany visa guide for route specific preparation and follow the current official checklist for your place of application.
How to improve your application regardless of location
The most useful improvements are the ones that make the file easier to understand and easier to verify.
Match your itinerary to your documents
Your travel dates should match your accommodation, insurance, leave approval, and flight evidence. If the route changes, update the related documents rather than submitting a mixed set of dates.
Explain your finances
Show the account history requested by the responsible office. Explain large deposits with documents that show their source. A normal pattern of income is easier to assess than a balance that appeared shortly before the appointment.
Use verifiable travel evidence
If the checklist asks for a flight itinerary or reservation, provide an accurate document that you can verify. Do not submit an edited PDF or a made up booking reference. Read our flight reservation guide for a verification workflow.
Need a verifiable flight reservation for your visa?
Get a genuine flight reservation with booking details that can be checked while the reservation is active. Check the destination checklist before submitting it.
Show why the trip makes sense
A cover letter should explain the purpose, route, funding, and return plan in plain language. It should not try to argue with a refusal rate or promise that a certain document guarantees approval.
Check the responsible consulate
Confirm the latest checklist, application centre instructions, fee, appointment rules, and processing information for your residence and visa type. These details can change without changing the global statistics.
Check your visa approval chances as a preparation step. The Predictor does not decide applications and cannot guarantee approval.
What if your visa application is refused?
Read the refusal letter and identify the specific reason given by the responsible authority. A new application should address that reason with new or clearer evidence. Do not change consulates just to chase a lower percentage if the destination rules still require you to apply through the original main destination.
There is no universal waiting period that applies to every refusal. Reapply when your explanation, documents, circumstances, or itinerary are materially stronger, and follow the appeal or review instructions if that route is available to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Schengen visa refusal rate?
The European Commission's 2024 consulate workbook records 1,706,003 uniform visas not issued out of 11,716,723 applications, or 14.75%. The 2025 workbook records 1,768,605 not issued out of 12,201,026 applications, or 14.65%. These are global consulate figures, not individual approval odds.
Which nationality has the highest Schengen refusal rate?
The public EU workbook does not provide a pure passport nationality rate. It reports the country where the consulate is located. In 2025, Bangladesh had a calculated refusal rate of 54.1% across 38,642 applications in that table, while Comoros had 53.4% across 2,538 applications. These figures describe application locations, not every passport holder.
What is the Schengen refusal rate for applications in Indonesia?
The 2025 official table records 223,862 uniform applications lodged at consulates in Indonesia and 11,504 not issued, a calculated rate of 5.1%. The figure is associated with application location. It is not a guarantee for every Indonesian citizen, especially someone who legally resides and applies in another country.
Which Schengen country is easiest to get a visa from?
There is no safe shortcut based on a refusal table. Apply through the country that is the main destination of the genuine trip, or the relevant first entry country when the stays are equal. Choosing a country only because its rate looks lower can create inconsistencies in the application.
Can I apply through another Schengen country after a refusal?
Only when that country is responsible for a genuine later trip under the Schengen rules. A different application must have its own truthful purpose, route, dates, and supporting evidence. A new address on a form does not make another consulate responsible for the same trip.
Does a previous US or UK visa guarantee Schengen approval?
No. Previous travel can be part of an overall profile, but it does not replace the current requirements. The new application still needs a credible purpose, sufficient funds, valid insurance, accommodation, and evidence that you will leave as required.
How can I check my own visa preparation risk?
Start with the official checklist and compare your finances, itinerary, employment or study evidence, travel history, and previous refusals. GetDocuTrip's Visa Approval Predictor can help you review preparation factors, but it is not an embassy decision or a guarantee.
The bottom line
Official Schengen statistics can show patterns, but they cannot decide your case. The 2024 and 2025 figures describe consulate application locations, not a simple passport ranking. Small volumes can make percentages look extreme, and the public workbook does not explain the reason for each refusal.
Use the data to understand context. Then focus on the parts you can control: a truthful route, complete documents, explainable finances, valid insurance, and a clear reason to return. Apply through the consulate responsible for the real trip, not the one with the most attractive percentage.
Sources and official guidance
- European Commission: Short stay visas issued by Schengen countries
- European Commission: 2024 consulate statistics workbook
- European Commission: 2025 consulate statistics workbook
- European Commission: Visa policy
- EUR Lex: Visa Code
The data tables were calculated from the official uniform visa application and not issued columns. Requirements and application procedures can change. Confirm the current instructions for your nationality, residence, destination, and visa type before applying.
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Meet the Author
Mentari Rahman
Founder & Travel Visa Expert
A tech leader who has traveled to 38 countries across 4 continents, Mentari has spent over 8 years working in the tech industry. She worked as an SEO Outreach Specialist at Canva and spent 7 years as Country Manager at Financer before founding GetDocuTrip.
