Schengen visa:For the summer of 2024, the easiest Schengen visas to obtain are issued by Iceland, Switzerland, Latvia, and Italy, as these countries have lower rejection rates. Conversely, Malta, Estonia, and Belgium have some of the highest rejection rates for Schengen visas, making them the world’s worst countries to apply for these visas.
Well, since the summer in Europe often extends beyond August and can last as late as October, one can start planning ahead. If you go by the reports of Schengen Visa Statistics, you will find a variance in visa rejection rates among different countries. Applying to countries with lower rejection rates can enhance an applicant’s chances of success.
To increase the likelihood of a successful application, it is advisable to apply for a visa at the visa centres of countries with lower rejection rates. Once granted, a Schengen visa allows travel across Schengen member states, provided that the country issuing the visa is the primary destination.
Applicants aiming to obtain a Schengen visa this summer should be aware of the higher rejection rates in certain countries. Malta, with a rejection rate of 37.6% in 2023, tops the list of countries with high visa denial rates. Following closely is Estonia with a rejection rate of 33.1% and Belgium at 26.5%.
Sweden and Croatia also have relatively high rejection rates, standing at 23.1% and 20% respectively. The average rejection rate across all member states in 2023 stood at 54.2%.
As per the data, Germany remains your best option for obtaining a multiple-entry Schengen visa in 2024. The introduction of new migration measures by Germany will enable Romania’s full accession to the Schengen area.
To avoid visa denial due to travel insurance issues, it is crucial to choose the right Schengen travel insurance policy. Some common mistakes travellers make during the visa application process should be avoided to prevent rejection.
By mid-2025, about 1.4 billion people will have to apply for an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) before travelling to the EU. The EU is also working on an ETIAS mobile app to simplify the application process, which is expected to launch by mid-2025.
To ensure that you get a Schengen visa easily, here is a list of 10 countries with the highest approval rates for Schengen visas, which will provide useful insights for prospective applicants.
- Iceland: 2.2% rejection rate
- Switzerland: 10.7%
- Latvia: 11:7%
- Italy: 12%
- Luxembourg: 12.7%
- Lithuania: 12.8%
- Slovakia: 12.9%
- Germany: 14.3%
- Austria: 14.3%
- Greece: 14.7%
