For non-EU nationals, including many Nigerians, traveling to the Schengen Area necessitates obtaining a visa, a process that can often feel daunting. While the Schengen Area includes 27 member countries, each has its own visa approval criteria, resulting in varying rejection rates among embassies.
Data from Schengen Visa Info indicates that countries receiving fewer applications frequently exhibit higher rejection rates, leaving many hopeful travelers uncertain about their chances of securing a visa. This unpredictability has led to frustration for Nigerians seeking access to Europe for business, education, or tourism.
In 2023, certain countries stood out for their notably high visa rejection rates, making them challenging destinations for prospective travelers.
Malta
Malta recorded the highest rejection rate among all Schengen countries in 2023, denying 12,261 out of 33,306 visa applications—a rate of 37.6%. Algerian applicants faced the brunt of these denials, with a staggering rejection rate of 90.35%. Ghanaian and Moroccan applicants also experienced significant challenges, with rejection rates of 62.69% and 60.37%, respectively.
Estonia
Estonia followed closely, rejecting 61.4% of the Schengen visa applications it received, totaling 4,347 denials. Egyptian applicants were particularly affected, facing a rejection rate of 59.5%. Nationals from the UAE and India encountered considerable hurdles as well, with rejection rates of 57.9% and 49.7%, while Chinese applicants enjoyed a much lower rejection rate of just 7.3%.
Belgium
Belgium ranked third, with a rejection rate of 26.6%. Out of 225,951 applications, 60,148 were denied. Senegalese applicants had the highest rejection rates at 67.8%, followed by Angolan (66.44%) and Nigerian (62.45%) nationals.
Sweden
In Sweden, approximately 23.1% of visa applications were rejected in 2023, resulting in around 60,148 denials. Iranian nationals were most impacted, with a rejection rate of 76.65%, followed by Pakistanis and Lebanese applicants, who faced rejection rates of 69.49% and 66.21%, respectively.
Denmark
Denmark received 107,872 visa applications in 2023 and rejected 21.2% of them, totaling 21,509 denials. While Moroccans faced a 100% rejection rate from just two applications, Iranians and Pakistanis also experienced high rejection rates of 76.65% and 69.49%, respectively.
These statistics underscore the varying challenges travelers encounter when applying for Schengen visas, with Malta, Estonia, Belgium, Sweden, and Denmark emerging as the most difficult countries for visa approvals in 2023.
