Indians paid Rs109 crore for rejected Schengen visas.

Indians paid Rs109 crore for rejected Schengen visas applications, highlighting the significant costs and challenges of obtaining these visas. This substantial expenditure highlights the complexities and financial impact of securing travel permits for Europe.

Indians paid Rs109 crore for rejected Schengen visas.

Indians ranked among the top five nationalities with the highest number of Schengen visa applications denied in 2023. Specifically, out of 966,687 visa requests filed in India, 151,752 were rejected. Consequently, this resulted in a financial impact of €12.1 million (Rs. 109 crore) for the country.

In 2023, Schengen nations denied 1.6 million visa applications, leading to fines totaling €130 million (about Rs. 1,172 crores). Consequently, this significant financial burden highlights the widespread impact on applicants and emphasizes the need for reconsideration of visa policies. Indian applicants suffered significant financial losses as a result of high rejection rates, among other impacted nationalities. Chinese, Algerians, Moroccans, and Turks were among the other ethnic groups with notable rates of rejection.

The nationalities that spent the most on Schengen visas

These are the nationalities that suffered the greatest financial losses when their visa applications were denied:

1. Turks: €13.5 million spent (Rs117.8 crores)
2. Algerians: €13.3 million spent (Rs116.1 crores)
3. Indians: €12.1 million spent (Rs105.6 crores)
4. Moroccans: €10.9 million spent (Rs95.1 crores)
5. Chinese: €4.8 million spent (Rs41.9 crores)

The countries with the highest Schengen visa rejection rates

The majority of Schengen visas were refused to these nationalities in 2023:

1. Turkish applicants: 169,514 visas rejected
2. Algerian applicants: 169,514 visas rejected
3. Indian applicants: 151,752 visas rejected
4. Moroccan applicants: 136,367 visas rejected
5. Chinese applicants: 60,554 visas rejected (despite having one of the highest approval rates for the year)
   

How much did visa rejections cost India?

Before June 11th, the application fee for a visa to India was €80 (about Rs.7,200) for Indian citizens above the age of 12. The percentage differs for students, non-profit representatives, children under the age of twelve, and foreign nationals. Although demographic data is not available at this time, assuming a seven-grand fee per applicant, India would have invested over Rs696 crores on visa applications last year. Out of the 1,51,752 applications that were refused, Rs109 crore was squandered on trips that were never taken.

Moroccan lawyers want a refund for rejected visas

Some applicants find it unaffordable to apply for visas due to escalating application fees and rates. On June 11, 2023, the Schengen visa application fee increased from €80 (Rs 7,200) to €90 (Rs 8,100). Consequently, this new fee now represents approximately a quarter of Morocco’s average national salary. Consequently, Moroccans spent €10.9 million (Rs98 crore) in 2023 on rejected Schengen visa applications, marking a 14.2% rise from 2022. This significant expense highlights a stark disparity in the cost of Schengen visas among different countries. Furthermore, Schengen News reports that the Moroccan government has received encouragement to seek compensation for costs incurred from denied visa applications.