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The allure of Europe remains strong for Indian travellers, but for over 165,000 hopeful applicants in 2024, the dream of a Schengen holiday turned into a costly nightmare. A staggering £11.7 million (approximately €14 million or Dh56 million) was lost in non-refundable visa fees due to rejected applications, placing India third globally in visa-related financial losses, only behind Algeria and Turkey.
According to data released by the European Commission, India submitted over 1.1 million Schengen visa applications last year. While a significant 591,000 were approved, the 165,000 rejections represent a concerning 15% rejection rate. This means that for every six Indian applicants, one faced the disappointment of a denied visa and the loss of their application fee.
Top Rejection Hotspots
France emerged as the leading country for Indian visa rejections, denying 31,314 applications and costing Indian travellers an estimated £2.2 million (around €2.6 million or Dh10.4 million). Switzerland, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands also featured prominently in the list of nations with high rejection numbers and substantial financial losses for Indian applicants:
- France: £2.2 million (€2.6 million / Dh10.4 million) — 31,314 rejections
- Switzerland: £1.8 million (€2.2 million / Dh8.8 million) — 26,126 rejections
- Germany: £1.1 million (€1.3 million / Dh5.2 million) — 15,806 rejections
- Spain: £1.07 million (€1.28 million / Dh5 million) — 15,150 rejections
- Netherlands: £1.03 million (€1.23 million / Dh4.9 million) — 14,569 rejections
Global Impact and Rising Costs
Worldwide, over 1.7 million Schengen visa applications were rejected in 2024, leading to a massive global loss of £121.8 million (€145 million / Dh581 million) in non-refundable fees. Indian applicants' contribution of nearly £11.7 million underscores the significant financial burden they bear.
Adding to the woes, visa fees for Indian applicants aged 12 and above increased from €80 to €90 in 2024. With an average application fee of €85, Indians collectively spent an estimated £7.9 million (about €95 million / Dh378 million) on Schengen visa applications, with roughly £1.17 million of that amount simply evaporating due to rejections.
Appointment Backlogs and Appeal Changes
The situation is further compounded by severe appointment backlogs, particularly in the UAE, where Schengen visa slots are fully booked until August due to high demand during Eid and summer holidays.
In a move set to further complicate matters for rejected applicants, Germany will eliminate the remonstration procedure worldwide starting July 1. This means that rejected applicants will no longer have the informal option to appeal visa decisions, forcing them to either reapply from scratch or pursue potentially lengthy and costly legal challenges. This change follows a pilot initiative in June 2023, where Germany tested suspending visa appeals, aiming to streamline processing and reduce waiting times.
Growing Concerns and Search for Alternatives
Travel agencies and frequent travellers are expressing growing concern over the increasing number of visa rejections and the perceived lack of transparency in the application process. They highlight the substantial financial burden and the lost opportunities in tourism, education, and business sectors. Experts are now calling on the European Commission and individual Schengen member states to implement clearer guidelines and simplify procedures, advocating for a fairer and more efficient visa processing system.
With extended waiting times for appointments and the impending end of Germany's appeal option, many UAE residents are now actively exploring alternative travel destinations outside the Schengen area, even as the desire for European travel remains. The future of hassle-free European travel for Indian and UAE residents hinges on concrete measures to address these escalating challenges.
