Russians applying for schengen visas soared by 22% in 2017 becoming the top country consuming schengen visas. The growth was driven by the recovery in applications in the Russian Federation, which increased by more than 22% to 3.9 million, reinforcing Russia as the top source country for Schengen visa applications.
The number of applications lodged in China also returned to its pattern of growth, with 2.5 million applications representing an increase of 15.9% compared to 2016.
- Russia (3.9 million, 22%)
- China (2.5 million, 15.9%)
- Turkey (1 million, 0%)
- India (920 000, +16.2%),
- Algeria (780 000, +4.7%),
- Belarus (720 000, +2.8%),
- Morocco (610 000, +10.7%),
- Thailand (300 000, +9.0%) and
- Iran (260 000, +17.9%).
Among the top 10, only Saudi Arabia experienced a decrease in applications (330 000, -3.0%), while the decline in applications lodged in Ukraine (720 000, -48.9%) is explained by the lifting of the visa requirement for holders of Ukrainian biometric passports that entered into force on 11 June 2017.
The percentage of applications that were refused varied widely and ranged from less than 1% to more than 35% in certain countries (Afghanistan, Algeria, Comoros, Central African Republic, Eritrea, Ghana, Guinea, Iraq, Nigeria, Senegal, Syria).
Worldwide, 8.2% of all visa applications were refused, 1.3 percentage points more than in 2016. More than 59% of all visas issued in 2017 allowed for multiple entries into the Schengen area, a similar figure as 2016.
In addition to the 14.6 million visas issued at consulates, in 2017 the Schengen States also issued 90 000 visas directly at the external borders.
- France has refused the most number of schengen visas for Europe for 2017. France received about 3.6 million uniform schengen visa applications, of which over 502,526 applications were refused.
- Malta has the highest 25% refusal rate among the member states.
- France, Germany and Italy account for more than 50% of schengen visa applications.
- Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania have the highest visa approval rates of over 98%
Source: europa.eu
