Top 10 Schengen countries most likely to say ‘No’ to your visa

If you're planning a trip to Europe in 2025, be prepared: some Schengen countries are tightening their visa approval processes. Recent data reveals that certain nations are more inclined to reject visa applications, making it crucial for travelers to be informed before applying. To ensure that you pick your travel destination wisely, here are 10 Schengen countries with highest visa rejection rates.

The country that registered the highest rate of Schengen visa rejections is Malta. 16,905 of the 45,578 visa applications that were submitted were turned down. Malta, reportedly, tends to adopt tighter scrutiny and lacks the means to handle large volumes of applications, despite being a popular Mediterranean vacation.

3,291 applications from Estonia, a Baltic nation known for its technological brilliance and ancient charm, were turned down in 2024. Reports indicated that Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and India faced the highest rejection percentages. Estonia has strict screening procedures, especially for first-time visitors with unclear itineraries or insufficient financial evidence, even though the country receives very few applications overall.

In 2024, Belgium turned down more than 60,000 of 255,000 applicants. Belgium, a centre for global organisations such as the EU and NATO, is frequently asked for visas, particularly for diplomatic and commercial purposes. High demand frequently results in incomplete or deemed inadequately justified paperwork, which causes delays and rejections.

Slovenia maintains a high rejection rate despite processing fewer visa applications than other major Schengen republics. Many of the 4,400 rejections were due to inconsistent travel plans, missing travel insurance, or a lack of hotel confirmations.

Sweden turned down 44,576 visa applications in 2024. Applicants from politically sensitive or economically weaker countries were more frequently denied. Swedish embassies apply thorough background checks and often ask for strong ties to the applicant’s home country as a condition for approval.

In 2024, Denmark rejected 31,013 of 132,158 applications, resulting in a rejection rate of 23.7%. Denmark, like other Nordic nations, has stringent regulations regarding the legitimacy of applicants' travel intentions and the authenticity of their credentials. Applicants from Pakistan, Iran, and Morocco had high rejection rates.

In 2024, Croatia received 42,165 visa applications and denied 8,003. Higher rejection rates result from Croatia's ongoing adjustments to its visa processing procedures as a more recent Schengen Area member. Incomplete documentation or noncompliance with financial conditions frequently result in the rejection of applicants.

In 2024, Poland received 111,538 visa applications and denied 19,277 of them. Since the nation has grown in popularity as a place to work and study, visa applications are now subject to more scrutiny. Applicants who do not present adequate evidence of their financial resources or travel goals are frequently rejected.

France processed approximately 3 million visa applications in 2024, rejecting 481,139. While the rejection rate is lower compared to other countries on this list, the sheer volume of applications makes France a significant contributor to overall visa denials. High tourist demand and security measures mean even minor errors in application documents can lead to rejection.

In 2024, the Czech Republic denied 23,735 of the 150,629 visa applications it received. Incomplete documentation, a lack of reservations for flights and hotels, or inadequate travel insurance are common problems that result in rejections. The nation has strict requirements, particularly for new candidates.