Full list: Top 10 Schengen countries with highest visa rejection rates

Schengen passport

In case you were wondering what Schengen country means, they are a group of European countries that have abolished internal borders, allowing people to move freely between these countries without passport checks. This has made inter-country travel between Schengen nations smooth and time-saving.

With the recent japa trend, Vanguard highlights the increase in difficulty in securing a Schengen visa. Here are the top 10 Schengen countries with the highest visa rejection rates.

Malta

Malta turned away nearly 4 in 10 people who applied for a Schengen visa last year, making it the toughest country in the zone to get approved. Out of over 45,000 applications, nearly 17,000 were denied. While it may be one of the smaller nations in the region, Malta’s strict approach stood out, especially when compared to larger countries processing far more requests.

Estonia

Estonia, despite handling a modest number of 12,125 Schengen visa applications, denied 3,291 of them. This places Estonia among the most selective countries in the zone. With a rejection rate of over 27%, Estonia recorded the second-highest visa refusal rate in the Schengen Area, following only Malta. For many hopeful travellers, particularly from Africa and Asia, Estonia’s tough approval criteria continue to pose a significant hurdle.

Belgium

As of 2024, 255,564 visa applications were processed by Belgium, and over 61,000 were rejected. In order to increase your chances of visa approval, all documents have to be up-to-date and verifiable.

Slovenia

Slovenia, though one of the smaller Schengen states, rejected 4,417 out of 18,171 visa applications. Its nearly 24% refusal rate highlights a cautious approach to visa approvals, placing it among the stricter countries in the region.