These five Schengen countries have the highest rejection rates

Schengen countries rejection rates

Europe and Schengen countries in particular remain popular for travellers, with the 27 Schengen member countries receiving vast amounts of visa applications each year.

Despite its popularity however, it still remains difficult to enter some countries than others in the Schengen area, with rejection rates being as high as they are.

According to Schengen Visa Info, it isn’t easy to predict which countries can reject more visa applications, but in some cases, countries that receive fewer applications are most likely to issue negative decisions.

Based on their 2023 rejection rates, these are the five nations that are more likely to reject your Schengen visa application: 

Malta

Malta had the highest rejection rate out of all 27 member countries in 2023. Out of 33 306 requests – 12 261 or 37.60 per cent were rejected. 

Estonia

Next up, a whopping 61.4 per cent of Schengen visa applications that Estonia received in 2023 were rejected, accounting for 4 347 applications with a negative response.

Belgium

Belgium ranked as the third country with the highest Schengen visa rejection rates, with over a quarter of applications or 26.6 per cent to Belgium being rejected in 2023.

Sweden

Around 60 148 visa applications were rejected by Sweden in 2023, amounting to 23.1 per cent and placing Sweden as the fourth country with the highest rejection rates.

Denmark

Denmark completed the top five, after having received 107 872 visa applications in 2023 and then rejecting 21 509, or 21.2 per cent.