Africans complain as Schengen visa rejection rates climb
Citizens of some African countries are irate over Schengen visa rejections rates, which have risen up to 60% in 2023.
Schengen visa rejection rates “infuriates” citizens
African and Asian artists and athletes are reportedly “furious” over the sky high rejection rates of Schengen visas for their countries.
According to Schengen.News, these citizens are calling the Schengen visa rejection rates ‘unfair’, saying they are causing a ‘global apartheid’. They are also claiming that visas are being denied to certain countries like African and some Asian nations because they are least likely to afford them.
They have also pointed out that high rejection rates are impacting their work.
Schengen Visa Statistics recently reported that African countries like Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, and Ghana, as well as Asian countries like Pakistan, had the highest rejection rates for Schengen visas in 2023.
These countries have had between 57 and 46 percent of their visa applications refused last year.
Visa price hike
Earlier this year, the Commission of the European Union (EU) had announced that they would in fact be revising the cost of Schengen visa application fees.
According to Schengenvisa.info, the Commission had suggested that the fee for the visa application increase from €80 (R1 629,60) to €90 (R1 833,30) for adults and from €40 (R814,80) to €45 (R916,65) for children.
In latest news, the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs has already announced that third country nationals in need of a Schengen visa be aware that as of 11 June, they would need to fork out more money in order to apply for one.
According to SchengenNews, the Slovenian Ministry stated that visa fees for adults filing a short-term visa application for Slovenia would now be €90, instead of the €80 as it has been so far, and €45, instead of €40, for children between six and 12 years old.
“The European Commission adopted a decision to increase short stay Schengen visa (visa type C) fees worldwide by 12 per cent. The increase will apply worldwide as of June 11, 2024. New Schengen visa fees will be €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to below 12 years of age.” the Slovenian Ministry said in their statement.
Although the European Union’s Commission has not actually made any announcements regarding when the increase would take effect throughout the Schengen region, it is expected to publish the change soon.