Top 10 easiest countries that may approve your Schengen Visa

With the Northern hemisphere summer season already underway, many travellers are looking to spend some much-needed downtime in one of the many Schengen countries in Europe. According to SchengenNews, given the lengthy process of trying to attain a Schengen visa in time for the summer season, travellers could stand a better chance by applying for visas from certain countries.

Data by Schengen Visa Statistics for 2023 revealed that while some countries are more than inclined to reject most of the visa applications they receive, there are some which tend to do quite the opposite.

Iceland was shown to only have a 2.2 percent rejection rate, with beautiful Switzerland only having a 10.7 percent rejection rate. Third on the list was the country of Latvia who only had an 11.7 percent rejection rate in 2023.

Here are the top ten easiest Schengen visas to obtain for summer 2024:

1. Iceland with 2.2 per cent rejection rate
2. Switzerland with 10.7 percent
3. Latvia with 11.7 percent
4. Italy with 12 percent
5. Luxembourg with 12.7 percent
6. Lithuania with 12.8 percent
7. Slovakia with 12.9 percent
8. Germany with 14.3 percent
9. Austria with 14.3 percent
10. Greece with 14.7 percent

What documents do you need when applying for a Schengen Visa?

Before you apply, travellers need to be aware of the documents you’ll require for your application.

As per Schengenvisa.info, the following list of documents are required for any short-term Schengen visa application:

1. A Visa application form. Fully completed and signed. You can download it here.

2. Two recently-taken photos, which must be attached to your form. Both photos must be taken within the last three months.

3. A valid passport not older than 10 years. The passport should also be valid for at least three more months beyond the date you plan to leave the Schengen area.

4. Round trip reservation or itinerary which must include dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from the Schengen area.

5. A valid travel insurance policy which proves you have travel health insurance for the whole Schengen territory, with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros (+- R596 000) in case of any medical emergency such as illnesses, accidents and even repatriation in case of death.

6. Proof of accommodation or a document that shows where you will be accommodated throughout your stay in the Schengen area. This can either a hotel/hostel, a rental agreement or a letter of invitation from a host where you plan to stay.

7. Proof of financial means or evidence that you have enough money to support yourself financially throughout your stay in the Schengen area. This can be one of the following:

• Bank account statement – that shows you have enough money in your account for the trip. The statement shall be no older than 3 months.
• Sponsorship Letter – by another person that confirms they will be financially supporting your trip. In order for this letter to be valid, it must be accompanied by a bank statement of the sponsor, no older than three months.
• A combination of your bank account statement and a letter of sponsorship.

8. Proof of paid visa fee, which is €80 (R1 591, 93) for adults and €45 (R895, 46) for children from 6 to 12 years old.