Switzerland, France lead as top Schengen visa issuers for Indians; Germany closes behind
As summer travel plans begin to take shape, Indian travellers looking to visit Europe are being advised to plan ahead and choose their Schengen visa destinations wisely. According to the European Commission's 2024 State of Schengen report, Indian nationals submitted 1.1 million Schengen visa applications in 2024, making competition strong going into 2025.
The report shows that Switzerland issued the highest number of Schengen visas to Indian applicants last year, with 1,91,162 visas granted. France followed with 1,65,564 visas issued. Sweden completed the top 10, approving 28,109 out of 32,939 applications.
Visa appointment availability also varies widely depending on the country and city. According to VFS, Switzerland is currently offering next-day appointments in key Indian cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. This makes it one of the more accessible options for travellers looking to submit their applications quickly.France, another popular destination, has available appointments beginning May 26 in New Delhi and May 28 in Mumbai. Portugal is offering next-day slots in Mumbai, but appointment availability in Delhi and Bengaluru is less predictable.
(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Country Approval rate Total visas approved Switzerland 87.94% 191,162 out of 217,373 applications France 83.63% 165,564 out of 197,959 applications Germany 88.70% 126,812 out of 142,955 applications Spain 83.13% 80,806 out of 97,204 applications Netherlands 83.21% 75,727 out of 91,003 applications Italy 88.69% 53,539 out of 60,365 applications Austria 77.91% 33,896 out of 43,504 applications Belgium 90.56% 26,556 out of 29,322 applications Greece 68.15% 28,230 out of 41,418 applications Sweden 85.33% 28,109 out of 32,939 applications
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