25-05-2025
Schengen visa: Indians lost Rs1.36 billion in rejected applications in 2024
In 2004, over 1.65 lakh Schengen visa applications from India were rejected, causing a loss of a whopping ₹136 crore (Dh58 million) in non-refundable fees. India is third among countries with maximum losses, followed by Turkey and Algeria.
Each visa application cost around €85 (Rs 8,270 or Dh 357); the fee was revised to €90 in the middle of the year for Indian applicants aged 12 and above.
According to Conde Nast Traveller, the total amount that Indians spent on filing visa applications in 2024 was around Rs 9.16 billion.
The report added that of the 11.08 lakh Schengen visa applications filed by Indians , a total of 1,65,266 were turned down which is a rejection rate of nearly 15 per cent .
France topped the list of Schengen countries that rejected the most Indian visa applications — 31,314 in total —leading to a loss of around Rs 258 million. It was followed by Switzerland, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands that caused the most losses.
This year, more than 217,000 applications were submitted from India to Switzerland alone, making it the most sought-after Schengen state for Indian travellers. It was followed by France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands.
Globally, Algerians faced the highest losses (15.7 million euros or Rs 1.53 billion), followed by Turks (14.4 million euros or Rs 1.40 billion), Conde Nast Traveller quoted data from the European Commission as saying.
