A data analysis published on 30 October 2025 by VisaVerge shows that 165,266 of the 1.1 million Schengen visa applications filed by Indian citizens in 2024 were rejected—a record 15 % refusal rate costing applicants roughly ₹136 crore (US$16.3 million) in non-refundable fees and ancillary expenses.
France topped the rejection leaderboard with 31,314 refusals, followed by Switzerland, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. Applicants also report appointment slots taking up to two months at several consulates amid surging demand for pilgrim and event visas (e.g., Italy’s Jubilee 2025).
Higher refusal numbers translate into tangible business costs: delayed project kick-offs, missed trade shows and lost perishable bookings. Corporate mobility managers should therefore hedge by submitting complete dossiers—hotel proof, income tax returns, travel insurance—well ahead of departure dates and consider routing meetings through EU member states with historically lower refusal rates (e.g., Spain or Greece).
On 11 June 2025 the European Commission raised Schengen adult visa fees to €90, amplifying the financial pain of each rejection. There is no talk of an Indian-EU mobility pact yet, so companies may need to budget group-visa consultants or shift events to visa-friendly Dubai or Singapore to secure attendance.
France topped the rejection leaderboard with 31,314 refusals, followed by Switzerland, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. Applicants also report appointment slots taking up to two months at several consulates amid surging demand for pilgrim and event visas (e.g., Italy’s Jubilee 2025).
Higher refusal numbers translate into tangible business costs: delayed project kick-offs, missed trade shows and lost perishable bookings. Corporate mobility managers should therefore hedge by submitting complete dossiers—hotel proof, income tax returns, travel insurance—well ahead of departure dates and consider routing meetings through EU member states with historically lower refusal rates (e.g., Spain or Greece).
On 11 June 2025 the European Commission raised Schengen adult visa fees to €90, amplifying the financial pain of each rejection. There is no talk of an Indian-EU mobility pact yet, so companies may need to budget group-visa consultants or shift events to visa-friendly Dubai or Singapore to secure attendance.
