Globalization has made it easier than ever for individuals to explore employment or study opportunities abroad, and Indian citizens are no exception to this trend. India is a leading source of workers and students around the world. However, navigating the visa application process can be a challenging task. While some countries have more lenient visa policies, others require more stringent documentation and have higher rejection rates, according to SchengenVisaInfo.
In total, Indian citizens filed 966,687 Schengen visa applications, with 811,290 approved and 151,752 rejected. The average refusal rate for Indian applicants stands at 83.9%.
Here are five Schengen countries where Indian citizens are most likely to obtain a visa in 2024:
- Iceland Iceland had a high approval rate for Indian applicants, with 95.4% of applications being granted. A total of 2,904 visas were approved, and only 122 were rejected. However, Iceland was not among the countries that issued many Multiple Entry Visas (MEVs) to Indian nationals, with a rate of 18.29% for MEVs, similar to Finland, Spain, and Portugal.
- Germany Germany granted 89.5% of visa applications from Indian citizens, approving 118,819 out of 132,825 applications. Although the approval rate was slightly lower than Iceland’s, Germany issued the highest percentage of MEVs, with 99.6% of approved visas being multiple-entry.
- Switzerland Switzerland approved 166,919 visa applications from Indian nationals, with an approval rate of 88%. Notably, the country issued 98.51% of its visas as MEVs, totaling 164,440 visas. This makes Switzerland a favorable destination for those seeking a visa for multiple entries.
- Luxembourg Luxembourg may not have received as many visa applications as other countries, but it had a relatively high approval rate for Indian applicants. Of the 3,090 applications filed, 2,651 were approved (85.8%). However, the issuance rate for MEVs was lower, at 42.59%.
- Belgium Belgium issued 20,582 visas to Indian applicants in 2023, with an approval rate of 85.8%. In addition to the high approval rate, Belgium also granted a substantial number of MEVs, accounting for 71.9% of the total visas issued to Indian nationals.
These countries represent some of the easiest destinations for Indian nationals seeking Schengen visas, with high approval rates and relatively favorable visa policies.
