Indian Travellers, Take Note: These Schengen Countries Have Higher Visa Refusals

Planning a trip to Europe from India? Getting a Schengen visa is one of the most difficult and first things to sort out. And the latest European Commission data show that visa outcomes can differ substantially across Schengen countries. Want to know which Schengen countries are difficult for Indians? Read on!

Which Schengen Country Visa Is Difficult For Indians?

In 2025, Indian nationals filed around 1.15 million Schengen visa applications, making India the third-largest source of applications globally, after China and Turkey. According to an NDTV report, more than 10 million Schengen visas were issued worldwide during the year, while the global refusal rate stood at 14.6%.

For Indian candidates, some preferred destinations recorded considerably higher non-issuance rates than others. According to the 2025 figures, Slovenia recorded a non-issuance rate of 46.1%, followed by Bulgaria at 37%, Greece at 33%, Malta at 31.7% and Estonia at 30.1%. Croatia recorded 27.1%, while Austria and the Netherlands stood at 21.6% and 20.6%, respectively.

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These statistics are useful for examining broader visa trends, but they do not mean that an individual applicant has a fixed chance of getting rejected. A choice depends on factors such as the applicant’s documents, finances, travel purpose, accommodation, itinerary and evidence showing that they intend to return to India.

Travellers also cannot simply apply through the country believed to have a higher approval rate. If visiting multiple Schengen countries, the request should generally be submitted to the country where the tourist will spend the longest time. If the stay is equal across countries, the application should be made through the country of first entry.

For instance, if your itinerary includes five days in France, three in Italy and two in Switzerland, France would generally be the most suitable country through which to apply.

Cost, Documents & Time For Schengen Visa

Applications can be submitted up to six months before the planned trip and should generally be submitted at least 15 calendar days before departure. The normal processing period is 15 days, although it can extend to 45 days when additional inspections or documents are required.

The standard fee is to ₹9,800 for adults and ₹4,900 for children aged 6 to under 12. for children aged 6 to under 12, while children below six are generally excluded. External visa centres may charge an additional service fee.

Applicants generally need a valid passport, completed application form, photograph, travel itinerary, accommodation proof, evidence of financial means, travel medical insurance and documents supporting the purpose of the trip and intention to return to India. The passport should generally remain valid for at least three months beyond the planned departure from the Schengen Area.

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So, while choosing the correct Schengen country is important, a well-documented itinerary and a genuine, consistent application remain far more important than simply chasing a destination with a lower refusal rate.

Cover Image Courtesy: Pexels/Marta Branco