Demand for Schengen visas continued its steady recovery in 2025, with EU and Schengen-associated consulates receiving more than 12 million applications for short-stay visas. According to the European Commission, this represents a 4.3% increase compared to 2024 and an 18.5% increase over 2023. Despite this positive trend, application volumes remain well below the 17 million applications recorded in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
More Visas Issued, Refusal Rate Slightly Lower
In 2025, Schengen countries issued over 10 million short-stay visas, marking a 5.2% increase from the 9.7 million visas granted in 2024. However, issuance is still considerably lower than the 15 million visas issued in 2019.
The overall visa refusal rate also showed a modest improvement, falling to 14.6% from 14.8% in 2024. While the global trend was encouraging, refusal rates varied significantly across countries.
Countries that recorded lower refusal rates included:
Russia: 6.4% (down from 7.5%)
Algeria: 31% (down from 35%)
Ethiopia: 34% (down from 36.1%)
Meanwhile, several countries experienced notable increases in refusals:
Cape Verde: 21.4% (up from 13.4%)
Democratic Republic of the Congo: 40.1% (up from 29.9%)
Senegal: 51.9% (up from 46.8%)
Burundi: 53.4% (up from 40%)
Top Countries Applying for Schengen Visas
The five countries submitting the highest number of visa applications remained largely unchanged in 2025:
China – 1.9 million applications
Türkiye – 1.26 million applications
India – 1.15 million applications
Russia – 679,000 applications
Morocco – 620,000 applications
These figures highlight the continued strong demand for travel to the Schengen area from major international markets.
Multiple-Entry Visas Continue to Dominate
Of the nearly 10.3 million visas issued in 2025, 51.7% (approximately 5.3 million) were multiple-entry visas, allowing travellers to enter the Schengen area more than once during the validity period. This is a slight decrease from 52.2% in 2024.
Schengen countries also issued 83,790 visas at external borders, a small decline from 85,118 visas issued in 2024.
What These Figures Mean
The latest statistics show that international travel to Europe continues to recover, with Schengen visa demand steadily increasing year after year. Although application and issuance numbers have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, the upward trend indicates growing confidence in international travel.
For prospective travellers, the slight decline in the overall refusal rate is encouraging. However, applicants should continue to ensure their documentation is complete and accurate, as refusal rates remain relatively high in several countries.
As travel demand continues to grow, applicants are encouraged to plan ahead, submit their applications well in advance of their intended travel dates, and stay informed about the latest Schengen visa requirements.