Data Report · 2026 · EU, LAGO Collective & Henley
African Schengen visa rejection rates: the full data
African applicants face the highest Schengen refusal rates on earth — Comoros 62.8%, Senegal 46.8%, Nigeria 45.9%, Ghana 45.5%, against a global average of 14.8%. That is roughly three times the world rate. Africans lost an estimated $67.5 million in non-refundable fees to rejected applications in 2024 alone.
Lost by Africans to rejected Schengen applications in 2024 (non-refundable fees).
How much more likely African applicants are refused vs the global average.
The Schengen fee — non-refundable whether you're approved or refused.
Schengen refusal rates by country (2024)
Refusal rates as published by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs — the most recent full-year data shaping 2026 applications. Bar length is proportional to the refusal rate.
| # | Country | Region | 2024 refusal rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Comoros | Africa | 62.8% |
| 2 | Guinea-Bissau | Africa | 47.0% |
| 3 | Pakistan | Asia | 47.0% |
| 4 | Senegal | Africa | 46.8% |
| 5 | Nigeria | Africa | 45.9% |
| 6 | Ghana | Africa | 45.5% |
| 7 | Congo (Brazzaville) | Africa | 43.0% |
| 8 | Mali | Africa | 43.0% |
| 9 | Sudan | Africa | 42.3% |
| 10 | Guinea | Africa | 41.1% |
| 11 | Algeria | Africa | 35.0% |
| 12 | Kenya | Africa | 33.0% |
| 13 | India | Asia | 15.0% |
| — | Global average | All | 14.8% |
Source: European Commission — Short-stay visas issued by Schengen states, 2024. Rates cover short-stay (Type C) visas; figures vary slightly by source and reference period.
The 2025 picture
Henley & Partners' latest analysis confirms the bias
In its Global Mobility Report (January 2025), Henley & Partners found African applicants are roughly twice as likely to be refused as Asian applicants — despite submitting about half as many applications — with refusal rates running 14 percentage points higher. North-African rates reach up to 35%.
| Country | Refusal rate (Henley 2025) |
|---|---|
| Comoros | 61.3% |
| Guinea-Bissau | 51.0% |
| Ghana | 47.5% |
| Mali | 46.1% |
| Sudan | 42.3% |
| Senegal | 41.2% |
Source: Henley & Partners, Global Mobility Report (January 2025), "Visa Bias" analysis.
Year-over-year: rates are climbing
Where both years are published for the same nationality, the direction is clear.
| Country | 2023 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | 40.8% | 45.9% | +5.1 pts |
| Senegal | 42.1% | 46.8% | +4.7 pts |
Methodology
The European Commission publishes the Schengen refusal rate as:
Figures are compiled per consulate and per nationality from the consular returns of all Schengen states, for each calendar year, by the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs. Because an applicant applies at the consulate of their main destination, a nationality's rate aggregates outcomes across all Schengen posts. Different analyses (e.g. Henley & Partners, LAGO Collective) re-cut the same underlying data with slightly different country groupings and reference periods, which is why per-country figures vary by a few points between sources.
The refusal reasons — and how each is fixed
Purpose & conditions of stay not justified
A specific, documented itinerary — bookings, meeting letters, or event registration — not a vague 'tourism.' The officer must see exactly why you're going and what you'll do.
Insufficient proof of means of subsistence
3–6 months of consistent bank statements covering the trip, with any large deposits explained. A sponsor letter alone rarely suffices without the sponsor's own financials.
Doubts you'll leave before the visa expires (weak ties)
Document your anchors home: employment letter, property, family, ongoing commitments. This is the heart of most refusals across every destination.
Incomplete documents or itinerary
A complete, consistent pack — accommodation for the whole stay, return travel, and supporting letters that match your application exactly.
Inadequate travel insurance or accommodation
Schengen-compliant insurance (min €30,000, COVID-inclusive) and confirmed accommodation for every night of the stay.
Reduce your rejection risk
You can't change your passport. You can change your paperwork.
SwiftPass reviews your full document pack against the destination embassy's specific assessment criteria — the way a consular officer would — and flags every rejection risk before the embassy sees it. We can't guarantee a visa (no one honestly can), but we make sure your application is the strongest version of itself.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Schengen visa rejection rate for African countries in 2024–2026?
African applicants face the highest Schengen visa refusal rates in the world. Based on European Commission 2024 statistics — the latest full-year data informing 2026 applications — Comoros recorded about 62.8%, Guinea-Bissau 47.0%, Senegal 46.8%, Nigeria 45.9%, and Ghana 45.5%. Mali and Congo-Brazzaville sat near 43%, Guinea 41.1%, and Algeria around 35%. By comparison, the global average refusal rate was 14.8%, and India's was about 15% — meaning African applicants are refused at roughly three times the world rate.
How much money do Africans lose to rejected Schengen visa applications?
According to the LAGO Collective (widely reported by CNN in May 2025), African applicants lost an estimated €60 million (about $67.5 million) in 2024 alone to rejected Schengen applications. The Schengen visa fee — €90 as of 2026 — is non-refundable regardless of outcome, so every rejected application is money permanently lost. Nigerian applicants alone forfeited over €4.5 million in a single year.
Which African country has the highest Schengen visa rejection rate?
In the 2024 European Commission data, Comoros had the highest African Schengen refusal rate at roughly 62.8%, followed by Guinea-Bissau (47.0%), Senegal (46.8%), Nigeria (45.9%), and Ghana (45.5%). Henley & Partners' January 2025 analysis put Comoros at 61.3%, Guinea-Bissau 51%, Ghana 47.5%, Mali 46.1%, Sudan 42.3%, and Senegal 41.2% — small differences reflect different methodology and reference periods.
Why do Africans face higher Schengen visa rejection rates?
Migration researchers point to two structural factors: income and passport power. Consular officers assess 'risk of overstay,' and applicants from lower-income countries with weaker passports are statistically more likely to be refused, often regardless of an individual application's strength. Henley & Partners calls this structural disparity 'visa bias' — finding African applicants roughly twice as likely to be refused as Asian applicants despite submitting about half as many applications. The most common documented rejection reasons, however, are fixable: weak ties, unclear finances, and an unconvincing travel purpose.
How is the Schengen visa refusal rate calculated?
The European Commission publishes the refusal rate as the number of refused short-stay (Type C) visas divided by the total number of decisions (issued plus refused), per consulate and per nationality, for each calendar year. The figures are compiled by the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs from the consular returns of all Schengen states. Because a single applicant can apply at different consulates, the per-nationality rate reflects the aggregate outcome for that passport across all Schengen posts.
What are the most common reasons for a Schengen visa refusal?
The leading documented reasons are: (1) insufficient justification of the purpose and conditions of the intended stay, (2) unreliable or insufficient proof of means of subsistence (finances), (3) doubts about the applicant's intention to leave before the visa expires (weak ties), (4) incomplete supporting documents or itinerary, and (5) unreliable travel insurance or accommodation proof. Each is a documentation problem that correct preparation addresses.
Which Schengen country is easiest for African applicants?
Refusal rates vary widely by which Schengen state you apply through. Historically, countries such as Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and Iceland have had higher overall approval rates, while France, Belgium, and Malta tend to refuse more. However, you must apply to the country that is your main destination — so the practical lever for most applicants is not 'shopping' consulates but preparing a stronger application for the correct one.
How can African applicants reduce their Schengen visa rejection risk?
Because the most common refusal reasons are documentation-related, the single biggest lever is professional document preparation before submission. SwiftPass reviews each applicant's full document pack against the destination embassy's specific assessment criteria, flags rejection risks before the embassy sees them, and prepares supporting letters, itineraries, and financial documentation. Start a free 5-minute document check at swiftpassimmigration.com/apply.
Sources
- European Commission — Short-stay visas issued by Schengen states, 2024.
- LAGO Collective — non-refundable fee-loss analysis, reported by CNN (May 2025).
- Henley & Partners — Global Mobility Report (January 2025), "Visa Bias."
Published by SwiftPass Immigration · 31 May 2026. Figures reflect the most recent full-year data available and are subject to annual revision by the European Commission.