The Schengen Area remains a top travel destination for people worldwide, known for its stunning landmarks and vibrant cities. While many travelers enjoy seamless entry into the zone, others must secure a Schengen visa to visit.
The number of visa applications varies significantly among Schengen states, influenced by factors like economic conditions, travel trends, and the appeal of specific destinations, as reported by Schengen.News.
According to data from SchengenVisaInfo, the following countries received the fewest Schengen visa applications in 2024:
Luxembourg received only 11,227 visa applications in 2024, the lowest among all 26 Schengen states. This accounted for just 0.1% of the 10.3 million total applications submitted across the region.
In contrast, neighboring France processed 2.6 million applications, making it the most sought-after destination. The majority of Luxembourg’s applicants hailed from India, Türkiye, China, and Russia, representing 64.5% (7,251 applications) of the total.
Estonia processed 13,190 visa applications, ranking as the second-lowest in the EU. While Luxembourg boasted a high approval rate of 81.5%, Estonia had a notably lower approval rate of 61%, one of the lowest in the Schengen Zone, ahead only of Malta (60%).
Most of Estonia’s applications came from Russians, Indians, Turks, Belarusians, and UK citizens, comprising 70.1% (9,250 applications) of the total.
Slovakia narrowly surpassed Estonia, receiving 13,468 applications. Most applicants originated from Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, and India, filing 2,519, 1,678, and 1,332 applications, respectively. Egypt also contributed a significant number, with 1,012 applications.
Latvia processed 18,897 visa applications in 2024, maintaining a high approval rate of nearly 87%, the third-highest among Schengen countries.
The majority of applications came from Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, the UK, Russia, and Türkiye.
Slovenia received 19,990 applications, with an approval rate of 63%. Key applicants included individuals from Kosovo (4,095), India (2,827), and Türkiye (2,671).