Pakistanis Rank Among Highest Rejected Nationalities for Schengen Visa

According to newly released European Commission data, Pakistan has been ranked among the countries with the highest Schengen visa rejection rates in 2024. The overall rejection rate for Pakistani applicants stood at 47.5%, making it the second highest in the world after Bangladesh, which faced a 54.9% rejection rate.

The top ten countries with the highest Schengen visa rejection rates in 2024 are:

1. Bangladesh – 54.9%
2. Pakistan – 47.5%
3. Guinea-Bissau – 47%
4. Senegal – 46.8%
5. Haiti – 46.3%
6. Nigeria – 45.9%
7. Ghana – 45.2%
8. Sri Lanka – 44.7%
9. Ethiopia – 43.8%
10. Congo (DRC) – 43.5%

The high rejection rates are attributed to a range of factors, including incomplete documentation, lack of previous travel history, and stricter scrutiny by Schengen member states. In total, 11.7 million Schengen visa applications were filed worldwide in 2024, with an overall rejection rate of 14.8%—a slight decrease from previous years.

France, Spain, and Germany remained the most popular destinations for Schengen visa applicants, but also reported high numbers of rejected applications. France alone rejected over 481,000 applications, while Spain and Germany denied 244,000 and 206,000 applications, respectively.

Experts advise Pakistani applicants to ensure all documentation is complete and to carefully follow the requirements of the Schengen states to improve their chances of approval.