Over 11.5L Indians sought Schengen visas, 1.81L denied, ₹154.9cr
In 2025, over 11.5 lakh Indians tried for Schengen visas, making India a major player in global travel.
But with a rejection rate of 15.8% (a bit higher than the world average), more than 1.81 lakh applications were turned down, costing Indian travelers approximately ₹154.9 crore and leaving many travel dreams on hold.
Schengen visa €90 fee, stricter checks
Every Schengen visa application comes with a nonrefundable fee of about €90 per application. Add in money lost on things like flight bookings and travel insurance, and the real hit is even bigger.
Countries including France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany and Greece have noted the highest rejection in Indian applications because of stricter rules, longer waits for appointments, and extra checks based on things like average monthly balances and historical tax filings to assess the financial profile of the applicant, making it tougher for travelers especially.