Africans Lost €56 Million on Rejected Schengen Visa Applications in 2023

In 2023, African applicants spent over €56 million on rejected Schengen visa applications, representing a significant financial loss and raising concerns about the fairness of the Schengen visa system. According to recent statistics, 704,000 visa applications were rejected.

African countries most affected by Schengen visa rejections

Algeria bore the brunt of Schengen visa rejections in 2023. Out of 474,032 applications submitted, 166,200 were rejected—costing Algerians more than €13 million. The rejection rate for Algerian applicants stood at 35%, one of the highest among African nations. The visa fee, recently increased to €90, represents over one-third of Algeria’s average monthly salary.

Morocco followed with 136,300 rejected applications, costing nearly €11 million in lost fees. Other countries heavily impacted include Egypt (€3.7 million), Nigeria (€3.4 million), Tunisia (€3.1 million), and Senegal (€2.11 million).

The €56 million lost by African applicants represents 43% of the total lost by non-European applicants whose Schengen visa applications were rejected. The recent increase in the visa fee from €80 to €90 in June 2023 further compounds the financial burden on African applicants. While the European Commission justified the hike due to inflation in member states, it has placed an additional strain on African travelers.

Rejected Schengen visa fees are non-refundable, often necessitating the use of private intermediaries.

Visas as a diplomatic tool

EU visa policy is increasingly used as a diplomatic lever, particularly against countries deemed insufficiently cooperative on the repatriation of irregular migrants. This approach raises concerns about the balance between migration-control objectives and the economic impacts on applicants’ countries of origin.

Digitalization of Schengen visa procedures

The EU Council has adopted new rules to digitalize the Schengen visa process. Presented by the European Commission last year, the initiative aims to streamline the visa application process by replacing paper vignette visas with an online submission platform. The EU’s goals include improving the application process, reducing administration and costs for both applicants and EU countries, and facilitating cross-border travel for visa holders.

Expanding the Schengen zone

Bulgaria and Romania joined the Schengen Area on March 31, 2024, a move that, while not directly affecting African applicants, reflects the ongoing evolution and expansion of the Schengen zone. This expansion may have indirect implications for visa policies and tourist flows, with potential consequences for applicants of all origins.

According to new data published by the European Commission, EU and associated consulates received over 10.3 million short-stay visa applications in 2023, a 37% increase over 2022. However, this figure remains below the 17 million applications recorded in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. The overall rejection rate also fell slightly from 17.9% in 2022 to 16% in 2023, though some countries saw an increase—most notably Iran, whose rejection rate rose from 25.2% in 2022 to 30.3% in 2023.