Nigeria’s Schengen visa rejection rate has surged to 45.9 percent in 2024, placing it fourth among African countries with the highest refusal rates and third highest globally, according to data from the European Commission. This marks an increase from 40.8 percent in 2023, meaning nearly half of Nigerian applicants were denied access to Europe’s Schengen Zone, which includes 29 countries such as France, Germany, Spain, and Italy.
In 2024, over 11.7 million applications for short-stay Schengen visas were submitted, a 13.6 percent rise from 10.3 million in 2023, though still below the pre-pandemic peak of 17 million in 2019. Despite the increase in applications, visa issuance remains below pre-pandemic levels, with 9.7 million visas granted in 2024 compared to 15 million in 2019.
Among African nations, Comoros recorded the highest rejection rate at 62.8 percent, followed by Guinea-Bissau at 47 percent and Senegal at 46.8 percent. Nigeria’s 45.9 percent rejection rate places it just behind Senegal and ahead of Ghana, which faced a 45.5 percent refusal rate. Other countries with high denial rates include the Republic of the Congo (43 percent), Mali (42.9 percent), Guinea (41.1 percent), Burundi (40 percent), and Ethiopia (36.1 percent).
The rising rejection rates reflect stricter visa policies and more rigorous checks by Schengen countries aimed at managing migration and security concerns. Incomplete documentation, discrepancies in applications, and fears of overstays contribute to the high refusal numbers. Nigerian applicants spent an estimated €8.47 million on Schengen visa applications in 2023, with rejected visa fees costing the country about €3.44 million that year.
Experts note that visa inequality disproportionately affects applicants from poorer countries, with African and Asian nationals bearing 90 percent of all visa application expenses and rejections. The European Union has also recently used visa restrictions as a political tool, imposing sanctions on countries with low migrant return rates, which may further impact rejection statistics.
The Schengen visa allows holders to travel freely within the zone for up to 90 days, but growing challenges in securing these visas underscore broader issues of global mobility and economic opportunity for Nigerians and other African travelers. With the EU increasing visa application fees from €80 to €90 in mid-2024, the financial burden on applicants is expected to rise further, potentially exacerbating the difficulties faced by Nigerian travelers.
