Africans face an Uphill Task to get Schengen Visas

(3 Minutes Read)

This year alone, the Schengen zone, made up of 29 European countries including France, Germany, and Spain, received more than 11.7 million short-stay visa applications. While global demand surged by 13.6%, the door remained tightly shut for many Africans.

Rejection of Schengen visa applications is rampant for African visitors to Europe desirous of visiting the continent for multifarious reasons, such as family reunions, attending conferences, or even as a tourist. This trend has agitated many Africans.

In 2024, thousands of African travellers found their hopes dashed as rejection rates soared across the continent. According to official statistics, countries like Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana faced rejection rates between 45% and 63%, making them some of the hardest-hit globally.

 The latest data from the European Commission reveals a troubling reality: African applicants are facing some of the highest Schengen visa rejection rates.

This year alone, the Schengen zone, made up of 29 European countries including France, Germany, and Spain, received more than 11.7 million short-stay visa applications. While global demand surged by 13.6%, the door remained tightly shut for many Africans.

Each Schengen visa application costs €90 (around US$100), regardless of the outcome. That’s a non-refundable fee that must be paid even when the application is rejected, often with minimal explanation.

According to analysis by the LAGO Collective, Africans lost an estimated €60 million (USD 67.5 million) in 2024 alone through rejected applications. That’s money spent not on travel, but on bureaucracy and silence.

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The European Commission’s figures reveal just how unevenly the burden of rejections falls:

• Comoros tops the list with a staggering 62.8% rejection rate.
• Guinea-Bissau follows closely at 47.0%, with Senegal at 46.8%.
• Nigeria faces a 45.9% rate, with Ghana just behind at 45.5%.
• Congo-Brazzaville (43.0%), Mali (approx. 43%), and Guinea (41.1%) round out the list.
• Burundi comes in at 40.0%, and Ethiopia, despite a slightly lower figure, still made the top 10 with 36.1%.