Austria vs Belgium: Schengen visa odds for applicants in India (2025)
In 2025, Austria refused 21.6% of the 48,761 applications lodged with it in India; Belgium refused 7.7% of 33,333. Belgium was the more lenient of the two by 13.9 percentage points. Multi-entry share: Austria 28.4%, Belgium 89.6%.
Austria
21.6%refused of 48,761 applications (2025). Issued 37,117, 28.4% multi-entry. Consulates in India: New Delhi (21.6%).
Belgium
7.7%refused of 33,333 applications (2025). Issued 30,434, 89.6% multi-entry. Consulates in India: Mumbai (4.5%), New Delhi (14.0%).
17 years side by side
| Year | Austria applied | Austria refusal | Belgium applied | Belgium refusal | Gap (pp) | India avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 48,761 | 21.6% | 33,333 | 7.7% | +13.9 pp | 15.7% |
| 2024 | 43,504 | 22.0% | 29,322 | 8.7% | +13.3 pp | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 39,558 | 19.2% | 23,986 | 15.2% | +4.0 pp | 15.7% |
| 2022 | 24,791 | 24.0% | 18,467 | 15.1% | +8.9 pp | 18.0% |
| 2021 | 1,416 | 23.9% | 6,388 | 8.8% | +15.1 pp | 22.8% |
| 2020 | 4,251 | 15.1% | 4,994 | 8.2% | +6.9 pp | 16.9% |
| 2019 | 36,488 | 6.0% | 24,649 | 6.5% | -0.5 pp | 10.8% |
| 2018 | 36,820 | 5.4% | 26,279 | 5.5% | -0.0 pp | 9.3% |
| 2017 | 31,045 | 6.9% | 22,510 | 7.5% | -0.6 pp | 8.5% |
| 2016 | 26,844 | 5.1% | 20,661 | 8.2% | -3.0 pp | 8.2% |
| 2015 | 19,368 | 3.8% | 24,630 | 6.2% | -2.4 pp | 6.5% |
| 2014 | 15,062 | 5.4% | 25,983 | 7.6% | -2.2 pp | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 14,518 | 5.5% | 36,466 | 4.3% | +1.1 pp | 6.2% |
| 2012 | 13,138 | 5.0% | 38,520 | 3.7% | +1.3 pp | 6.1% |
| 2011 | 12,494 | 8.0% | 49,967 | 3.9% | +4.2 pp | 6.9% |
| 2010 | 9,601 | 14.1% | 39,155 | 4.2% | +9.9 pp | 6.5% |
| 2009 | 10,238 | 14.7% | 25,599 | 6.6% | +8.1 pp | 7.8% |
Gap = Austria minus Belgium refusal rate; positive means Austria was stricter that year.
What separates them
Over the whole period, Austria's refusal rate for applications lodged in India moved from 14.7% (2009) to 21.6% (2025); Belgium's from 6.6% to 7.7%. Volume tells the other half: Austria decided 48,761 files in 2025 against Belgium's 33,333, so Austria carries the heavier queue. On multi-entry visas, Belgium was the more generous (89.6% vs 28.4%), which matters if you plan to return within the visa's validity.
Questions this page answers
Is it easier to get a Austria or a Belgium Schengen visa from India?
On 2025 refusal rates, Belgium (7.7%) refused a smaller share of Indian applicants than Austria (21.6%). Under the Visa Code you must apply to the state that is your main destination, so this comparison guides itinerary planning, not consulate shopping.
Which gives more multiple-entry visas to Indians, Austria or Belgium?
In 2025, Austria: 28.4% multi-entry share; Belgium: 89.6%.
Source: European Commission, "Visa statistics for consulates", 2009 to 2025 annual releases; figures cover uniform (short-stay, type C) visas applied for at consulates located in India, regardless of applicant nationality; airport-transit visas excluded from headline figures. Refusal rate = visas not issued / visas applied for, computed by us from the counts. Rankings use a floor of 1,000 applications. Last verified 2026-08-18. Full methodology. Download the CSV.