Austria vs Switzerland: Schengen visa odds for applicants in India (2025)
In 2025, Austria refused 21.6% of the 48,761 applications lodged with it in India; Switzerland refused 13.6% of 226,044. Switzerland was the more lenient of the two by 8.1 percentage points. Multi-entry share: Austria 28.4%, Switzerland 80.6%.
Austria
21.6%refused of 48,761 applications (2025). Issued 37,117, 28.4% multi-entry. Consulates in India: New Delhi (21.6%).
Switzerland
13.6%refused of 226,044 applications (2025). Issued 195,369, 80.6% multi-entry. Consulates in India: New Delhi (13.6%).
17 years side by side
| Year | Austria applied | Austria refusal | Switzerland applied | Switzerland refusal | Gap (pp) | India avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 48,761 | 21.6% | 226,044 | 13.6% | +8.1 pp | 15.7% |
| 2024 | 43,504 | 22.0% | 217,373 | 12.0% | +10.0 pp | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 39,558 | 19.2% | 189,646 | 11.9% | +7.3 pp | 15.7% |
| 2022 | 24,791 | 24.0% | 106,025 | 13.2% | +10.8 pp | 18.0% |
| 2021 | 1,416 | 23.9% | 19,645 | 21.0% | +2.8 pp | 22.8% |
| 2020 | 4,251 | 15.1% | 21,825 | 8.0% | +7.1 pp | 16.9% |
| 2019 | 36,488 | 6.0% | 171,004 | 5.9% | +0.2 pp | 10.8% |
| 2018 | 36,820 | 5.4% | 161,403 | 5.3% | +0.2 pp | 9.3% |
| 2017 | 31,045 | 6.9% | 130,857 | 5.2% | +1.7 pp | 8.5% |
| 2016 | 26,844 | 5.1% | 103,300 | 6.8% | -1.6 pp | 8.2% |
| 2015 | 19,368 | 3.8% | 109,487 | 2.8% | +1.0 pp | 6.5% |
| 2014 | 15,062 | 5.4% | 89,051 | 3.0% | +2.4 pp | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 14,518 | 5.5% | 93,438 | 4.7% | +0.7 pp | 6.2% |
| 2012 | 13,138 | 5.0% | 94,724 | 3.7% | +1.3 pp | 6.1% |
| 2011 | 12,494 | 8.0% | 74,983 | 2.8% | +5.3 pp | 6.9% |
| 2010 | 9,601 | 14.1% | 63,541 | 2.7% | +11.4 pp | 6.5% |
| 2009 | 10,238 | 14.7% | 50,822 | 6.2% | +8.6 pp | 7.8% |
Gap = Austria minus Switzerland 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); Switzerland's from 6.2% to 13.6%. Volume tells the other half: Austria decided 48,761 files in 2025 against Switzerland's 226,044, so Switzerland carries the heavier queue. On multi-entry visas, Switzerland was the more generous (80.6% 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 Switzerland Schengen visa from India?
On 2025 refusal rates, Switzerland (13.6%) 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 Switzerland?
In 2025, Austria: 28.4% multi-entry share; Switzerland: 80.6%.
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.