Belgium vs France: Schengen visa odds for applicants in India (2025)
In 2025, Belgium refused 7.7% of the 33,333 applications lodged with it in India; France refused 15.2% of 204,184. Belgium was the more lenient of the two by 7.5 percentage points. Multi-entry share: Belgium 89.6%, France 36.1%.
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%).
France
15.2%refused of 204,184 applications (2025). Issued 172,072, 36.1% multi-entry. Consulates in India: Bengaluru (7.8%), Chennai (19.5%), Kolkata (8.6%), Mumbai (11.8%), New Delhi (27.4%).
17 years side by side
| Year | Belgium applied | Belgium refusal | France applied | France refusal | Gap (pp) | India avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 33,333 | 7.7% | 204,184 | 15.2% | -7.5 pp | 15.7% |
| 2024 | 29,322 | 8.7% | 197,959 | 15.8% | -7.1 pp | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 23,986 | 15.2% | 176,237 | 16.9% | -1.7 pp | 15.7% |
| 2022 | 18,467 | 15.1% | 138,643 | 20.0% | -4.9 pp | 18.0% |
| 2021 | 6,388 | 8.8% | 37,585 | 31.2% | -22.4 pp | 22.8% |
| 2020 | 4,994 | 8.2% | 29,627 | 23.5% | -15.3 pp | 16.9% |
| 2019 | 24,649 | 6.5% | 234,002 | 14.1% | -7.5 pp | 10.8% |
| 2018 | 26,279 | 5.5% | 229,153 | 10.3% | -4.9 pp | 9.3% |
| 2017 | 22,510 | 7.5% | 201,161 | 9.9% | -2.5 pp | 8.5% |
| 2016 | 20,661 | 8.2% | 156,148 | 8.4% | -0.2 pp | 8.2% |
| 2015 | 24,630 | 6.2% | 134,294 | 6.4% | -0.2 pp | 6.5% |
| 2014 | 25,983 | 7.6% | 87,472 | 6.4% | +1.2 pp | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 36,466 | 4.3% | 65,880 | 7.4% | -3.1 pp | 6.2% |
| 2012 | 38,520 | 3.7% | 63,881 | 7.8% | -4.1 pp | 6.1% |
| 2011 | 49,967 | 3.9% | 64,502 | 8.2% | -4.4 pp | 6.9% |
| 2010 | 39,155 | 4.2% | 57,262 | 7.4% | -3.2 pp | 6.5% |
| 2009 | 25,599 | 6.6% | 58,697 | 9.0% | -2.3 pp | 7.8% |
Gap = Belgium minus France refusal rate; positive means Belgium was stricter that year.
What separates them
Over the whole period, Belgium's refusal rate for applications lodged in India moved from 6.6% (2009) to 7.7% (2025); France's from 9.0% to 15.2%. Volume tells the other half: Belgium decided 33,333 files in 2025 against France's 204,184, so France carries the heavier queue. On multi-entry visas, Belgium was the more generous (89.6% vs 36.1%), which matters if you plan to return within the visa's validity.
Questions this page answers
Is it easier to get a Belgium or a France Schengen visa from India?
On 2025 refusal rates, Belgium (7.7%) refused a smaller share of Indian applicants than France (15.2%). 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, Belgium or France?
In 2025, Belgium: 89.6% multi-entry share; France: 36.1%.
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.