Belgium vs Germany: Schengen visa odds for applicants in India (2025)
In 2025, Belgium refused 7.7% of the 33,333 applications lodged with it in India; Germany refused 10.5% of 153,179. Belgium was the more lenient of the two by 2.8 percentage points. Multi-entry share: Belgium 89.6%, Germany 99.6%.
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%).
Germany
10.5%refused of 153,179 applications (2025). Issued 136,674, 99.6% multi-entry. Consulates in India: Bengaluru (1.5%), Chennai (10.5%), Kolkata (14.0%), Mumbai (10.8%), New Delhi (10.0%).
17 years side by side
| Year | Belgium applied | Belgium refusal | Germany applied | Germany refusal | Gap (pp) | India avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 33,333 | 7.7% | 153,179 | 10.5% | -2.8 pp | 15.7% |
| 2024 | 29,322 | 8.7% | 142,955 | 11.1% | -2.3 pp | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 23,986 | 15.2% | 132,825 | 10.4% | +4.9 pp | 15.7% |
| 2022 | 18,467 | 15.1% | 76,352 | 11.3% | +3.8 pp | 18.0% |
| 2021 | 6,388 | 8.8% | 20,449 | 14.0% | -5.3 pp | 22.8% |
| 2020 | 4,994 | 8.2% | 30,793 | 15.9% | -7.7 pp | 16.9% |
| 2019 | 24,649 | 6.5% | 169,205 | 9.9% | -3.3 pp | 10.8% |
| 2018 | 26,279 | 5.5% | 167,001 | 8.3% | -2.8 pp | 9.3% |
| 2017 | 22,510 | 7.5% | 153,961 | 6.8% | +0.6 pp | 8.5% |
| 2016 | 20,661 | 8.2% | 142,860 | 6.2% | +2.0 pp | 8.2% |
| 2015 | 24,630 | 6.2% | 121,002 | 5.9% | +0.3 pp | 6.5% |
| 2014 | 25,983 | 7.6% | 109,730 | 8.1% | -0.5 pp | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 36,466 | 4.3% | 102,862 | 6.5% | -2.1 pp | 6.2% |
| 2012 | 38,520 | 3.7% | 97,138 | 5.5% | -1.8 pp | 6.1% |
| 2011 | 49,967 | 3.9% | 99,924 | 4.5% | -0.7 pp | 6.9% |
| 2010 | 39,155 | 4.2% | 99,065 | 4.5% | -0.2 pp | 6.5% |
| 2009 | 25,599 | 6.6% | 80,252 | 5.6% | +1.0 pp | 7.8% |
Gap = Belgium minus Germany 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); Germany's from 5.6% to 10.5%. Volume tells the other half: Belgium decided 33,333 files in 2025 against Germany's 153,179, so Germany carries the heavier queue. On multi-entry visas, Germany was the more generous (99.6% vs 89.6%), 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 Germany Schengen visa from India?
On 2025 refusal rates, Belgium (7.7%) refused a smaller share of Indian applicants than Germany (10.5%). 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 Germany?
In 2025, Belgium: 89.6% multi-entry share; Germany: 99.6%.
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.