Belgium vs Spain: Schengen visa odds for applicants in India (2025)
In 2025, Belgium refused 7.7% of the 33,333 applications lodged with it in India; Spain refused 15.2% of 90,720. Belgium was the more lenient of the two by 7.5 percentage points. Multi-entry share: Belgium 89.6%, Spain 16.1%.
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%).
Spain
15.2%refused of 90,720 applications (2025). Issued 75,906, 16.1% multi-entry. Consulates in India: Mumbai (11.6%), New Delhi (19.8%).
17 years side by side
| Year | Belgium applied | Belgium refusal | Spain applied | Spain refusal | Gap (pp) | India avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 33,333 | 7.7% | 90,720 | 15.2% | -7.5 pp | 15.7% |
| 2024 | 29,322 | 8.7% | 97,204 | 15.6% | -6.9 pp | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 23,986 | 15.2% | 91,863 | 14.6% | +0.6 pp | 15.7% |
| 2022 | 18,467 | 15.1% | 80,098 | 18.5% | -3.5 pp | 18.0% |
| 2021 | 6,388 | 8.8% | 12,688 | 21.5% | -12.7 pp | 22.8% |
| 2020 | 4,994 | 8.2% | 11,333 | 11.5% | -3.3 pp | 16.9% |
| 2019 | 24,649 | 6.5% | 74,028 | 7.7% | -1.2 pp | 10.8% |
| 2018 | 26,279 | 5.5% | 67,248 | 7.7% | -2.2 pp | 9.3% |
| 2017 | 22,510 | 7.5% | 54,431 | 9.2% | -1.8 pp | 8.5% |
| 2016 | 20,661 | 8.2% | 53,048 | 8.8% | -0.6 pp | 8.2% |
| 2015 | 24,630 | 6.2% | 42,544 | 7.4% | -1.2 pp | 6.5% |
| 2014 | 25,983 | 7.6% | 34,910 | 7.2% | +0.3 pp | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 36,466 | 4.3% | 31,146 | 7.1% | -2.8 pp | 6.2% |
| 2012 | 38,520 | 3.7% | 28,789 | 9.7% | -6.0 pp | 6.1% |
| 2011 | 49,967 | 3.9% | 27,860 | 10.2% | -6.3 pp | 6.9% |
| 2010 | 39,155 | 4.2% | 18,856 | 8.5% | -4.3 pp | 6.5% |
| 2009 | 25,599 | 6.6% | 16,740 | 8.6% | -2.0 pp | 7.8% |
Gap = Belgium minus Spain 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); Spain's from 8.6% to 15.2%. Volume tells the other half: Belgium decided 33,333 files in 2025 against Spain's 90,720, so Spain carries the heavier queue. On multi-entry visas, Belgium was the more generous (89.6% vs 16.1%), 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 Spain Schengen visa from India?
On 2025 refusal rates, Belgium (7.7%) refused a smaller share of Indian applicants than Spain (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 Spain?
In 2025, Belgium: 89.6% multi-entry share; Spain: 16.1%.
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.