France vs Sweden: Schengen visa odds for applicants in India (2025)
In 2025, France refused 15.2% of the 204,184 applications lodged with it in India; Sweden refused 11.4% of 32,536. Sweden was the more lenient of the two by 3.8 percentage points. Multi-entry share: France 36.1%, Sweden 28.1%.
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%).
Sweden
11.4%refused of 32,536 applications (2025). Issued 28,564, 28.1% multi-entry. Consulates in India: New Delhi (11.4%).
17 years side by side
| Year | France applied | France refusal | Sweden applied | Sweden refusal | Gap (pp) | India avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 204,184 | 15.2% | 32,536 | 11.4% | +3.8 pp | 15.7% |
| 2024 | 197,959 | 15.8% | 32,939 | 14.4% | +1.4 pp | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 176,237 | 16.9% | 34,621 | 17.8% | -0.8 pp | 15.7% |
| 2022 | 138,643 | 20.0% | 27,775 | 18.4% | +1.6 pp | 18.0% |
| 2021 | 37,585 | 31.2% | 1,974 | 42.2% | -11.0 pp | 22.8% |
| 2020 | 29,627 | 23.5% | 3,935 | 10.9% | +12.6 pp | 16.9% |
| 2019 | 234,002 | 14.1% | 26,589 | 7.0% | +7.1 pp | 10.8% |
| 2018 | 229,153 | 10.3% | 24,707 | 7.9% | +2.5 pp | 9.3% |
| 2017 | 201,161 | 9.9% | 20,754 | 7.1% | +2.8 pp | 8.5% |
| 2016 | 156,148 | 8.4% | 17,918 | 6.7% | +1.7 pp | 8.2% |
| 2015 | 134,294 | 6.4% | 15,597 | 6.6% | -0.2 pp | 6.5% |
| 2014 | 87,472 | 6.4% | 12,770 | 5.1% | +1.3 pp | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 65,880 | 7.4% | 12,232 | 4.6% | +2.8 pp | 6.2% |
| 2012 | 63,881 | 7.8% | 14,055 | 4.7% | +3.1 pp | 6.1% |
| 2011 | 64,502 | 8.2% | 12,871 | 2.5% | +5.8 pp | 6.9% |
| 2010 | 57,262 | 7.4% | 10,613 | 2.5% | +4.9 pp | 6.5% |
| 2009 | 58,697 | 9.0% | 6,482 | 6.1% | +2.9 pp | 7.8% |
Gap = France minus Sweden refusal rate; positive means France was stricter that year.
What separates them
Over the whole period, France's refusal rate for applications lodged in India moved from 9.0% (2009) to 15.2% (2025); Sweden's from 6.1% to 11.4%. Volume tells the other half: France decided 204,184 files in 2025 against Sweden's 32,536, so France carries the heavier queue. On multi-entry visas, France was the more generous (36.1% vs 28.1%), which matters if you plan to return within the visa's validity.
Questions this page answers
Is it easier to get a France or a Sweden Schengen visa from India?
On 2025 refusal rates, Sweden (11.4%) 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, France or Sweden?
In 2025, France: 36.1% multi-entry share; Sweden: 28.1%.
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.