Head to head · applications lodged in India, 2009 to 2025

France vs Switzerland: Schengen visa odds for applicants in India (2025)

In 2025, France refused 15.2% of the 204,184 applications lodged with it in India; Switzerland refused 13.6% of 226,044. Switzerland was the more lenient of the two by 1.7 percentage points. Multi-entry share: France 36.1%, Switzerland 80.6%.

Verdict from the data: Switzerland said no less often than France in 2025 (13.6% vs 15.2%). The gap is under 2 points, which is noise at the level of an individual file: your documents matter far more than this choice. Remember: you must apply to your main destination (Article 5, Visa Code), so this page informs planning, not consulate shopping.

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%).

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	France applied	France refusal	Switzerland applied	Switzerland refusal	Gap (pp)	India avg
2025	204,184	15.2%	226,044	13.6%	+1.7 pp	15.7%
2024	197,959	15.8%	217,373	12.0%	+3.8 pp	14.9%
2023	176,237	16.9%	189,646	11.9%	+5.0 pp	15.7%
2022	138,643	20.0%	106,025	13.2%	+6.8 pp	18.0%
2021	37,585	31.2%	19,645	21.0%	+10.2 pp	22.8%
2020	29,627	23.5%	21,825	8.0%	+15.6 pp	16.9%
2019	234,002	14.1%	171,004	5.9%	+8.2 pp	10.8%
2018	229,153	10.3%	161,403	5.3%	+5.1 pp	9.3%
2017	201,161	9.9%	130,857	5.2%	+4.8 pp	8.5%
2016	156,148	8.4%	103,300	6.8%	+1.6 pp	8.2%
2015	134,294	6.4%	109,487	2.8%	+3.6 pp	6.5%
2014	87,472	6.4%	89,051	3.0%	+3.4 pp	0.0%
2013	65,880	7.4%	93,438	4.7%	+2.7 pp	6.2%
2012	63,881	7.8%	94,724	3.7%	+4.1 pp	6.1%
2011	64,502	8.2%	74,983	2.8%	+5.5 pp	6.9%
2010	57,262	7.4%	63,541	2.7%	+4.7 pp	6.5%
2009	58,697	9.0%	50,822	6.2%	+2.8 pp	7.8%

Gap = France minus Switzerland 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); Switzerland's from 6.2% to 13.6%. Volume tells the other half: France decided 204,184 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 36.1%), 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 Switzerland Schengen visa from India?

On 2025 refusal rates, Switzerland (13.6%) 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 Switzerland?

In 2025, France: 36.1% 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.