Italy vs Spain: Schengen visa odds for applicants in India (2025)
In 2025, Italy refused 12.7% of the 53,423 applications lodged with it in India; Spain refused 15.2% of 90,720. Italy was the more lenient of the two by 2.5 percentage points. Multi-entry share: Italy 89.2%, Spain 16.1%.
Italy
12.7%refused of 53,423 applications (2025). Issued 46,613, 89.2% multi-entry. Consulates in India: Bengaluru (12.4%), Kolkata (13.4%), Mumbai (10.1%), New Delhi (16.7%).
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 | Italy applied | Italy refusal | Spain applied | Spain refusal | Gap (pp) | India avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 53,423 | 12.7% | 90,720 | 15.2% | -2.5 pp | 15.7% |
| 2024 | 60,365 | 11.3% | 97,204 | 15.6% | -4.3 pp | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 52,332 | 14.2% | 91,863 | 14.6% | -0.4 pp | 15.7% |
| 2022 | 35,982 | 17.8% | 80,098 | 18.5% | -0.7 pp | 18.0% |
| 2021 | 7,392 | 24.9% | 12,688 | 21.5% | +3.4 pp | 22.8% |
| 2020 | 15,196 | 20.7% | 11,333 | 11.5% | +9.2 pp | 16.9% |
| 2019 | 118,877 | 13.3% | 74,028 | 7.7% | +5.6 pp | 10.8% |
| 2018 | 105,630 | 12.1% | 67,248 | 7.7% | +4.5 pp | 9.3% |
| 2017 | 88,502 | 11.1% | 54,431 | 9.2% | +1.9 pp | 8.5% |
| 2016 | 103,362 | 12.9% | 53,048 | 8.8% | +4.1 pp | 8.2% |
| 2015 | 102,332 | 10.4% | 42,544 | 7.4% | +3.1 pp | 6.5% |
| 2014 | 79,969 | 7.2% | 34,910 | 7.2% | +0.0 pp | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 73,480 | 6.7% | 31,146 | 7.1% | -0.4 pp | 6.2% |
| 2012 | 71,365 | 8.6% | 28,789 | 9.7% | -1.1 pp | 6.1% |
| 2011 | 76,209 | 13.0% | 27,860 | 10.2% | +2.8 pp | 6.9% |
| 2010 | 69,919 | 8.2% | 18,856 | 8.5% | -0.3 pp | 6.5% |
| 2009 | 49,893 | 7.5% | 16,740 | 8.6% | -1.2 pp | 7.8% |
Gap = Italy minus Spain refusal rate; positive means Italy was stricter that year.
What separates them
Over the whole period, Italy's refusal rate for applications lodged in India moved from 7.5% (2009) to 12.7% (2025); Spain's from 8.6% to 15.2%. Volume tells the other half: Italy decided 53,423 files in 2025 against Spain's 90,720, so Spain carries the heavier queue. On multi-entry visas, Italy was the more generous (89.2% 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 Italy or a Spain Schengen visa from India?
On 2025 refusal rates, Italy (12.7%) 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, Italy or Spain?
In 2025, Italy: 89.2% 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.