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

Italy vs Sweden: Schengen visa odds for applicants in India (2025)

In 2025, Italy refused 12.7% of the 53,423 applications lodged with it in India; Sweden refused 11.4% of 32,536. Sweden was the more lenient of the two by 1.3 percentage points. Multi-entry share: Italy 89.2%, Sweden 28.1%.

Verdict from the data: Sweden said no less often than Italy in 2025 (11.4% vs 12.7%). 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.

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%).

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	Italy applied	Italy refusal	Sweden applied	Sweden refusal	Gap (pp)	India avg
2025	53,423	12.7%	32,536	11.4%	+1.3 pp	15.7%
2024	60,365	11.3%	32,939	14.4%	-3.2 pp	14.9%
2023	52,332	14.2%	34,621	17.8%	-3.6 pp	15.7%
2022	35,982	17.8%	27,775	18.4%	-0.6 pp	18.0%
2021	7,392	24.9%	1,974	42.2%	-17.3 pp	22.8%
2020	15,196	20.7%	3,935	10.9%	+9.8 pp	16.9%
2019	118,877	13.3%	26,589	7.0%	+6.3 pp	10.8%
2018	105,630	12.1%	24,707	7.9%	+4.3 pp	9.3%
2017	88,502	11.1%	20,754	7.1%	+4.0 pp	8.5%
2016	103,362	12.9%	17,918	6.7%	+6.2 pp	8.2%
2015	102,332	10.4%	15,597	6.6%	+3.8 pp	6.5%
2014	79,969	7.2%	12,770	5.1%	+2.2 pp	0.0%
2013	73,480	6.7%	12,232	4.6%	+2.1 pp	6.2%
2012	71,365	8.6%	14,055	4.7%	+3.9 pp	6.1%
2011	76,209	13.0%	12,871	2.5%	+10.5 pp	6.9%
2010	69,919	8.2%	10,613	2.5%	+5.7 pp	6.5%
2009	49,893	7.5%	6,482	6.1%	+1.3 pp	7.8%

Gap = Italy minus Sweden 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); Sweden's from 6.1% to 11.4%. Volume tells the other half: Italy decided 53,423 files in 2025 against Sweden's 32,536, so Italy carries the heavier queue. On multi-entry visas, Italy was the more generous (89.2% 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 Italy or a Sweden Schengen visa from India?

On 2025 refusal rates, Sweden (11.4%) refused a smaller share of Indian applicants than Italy (12.7%). 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 Sweden?

In 2025, Italy: 89.2% 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.