Netherlands vs Spain: Schengen visa odds for applicants in India (2025)
In 2025, Netherlands refused 20.6% of the 97,650 applications lodged with it in India; Spain refused 15.2% of 90,720. Spain was the more lenient of the two by 5.4 percentage points. Multi-entry share: Netherlands 55.1%, Spain 16.1%.
Netherlands
20.6%refused of 97,650 applications (2025). Issued 77,057, 55.1% multi-entry. Consulates in India: Mumbai (2 applied), New Delhi (20.6%).
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 | Netherlands applied | Netherlands refusal | Spain applied | Spain refusal | Gap (pp) | India avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 97,650 | 20.6% | 90,720 | 15.2% | +5.4 pp | 15.7% |
| 2024 | 91,003 | 16.0% | 97,204 | 15.6% | +0.4 pp | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 83,556 | 15.1% | 91,863 | 14.6% | +0.5 pp | 15.7% |
| 2022 | 52,616 | 15.1% | 80,098 | 18.5% | -3.5 pp | 18.0% |
| 2021 | 10,373 | 15.4% | 12,688 | 21.5% | -6.1 pp | 22.8% |
| 2020 | 17,027 | 16.4% | 11,333 | 11.5% | +4.9 pp | 16.9% |
| 2019 | 93,812 | 9.3% | 74,028 | 7.7% | +1.6 pp | 10.8% |
| 2018 | 80,244 | 9.0% | 67,248 | 7.7% | +1.3 pp | 9.3% |
| 2017 | 70,320 | 7.2% | 54,431 | 9.2% | -2.0 pp | 8.5% |
| 2016 | 56,821 | 6.6% | 53,048 | 8.8% | -2.2 pp | 8.2% |
| 2015 | 44,717 | 4.6% | 42,544 | 7.4% | -2.7 pp | 6.5% |
| 2014 | 38,031 | 4.8% | 34,910 | 7.2% | -2.4 pp | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 34,024 | 5.5% | 31,146 | 7.1% | -1.6 pp | 6.2% |
| 2012 | 36,451 | 5.4% | 28,789 | 9.7% | -4.4 pp | 6.1% |
| 2011 | 35,204 | 6.2% | 27,860 | 10.2% | -4.0 pp | 6.9% |
| 2010 | 31,472 | 5.9% | 18,856 | 8.5% | -2.6 pp | 6.5% |
| 2009 | 22,994 | 6.2% | 16,740 | 8.6% | -2.5 pp | 7.8% |
Gap = Netherlands minus Spain refusal rate; positive means Netherlands was stricter that year.
What separates them
Over the whole period, Netherlands's refusal rate for applications lodged in India moved from 6.2% (2009) to 20.6% (2025); Spain's from 8.6% to 15.2%. Volume tells the other half: Netherlands decided 97,650 files in 2025 against Spain's 90,720, so Netherlands carries the heavier queue. On multi-entry visas, Netherlands was the more generous (55.1% 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 Netherlands or a Spain Schengen visa from India?
On 2025 refusal rates, Spain (15.2%) refused a smaller share of Indian applicants than Netherlands (20.6%). 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, Netherlands or Spain?
In 2025, Netherlands: 55.1% 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.