Netherlands vs Switzerland: Schengen visa odds for applicants in India (2025)
In 2025, Netherlands refused 20.6% of the 97,650 applications lodged with it in India; Switzerland refused 13.6% of 226,044. Switzerland was the more lenient of the two by 7.1 percentage points. Multi-entry share: Netherlands 55.1%, Switzerland 80.6%.
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%).
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 | Netherlands applied | Netherlands refusal | Switzerland applied | Switzerland refusal | Gap (pp) | India avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 97,650 | 20.6% | 226,044 | 13.6% | +7.1 pp | 15.7% |
| 2024 | 91,003 | 16.0% | 217,373 | 12.0% | +4.0 pp | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 83,556 | 15.1% | 189,646 | 11.9% | +3.2 pp | 15.7% |
| 2022 | 52,616 | 15.1% | 106,025 | 13.2% | +1.9 pp | 18.0% |
| 2021 | 10,373 | 15.4% | 19,645 | 21.0% | -5.6 pp | 22.8% |
| 2020 | 17,027 | 16.4% | 21,825 | 8.0% | +8.4 pp | 16.9% |
| 2019 | 93,812 | 9.3% | 171,004 | 5.9% | +3.4 pp | 10.8% |
| 2018 | 80,244 | 9.0% | 161,403 | 5.3% | +3.7 pp | 9.3% |
| 2017 | 70,320 | 7.2% | 130,857 | 5.2% | +2.1 pp | 8.5% |
| 2016 | 56,821 | 6.6% | 103,300 | 6.8% | -0.1 pp | 8.2% |
| 2015 | 44,717 | 4.6% | 109,487 | 2.8% | +1.9 pp | 6.5% |
| 2014 | 38,031 | 4.8% | 89,051 | 3.0% | +1.8 pp | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 34,024 | 5.5% | 93,438 | 4.7% | +0.8 pp | 6.2% |
| 2012 | 36,451 | 5.4% | 94,724 | 3.7% | +1.6 pp | 6.1% |
| 2011 | 35,204 | 6.2% | 74,983 | 2.8% | +3.4 pp | 6.9% |
| 2010 | 31,472 | 5.9% | 63,541 | 2.7% | +3.2 pp | 6.5% |
| 2009 | 22,994 | 6.2% | 50,822 | 6.2% | +0.0 pp | 7.8% |
Gap = Netherlands minus Switzerland 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); Switzerland's from 6.2% to 13.6%. Volume tells the other half: Netherlands decided 97,650 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 55.1%), 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 Switzerland Schengen visa from India?
On 2025 refusal rates, Switzerland (13.6%) 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 Switzerland?
In 2025, Netherlands: 55.1% 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.