Spain vs Sweden: Schengen visa odds for applicants in India (2025)
In 2025, Spain refused 15.2% of the 90,720 applications lodged with it in India; Sweden refused 11.4% of 32,536. Sweden was the more lenient of the two by 3.8 percentage points. Multi-entry share: Spain 16.1%, Sweden 28.1%.
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%).
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 | Spain applied | Spain refusal | Sweden applied | Sweden refusal | Gap (pp) | India avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 90,720 | 15.2% | 32,536 | 11.4% | +3.8 pp | 15.7% |
| 2024 | 97,204 | 15.6% | 32,939 | 14.4% | +1.2 pp | 14.9% |
| 2023 | 91,863 | 14.6% | 34,621 | 17.8% | -3.2 pp | 15.7% |
| 2022 | 80,098 | 18.5% | 27,775 | 18.4% | +0.1 pp | 18.0% |
| 2021 | 12,688 | 21.5% | 1,974 | 42.2% | -20.7 pp | 22.8% |
| 2020 | 11,333 | 11.5% | 3,935 | 10.9% | +0.6 pp | 16.9% |
| 2019 | 74,028 | 7.7% | 26,589 | 7.0% | +0.7 pp | 10.8% |
| 2018 | 67,248 | 7.7% | 24,707 | 7.9% | -0.2 pp | 9.3% |
| 2017 | 54,431 | 9.2% | 20,754 | 7.1% | +2.1 pp | 8.5% |
| 2016 | 53,048 | 8.8% | 17,918 | 6.7% | +2.1 pp | 8.2% |
| 2015 | 42,544 | 7.4% | 15,597 | 6.6% | +0.8 pp | 6.5% |
| 2014 | 34,910 | 7.2% | 12,770 | 5.1% | +2.2 pp | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 31,146 | 7.1% | 12,232 | 4.6% | +2.5 pp | 6.2% |
| 2012 | 28,789 | 9.7% | 14,055 | 4.7% | +5.0 pp | 6.1% |
| 2011 | 27,860 | 10.2% | 12,871 | 2.5% | +7.7 pp | 6.9% |
| 2010 | 18,856 | 8.5% | 10,613 | 2.5% | +6.0 pp | 6.5% |
| 2009 | 16,740 | 8.6% | 6,482 | 6.1% | +2.5 pp | 7.8% |
Gap = Spain minus Sweden refusal rate; positive means Spain was stricter that year.
What separates them
Over the whole period, Spain's refusal rate for applications lodged in India moved from 8.6% (2009) to 15.2% (2025); Sweden's from 6.1% to 11.4%. Volume tells the other half: Spain decided 90,720 files in 2025 against Sweden's 32,536, so Spain carries the heavier queue. On multi-entry visas, Sweden was the more generous (28.1% 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 Spain or a Sweden Schengen visa from India?
On 2025 refusal rates, Sweden (11.4%) 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, Spain or Sweden?
In 2025, Spain: 16.1% 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.