Schengen visa statistics for India, 2017: who applied, who was refused, and by whom
In 2017, 920,699 uniform visa applications were lodged at Schengen consulates in India (9.2 lakh). 837,109 visas were issued and 78,681 were refused, a refusal rate of 8.5% against 8.2% in 2016. India was the #4 country of application worldwide, behind Russian Federation and China and Turkey. Worldwide, 16,155,613 applications were decided that year with a refusal rate of 8.2%.
78,681 refusals out of 920,699 applications lodged in India, 2017
Lowest refusal rate for applicants in India in 2017: 3.1% on 18,723 applications.
Country page →Every state, 2017 (ranked by refusal rate, 1,000+ applications)
| # | Country | Applied | Issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multi-entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denmark | 18,723 | 17,921 | 588 | 3.1% | 88.0% |
| 2 | Finland | 10,209 | 9,730 | 398 | 3.9% | 55.6% |
| 3 | Switzerland | 130,857 | 124,008 | 6,755 | 5.2% | 73.3% |
| 4 | Norway | 14,370 | 13,385 | 975 | 6.8% | 44.1% |
| 5 | Germany | 153,961 | 143,288 | 10,505 | 6.8% | 81.2% |
| 6 | Austria | 31,045 | 28,892 | 2,129 | 6.9% | 99.9% |
| 7 | Sweden | 20,754 | 18,135 | 1,475 | 7.1% | 41.3% |
| 8 | Netherlands | 70,320 | 64,816 | 5,081 | 7.2% | 87.0% |
| 9 | Belgium | 22,510 | 20,359 | 1,679 | 7.5% | 78.2% |
| 10 | Slovenia | 3,251 | 2,948 | 296 | 9.1% | 46.2% |
| 11 | Spain | 54,431 | 48,894 | 5,013 | 9.2% | 1.9% |
| 12 | Hungary | 16,295 | 14,750 | 1,537 | 9.4% | 71.4% |
| 13 | France | 201,161 | 179,749 | 19,983 | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 14 | Italy | 88,502 | 78,685 | 9,804 | 11.1% | 81.4% |
| 15 | Luxembourg | 1,738 | 1,541 | 196 | 11.3% | 91.4% |
| 16 | Portugal | 9,639 | 8,440 | 1,190 | 12.3% | 50.1% |
| 17 | Greece | 32,134 | 27,895 | 4,235 | 13.2% | 99.9% |
| 18 | Czech Republic | 23,987 | 20,779 | 3,203 | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 19 | Malta | 1,994 | 1,519 | 336 | 16.9% | 53.0% |
| 20 | Poland | 9,812 | 7,803 | 1,976 | 20.1% | 50.3% |
| 21 | Latvia | 1,852 | 1,335 | 500 | 27.0% | 24.9% |
| 22 | Lithuania | 1,361 | 912 | 369 | 27.1% | 50.4% |
| 23 | Estonia | 1,316 | 889 | 419 | 31.8% | 66.0% |
Consulate table, 2017 (ranked by refusal rate)
| # | Consulate | Applied | Refused | Refusal rate | Multi-entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France in Kolkata | 15,059 | 383 | 2.5% | 11.0% |
| 2 | Denmark in New Delhi | 18,723 | 588 | 3.1% | 88.0% |
| 3 | Belgium in Mumbai | 16,336 | 536 | 3.3% | 83.5% |
| 4 | Germany in Mumbai | 53,351 | 1,752 | 3.3% | 90.9% |
| 5 | France in Bengaluru | 40,631 | 1,383 | 3.4% | 12.6% |
| 6 | Netherlands in Mumbai | 21,632 | 745 | 3.4% | 89.2% |
| 7 | Netherlands in Bengaluru | 11,333 | 404 | 3.6% | 87.8% |
| 8 | Finland in New Delhi | 10,209 | 398 | 3.9% | 55.6% |
| 9 | Spain in Mumbai | 33,573 | 1,469 | 4.4% | 1.3% |
| 10 | Hungary in Mumbai | 9,861 | 433 | 4.4% | 94.0% |
| 11 | Switzerland in New Delhi | 130,857 | 6,755 | 5.2% | 73.3% |
| 12 | Netherlands in Kolkata | 3,620 | 195 | 5.4% | 75.4% |
| 13 | Germany in Kolkata | 6,874 | 411 | 6.0% | 39.6% |
| 14 | Norway in New Delhi | 14,370 | 975 | 6.8% | 44.1% |
| 15 | Germany in Chennai | 20,469 | 1,391 | 6.8% | 96.8% |
| 16 | Austria in New Delhi | 31,045 | 2,129 | 6.9% | 99.9% |
| 17 | Italy in Kolkata | 8,104 | 560 | 6.9% | 99.9% |
| 18 | Sweden in New Delhi | 20,754 | 1,475 | 7.1% | 41.3% |
| 19 | Germany in Bengaluru | 31,432 | 2,279 | 7.3% | 41.6% |
| 20 | Italy in Mumbai | 51,062 | 3,752 | 7.3% | 74.6% |
| 21 | Netherlands in Chennai | 6,763 | 553 | 8.2% | 88.9% |
| 22 | France in Puducherry | 17,066 | 1,542 | 9.0% | 6.0% |
| 23 | Slovenia in New Delhi | 3,251 | 296 | 9.1% | 46.2% |
| 24 | France in Mumbai | 64,300 | 6,453 | 10.0% | 9.9% |
| 25 | Germany in New Delhi | 41,835 | 4,672 | 11.2% | 98.3% |
| 26 | Portugal in Goa | 2,808 | 314 | 11.2% | 9.8% |
| 27 | Luxembourg in New Delhi | 1,738 | 196 | 11.3% | 91.4% |
| 28 | Netherlands in New Delhi | 26,972 | 3,184 | 11.8% | 85.8% |
| 29 | Portugal in New Delhi | 6,831 | 876 | 12.8% | 66.9% |
| 30 | Greece in New Delhi | 32,134 | 4,235 | 13.2% | 99.9% |
| 31 | Czech Republic in New Delhi | 23,987 | 3,203 | 13.4% | 12.3% |
| 32 | France in New Delhi | 64,105 | 10,222 | 15.9% | 16.8% |
| 33 | Poland in Mumbai | 4,974 | 823 | 16.5% | 61.2% |
| 34 | Malta in New Delhi | 1,994 | 336 | 16.9% | 53.0% |
| 35 | Spain in New Delhi | 20,858 | 3,544 | 17.0% | 3.1% |
| 36 | Hungary in New Delhi | 6,434 | 1,104 | 17.2% | 31.6% |
| 37 | Belgium in New Delhi | 6,174 | 1,143 | 18.5% | 61.5% |
| 38 | Italy in New Delhi | 29,336 | 5,492 | 18.7% | 89.1% |
| 39 | Poland in New Delhi | 4,838 | 1,153 | 23.8% | 37.9% |
| 40 | Latvia in New Delhi | 1,852 | 500 | 27.0% | 24.9% |
| 41 | Lithuania in New Delhi | 1,361 | 369 | 27.1% | 50.4% |
| 42 | Estonia in New Delhi | 1,316 | 419 | 31.8% | 66.0% |
Who moved, 2016 to 2017
Percentage-point change in refusal rate for applications lodged in India, states with 1,000+ applications in both years. Negative = easier.
| Country | 2016 | 2017 | Change | Applied 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | 17.7% | 12.3% | -5.4 pp | 9,639 |
| Italy | 12.9% | 11.1% | -1.8 pp | 88,502 |
| Switzerland | 6.8% | 5.2% | -1.6 pp | 130,857 |
| Malta | 18.4% | 16.9% | -1.5 pp | 1,994 |
| Belgium | 8.2% | 7.5% | -0.7 pp | 22,510 |
| Denmark | 3.1% | 3.1% | +0.0 pp | 18,723 |
| Spain | 8.8% | 9.2% | +0.4 pp | 54,431 |
| Sweden | 6.7% | 7.1% | +0.4 pp | 20,754 |
| Netherlands | 6.6% | 7.2% | +0.6 pp | 70,320 |
| Germany | 6.2% | 6.8% | +0.6 pp | 153,961 |
| Hungary | 8.8% | 9.4% | +0.6 pp | 16,295 |
| Finland | 3.0% | 3.9% | +0.9 pp | 10,209 |
| France | 8.4% | 9.9% | +1.6 pp | 201,161 |
| Austria | 5.1% | 6.9% | +1.7 pp | 31,045 |
| Norway | 4.8% | 6.8% | +2.0 pp | 14,370 |
| Slovenia | 6.7% | 9.1% | +2.4 pp | 3,251 |
| Latvia | 24.1% | 27.0% | +2.9 pp | 1,852 |
| Poland | 17.0% | 20.1% | +3.2 pp | 9,812 |
| Lithuania | 22.9% | 27.1% | +4.2 pp | 1,361 |
| Greece | 8.6% | 13.2% | +4.6 pp | 32,134 |
| Czech Republic | 7.6% | 13.4% | +5.8 pp | 23,987 |
| Luxembourg | 3.7% | 11.3% | +7.5 pp | 1,738 |
What refusals cost in 2017
The visa fee is not refunded on refusal. At the standard adult fee in force (EUR 60 per application), the 78,681 refusals of 2017 represent up to EUR 4,720,860 in non-refundable visa fees alone. This is an upper-bound estimate: children aged 6 to 11 pay half, some categories are exempt, and it excludes outsourcer service charges, insurance, and any bookings lost. The Visa Code fee schedule is on our fee guide.
Questions this page answers
How many Schengen visas were refused for Indians in 2017?
78,681 uniform visa applications lodged in India were refused in 2017, out of 920,699 decided (8.5%).
Which Schengen country refused Indians the most in 2017?
By rate, among states with at least 1,000 applications: Estonia at 31.8%. By absolute number: France with 19,983 refusals.
Where did India rank among countries of application for Schengen visas in 2017?
India ranked 4, behind Russian Federation, China, Turkey.
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.