Schengen visa statistics for India, 2023: who applied, who was refused, and by whom
In 2023, 966,687 uniform visa applications were lodged at Schengen consulates in India (9.7 lakh). 811,290 visas were issued and 151,752 were refused, a refusal rate of 15.7% against 18.0% in 2022. India was the #3 country of application worldwide, behind China and Türkiye. Worldwide, 10,327,572 applications were decided that year with a refusal rate of 15.8%.
151,752 refusals out of 966,687 applications lodged in India, 2023
Lowest refusal rate for applicants in India in 2023: 4.0% on 3,043 applications.
Country page →Most applications from India: 189,646 (19.6% of the total), refusal rate 11.9%.
Country page →Every state, 2023 (ranked by refusal rate, 1,000+ applications)
| # | Country | Applied | Issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multi-entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iceland | 3,043 | 2,904 | 122 | 4.0% | 18.3% |
| 2 | Luxembourg | 3,090 | 2,651 | 312 | 10.1% | 42.6% |
| 3 | Germany | 132,825 | 118,919 | 13,779 | 10.4% | 99.6% |
| 4 | Switzerland | 189,646 | 166,919 | 22,630 | 11.9% | 98.5% |
| 5 | Italy | 52,332 | 44,833 | 7,445 | 14.2% | 74.1% |
| 6 | Spain | 91,863 | 77,194 | 13,447 | 14.6% | 14.6% |
| 7 | Slovakia | 1,332 | 1,135 | 196 | 14.7% | 30.6% |
| 8 | Netherlands | 83,556 | 70,071 | 12,618 | 15.1% | 77.4% |
| 9 | Belgium | 23,986 | 20,582 | 3,654 | 15.2% | 71.9% |
| 10 | Hungary | 19,138 | 15,972 | 3,166 | 16.5% | 41.7% |
| 11 | France | 176,237 | 146,938 | 29,866 | 16.9% | 29.4% |
| 12 | Sweden | 34,621 | 28,354 | 6,159 | 17.8% | 20.6% |
| 13 | Poland | 11,954 | 9,648 | 2,288 | 19.1% | 24.8% |
| 14 | Austria | 39,558 | 31,926 | 7,603 | 19.2% | 81.7% |
| 15 | Denmark | 16,262 | 12,194 | 3,161 | 19.4% | 64.9% |
| 16 | Portugal | 9,766 | 7,568 | 2,198 | 22.5% | 15.2% |
| 17 | Croatia | 2,154 | 1,466 | 569 | 26.4% | 79.3% |
| 18 | Finland | 16,447 | 11,675 | 4,395 | 26.7% | 8.2% |
| 19 | Czech Republic | 15,051 | 10,853 | 4,197 | 27.9% | 19.6% |
| 20 | Greece | 33,735 | 24,012 | 9,516 | 28.2% | 26.1% |
| 21 | Slovenia | 2,827 | 1,804 | 991 | 35.1% | 88.3% |
| 22 | Estonia | 1,817 | 898 | 904 | 49.8% | 34.9% |
| 23 | Malta | 3,888 | 1,776 | 1,978 | 50.9% | 33.1% |
Consulate table, 2023 (ranked by refusal rate)
| # | Consulate | Applied | Refused | Refusal rate | Multi-entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany in Bengaluru | 9,332 | 35 | 0.4% | 100.0% |
| 2 | Iceland in New Delhi | 3,043 | 122 | 4.0% | 18.3% |
| 3 | Hungary in Mumbai | 11,921 | 690 | 5.8% | 42.1% |
| 4 | Spain in Mumbai | 51,854 | 4,056 | 7.8% | 17.5% |
| 5 | France in Bengaluru | 51,787 | 4,495 | 8.7% | 41.0% |
| 6 | Italy in Mumbai | 22,086 | 1,928 | 8.7% | 74.9% |
| 7 | Luxembourg in New Delhi | 3,090 | 312 | 10.1% | 42.6% |
| 8 | Germany in New Delhi | 8,077 | 861 | 10.7% | 99.3% |
| 9 | Germany in Kolkata | 2,117 | 229 | 10.8% | 100.0% |
| 10 | Germany in Mumbai | 113,177 | 12,654 | 11.2% | 99.6% |
| 11 | Switzerland in New Delhi | 189,646 | 22,630 | 11.9% | 98.5% |
| 12 | Italy in Kolkata | 11,749 | 1,418 | 12.1% | 100.0% |
| 13 | Belgium in Mumbai | 16,911 | 2,266 | 13.4% | 83.6% |
| 14 | France in Kolkata | 10,133 | 1,419 | 14.0% | 21.6% |
| 15 | Slovakia in New Delhi | 1,332 | 196 | 14.7% | 30.6% |
| 16 | France in Mumbai | 52,443 | 7,824 | 14.9% | 24.9% |
| 17 | Netherlands in New Delhi | 83,556 | 12,618 | 15.1% | 77.4% |
| 18 | Poland in Mumbai | 7,240 | 1,173 | 16.2% | 26.4% |
| 19 | Sweden in New Delhi | 34,621 | 6,159 | 17.8% | 20.6% |
| 20 | Portugal in Goa | 2,897 | 533 | 18.4% | 8.0% |
| 21 | Austria in New Delhi | 39,558 | 7,603 | 19.2% | 81.7% |
| 22 | Denmark in New Delhi | 16,262 | 3,161 | 19.4% | 64.9% |
| 23 | Belgium in New Delhi | 7,075 | 1,388 | 19.6% | 43.1% |
| 24 | Italy in New Delhi | 17,999 | 4,047 | 22.5% | 52.9% |
| 25 | Spain in New Delhi | 40,009 | 9,391 | 23.5% | 10.2% |
| 26 | Poland in New Delhi | 4,714 | 1,115 | 23.7% | 22.0% |
| 27 | Portugal in New Delhi | 6,869 | 1,665 | 24.2% | 18.5% |
| 28 | France in Chennai | 25,120 | 6,287 | 25.0% | 24.8% |
| 29 | Croatia in New Delhi | 2,154 | 569 | 26.4% | 79.3% |
| 30 | Finland in New Delhi | 16,447 | 4,395 | 26.7% | 8.2% |
| 31 | France in New Delhi | 36,754 | 9,841 | 26.8% | 21.9% |
| 32 | Czech Republic in New Delhi | 15,051 | 4,197 | 27.9% | 19.6% |
| 33 | Greece in New Delhi | 33,735 | 9,516 | 28.2% | 26.1% |
| 34 | Hungary in New Delhi | 7,217 | 2,476 | 34.3% | 40.6% |
| 35 | Slovenia in New Delhi | 2,827 | 991 | 35.1% | 88.3% |
| 36 | Estonia in New Delhi | 1,817 | 904 | 49.8% | 34.9% |
| 37 | Malta in New Delhi | 3,888 | 1,978 | 50.9% | 33.1% |
Who moved, 2022 to 2023
Percentage-point change in refusal rate for applications lodged in India, states with 1,000+ applications in both years. Negative = easier.
| Country | 2022 | 2023 | Change | Applied 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slovenia | 43.9% | 35.1% | -8.8 pp | 2,827 |
| Portugal | 29.9% | 22.5% | -7.4 pp | 9,766 |
| Hungary | 23.9% | 16.5% | -7.3 pp | 19,138 |
| Czech Republic | 34.1% | 27.9% | -6.2 pp | 15,051 |
| Estonia | 55.7% | 49.8% | -6.0 pp | 1,817 |
| Luxembourg | 15.2% | 10.1% | -5.1 pp | 3,090 |
| Greece | 33.2% | 28.2% | -5.0 pp | 33,735 |
| Austria | 24.0% | 19.2% | -4.8 pp | 39,558 |
| Spain | 18.5% | 14.6% | -3.9 pp | 91,863 |
| Italy | 17.8% | 14.2% | -3.6 pp | 52,332 |
| France | 20.0% | 16.9% | -3.0 pp | 176,237 |
| Iceland | 5.5% | 4.0% | -1.5 pp | 3,043 |
| Switzerland | 13.2% | 11.9% | -1.3 pp | 189,646 |
| Germany | 11.3% | 10.4% | -0.9 pp | 132,825 |
| Sweden | 18.4% | 17.8% | -0.6 pp | 34,621 |
| Poland | 19.4% | 19.1% | -0.2 pp | 11,954 |
| Netherlands | 15.1% | 15.1% | +0.0 pp | 83,556 |
| Belgium | 15.1% | 15.2% | +0.2 pp | 23,986 |
| Denmark | 18.0% | 19.4% | +1.4 pp | 16,262 |
| Malta | 42.3% | 50.9% | +8.6 pp | 3,888 |
| Finland | 16.6% | 26.7% | +10.1 pp | 16,447 |
What refusals cost in 2023
The visa fee is not refunded on refusal. At the standard adult fee in force (EUR 80 per application), the 151,752 refusals of 2023 represent up to EUR 12,140,160 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 2023?
151,752 uniform visa applications lodged in India were refused in 2023, out of 966,687 decided (15.7%).
Which Schengen country refused Indians the most in 2023?
By rate, among states with at least 1,000 applications: Malta at 50.9%. By absolute number: France with 29,866 refusals.
Where did India rank among countries of application for Schengen visas in 2023?
India ranked 3, behind China, Türkiye.
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.