Schengen Visa Applications from India Generate Over €6.1 Million in Fees

The year 2022 saw a significant influx of Schengen visa applications from India, with a total of 76,352 individuals seeking visas. These applicants collectively spent over €6.1 million on visa application fees, as per data from Schengen Statistics.

Among the consulates, the Mumbai consulate accounted for the highest expenses, reaching a total of €4.4 million. The New Delhi and Bangalore consulates followed suit, with expenses of approximately €1.1 million and €508,000, respectively. The New Delhi consulate received 13,341 applicants, while the Bangalore consulate saw 6,345 applicants.

Despite the substantial number of applicants, some individuals faced rejections. At the Bangalore consulate, 13 visa applications were denied, resulting in expenses amounting to €1,040. The Mumbai consulate experienced the highest number of non-issued visas, with 7,335 applications being rejected, leading to expenses of €586,800. Similarly, the New Delhi consulate recorded 1,519 rejected applications, amounting to expenses lost totaling €121,520. The Kolkata and Chennai consulates had only a few rejections, with three and five applications being denied, resulting in losses of €240 and €400 in visa fees, respectively.

Overall, India stands as the third-highest applicant country for Schengen visas, with a total of 671,928 applications. This amounts to a substantial expenditure of €53.7 million. Russian and Turkish nationals top the list, with 687,239 and 778,409 applications, respectively. The expenses incurred by Russian and Turkish applicants on visa application fees reach €54.9 million and €62.2 million, respectively.

In addition to regular visas, a total of 167 applications for airport transit visas (ATVs) were recorded across various consulates in India. The Bangalore consulate received 24 ATV applications, while Mumbai, New Delhi, and Chennai had 122, 20, and one application, respectively. The recognition rates for ATVs were generally high, except for Mumbai and New Delhi, where the rates of non-issuance stood at 16.7% and 25%, respectively.

When considering the non-issuance rates for both ATVs and uniform visas, the Mumbai consulate had the highest rate at 12.9%, followed by New Delhi at 10.8%. These figures reflect the proportion of applicants who were not granted visas. However, it's important to note that the majority of applicants received their visas successfully.

The data sheds light on the significant number of Schengen visa applicants from India and the corresponding expenses incurred in the visa application process.

By fLEXI tEAM