Short-stay visa applications in the EU surpass 11.7 million in 2024
The European Commission has released new figures revealing a substantial rise in short-stay visa applications to the EU and Schengen-associated countries in 2024. With over 11.7 million applications submitted, the upward trend reflects a continued post-pandemic recovery, although numbers remain below pre-COVID levels. Notably, Bulgaria and Romania began issuing Schengen visas on 31 March 2024, further integrating into the Schengen visa system.
The figures show inter alia that:
- In 2024, consulates across EU and Schengen associated countries received 11.7 million applications for short-stay visas—up 13.6% from 2023 and a significant 56% increase from 2022, but still below the 17 million applications recorded in 2019.
- Visa issuance also rose, with over 9.7 million visas granted—14.1% more than in 2023. More than half of the visas issued in 2024 permitted multiple entries. An additional 85.119 uniform visas were issued at external borders.
- The top five source countries for visa applications in 2024 were China, Türkiye, India, Morocco, and Russia. China alone accounted for over 1.77 million applications, an increase of more than 660.000 compared to the previous year.
- While the global visa refusal rate declined to 14.8% (from 16% in 2023), regional disparities remain. Refusal rates fell in countries such as Russia and Syria but rose in others, including Nigeria, Ecuador and Bangladesh.
For further details, please refer to the press release from the European Commission.