Schengen Visa Applications in 2024: Major Shifts in Country Rankings Revealed
The year 2024 saw significant changes in the landscape of Schengen visa applications, with several countries moving drastically up or down in global rankings. According to recent data from SchengenVisaInfo, Schengen states received 11.7 million visa applications, marking a 13.5% increase from the 10.3 million recorded in 2023.
This surge affected countries differently—while some climbed the rankings for most visa applications filed, others saw sharp declines due to visa liberalisation or geopolitical factors.
? Top 5 Countries with the Highest Climbs in Visa Application Rankings
1. France
Although French citizens don’t require a Schengen visa, foreign nationals living in France must apply if they’re from non-visa-exempt countries. France experienced the most dramatic climb—jumping 81 positions from 137th in 2023 to 56th in 2024. Visa applications skyrocketed from 164 in 2023 to 22,087 in 2024.
2. Sweden
Similar to France, Sweden saw a massive increase in applications submitted by foreign nationals living in the country. Sweden moved from 135th to 84th, with applications rising from 196 to 7,518.
3. Eritrea
Eritrea climbed 16 spots, from 104th in 2023 to 88th in 2024. Its citizens submitted 5,255 applications this year, up from 1,938 last year—a 171% increase.
4. Cape Verde
Visa applications from Cape Verde jumped by 43%, taking it from 61st in 2023 to 49th in 2024. The country filed 26,204 applications this year, compared to 18,341 in the previous year.
5. Central African Republic
With a 35.5% rise in visa applications (from 2,211 to 2,996), the Central African Republic advanced 10 positions, ranking 101st in 2024.
? Top 5 Countries with the Largest Drops in Visa Applications
1. Kosovo
Kosovo experienced the sharpest decline due to the visa liberalisation agreement that came into effect in 2024, allowing its citizens visa-free access to the Schengen Area. As a result, applications plummeted by 98.7%, from 120,573 in 2023 to just 1,499—dropping Kosovo from 21st to 115th place.
2. Sudan
Due to internal conflicts and instability, no data was available on Schengen visa applications from Sudan in 2024, despite 2,552 being submitted the previous year.
3. Bulgaria
Foreign residents in Bulgaria filed significantly fewer applications—dropping from 5,459 in 2023 to just 650 in 2024. This led to a 33-position drop, from 91st to 124th.
4. Romania
Romania fell 31 positions, from 86th in 2023 to 117th in 2024, as applications declined by 79%—from 6,053 to 1,292.
5. Greece
Visa demand in Greece decreased by 84%, pushing the country 29 places down in the rankings. Greece registered just 762 applications in 2024, compared to 4,894 in 2023.
Conclusion
The fluctuations in Schengen visa application rankings reflect shifting global mobility patterns influenced by visa policy changes, migration trends, and political factors. While some countries saw an influx of applications due to increased travel or residency by foreign nationals, others—like Kosovo—benefited from newly granted visa-free access, drastically reducing application numbers.
Source: SchengenVisaInfo
