- Business Insider Africa presents the top 10 African countries with the highest Schengen visa rejection.
- The list is courtesy of the European Commission.
- Countries that submit fewer visa applications often face disproportionately higher rejection rates.
In 2024, African countries faced significant hurdles in obtaining Schengen visas, with several nations recording some of the highest rejection rates globally.
Top 10 African countries with the highest Schengen visa rejection
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In 2024, African countries faced significant hurdles in obtaining Schengen visas, with several nations recording some of the highest rejection rates globally.
These refusal rates not only restrict travel and business opportunities but also lead to considerable financial losses due to non-refundable application fees.
According to data from European Commission, countries that submit fewer visa applications often face disproportionately higher rejection rates, leaving many African travellers uncertain and in limbo.
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Several factors drive these outcomes, including stringent documentation requirements, limited access to reliable financial records, and perceptions of high immigration risk.
Structural issues such as limited consular presence and a lack of transparency in the application process further compound the difficulties for African applicants.
A separate report by Henley & Partners highlighted that African applicants face rejection rates significantly higher than those of their Asian or global counterparts.
In 2023, despite submitting half as many applications as Asian countries, African applicants were twice as likely to be denied, facing rejection rates 14 percentage points higher on average.
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Notably, six of the ten countries with the highest Schengen visa rejection rates are African. Leading the list is Comoros with a staggering 61.3% rejection rate, followed by Guinea-Bissau (51%), Ghana (47.5%), Mali (46.1%), Sudan (42.3%), and Senegal (41.2%).
Below are the top 10 African countries with the highest Schengen visa rejection:
| Rank | Country | Rejection rates |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Comoros | 62.8% |
| 2 | Guinea-Bissau | 47.0% |
| 3 | Senegal | 46.8% |
| 4 | Nigeria | 45.9% |
| 5 | Ghana | 45.5% |
| 6 | Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) | 43.0% |
| 7 | Mali | 42.9% |
| 8 | Guinea | 41.1% |
| 9 | Burundi | 40.0% |
| 10 | Ethiopia | 36.1% |
