The Schengen Area issued 10,265,942 uniform short-stay visas through its consulates in 2025, marking a 5.2% increase compared to 2024, according to the latest official statistics published by the European Commission. While visa issuance continued its post-pandemic recovery, overall numbers remained 31.6% below the 15 million visas issued in 2019, before COVID-19 disrupted global travel.
The latest figures show steady growth in international travel demand, stronger visa processing capacity, and a slight improvement in approval rates across the Schengen Area.
Schengen Visa Issuance Continues Upward Trend
According to the European Commission, Schengen countries issued the following:
| Visa Category | Number Issued |
| Uniform short-stay visas issued through consulates | 10,265,942 |
| Multiple-entry visas (MEVs) | 5,303,749 |
| Limited Territorial Validity (LTV) visas | 39,798 |
| Uniform visas issued at external borders | 83,790 |
| Total uniform visas (consulates + borders) | 10,349,732 |
The headline figure of 10.26 million refers specifically to uniform visas issued through Schengen consulates, while border-issued visas and Limited Territorial Validity (LTV) visas are reported separately.
China, Türkiye and India Were the Largest Visa Markets
China remained the world’s largest Schengen visa market in 2025, with more than 1.82 million visas issued, followed by Türkiye and India.
| Rank | Country Where Application Was Lodged | Uniform Visas Issued | Refusal Rate |
| 1 | China | 1,827,866 | 4.0% |
| 2 | Türkiye | 1,072,054 | 14.6% |
| 3 | India | 966,529 | 15.8% |
| 4 | Russian Federation | 618,806 | 6.4% |
| 5 | Saudi Arabia | 521,087 | 5.2% |
China, Türkiye, and India were the only three consular markets where more than 900,000 visas were issued.
Saudi Arabia also stood out for its exceptionally high share of multiple-entry visas, with around 92.5% of issued visas allowing repeated travel within the Schengen Area.
France Issued the Highest Number of Schengen Visas
France retained its position as the largest Schengen visa issuer in 2025, accounting for more than one-quarter of all visas issued worldwide.
| Rank | Schengen Country | Uniform Visas Issued | Refusal Rate |
| 1 | France | 2,646,866 | 14.2% |
| 2 | Spain | 1,396,760 | 14.6% |
| 3 | Germany | 1,288,597 | 13.1% |
| 4 | Italy | 1,182,665 | 10.8% |
| 5 | Netherlands | 607,324 | 17.7% |
Together, France, Spain, Germany, and Italy issued over 6.5 million visas, representing approximately 63.5% of all uniform Schengen visas granted globally.
Germany Led in Multiple-Entry Visas
More than half of all Schengen visas issued in 2025 allowed multiple entries.
Out of 10.26 million uniform visas, 5.3 million (51.7%) were multiple-entry visas.
Germany led all Schengen countries, with 89.1% of its issued visas allowing multiple entries, followed by:
- Germany – 89.1%
- Croatia – 77.7%
- Belgium – 71.8%
- Switzerland – 66.7%
- Netherlands – 62.5%
- Italy – 60.7%
Although France issued the highest number of visas overall, it granted multiple-entry visas in 38.1% of successful applications.
Global Refusal Rate Declined Slightly
The worldwide Schengen visa refusal rate improved modestly in 2025.
- 2024: 14.8%
- 2025: 14.6%
A total of 1,768,605 visa applications were refused during the year.
Some countries recorded notable improvements:
- Russian Federation: 6.4% (down from 7.5%)
- Algeria: 31.3% (down from 35%)
- Ethiopia: 34% (down from 36.1%)
However, refusal rates increased significantly in several countries, including Senegal, Burundi, Cape Verde, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Border-Issued Visas Declined
Schengen countries issued 83,790 visas at external border crossing points in 2025, a slight decline from 85,118 in 2024.
The largest border issuers were the following:
- Spain – 27,007
- Netherlands – 13,994
- Italy – 9,036
- Germany – 8,512
- Greece – 7,001
Despite these numbers, more than 99% of Schengen visas continued to be issued through consulates, highlighting that border-issued visas remain relatively uncommon.
Recovery Continues but Pre-Pandemic Levels Remain Unreached
A total of 12.2 million short-stay visa applications were submitted in 2025, representing the following:
- 4.3% growth compared to 2024
- 18.5% growth compared to 2023
While visa issuance increased by more than half a million compared with the previous year, it remains approximately 4.7 million visas below 2019 levels, indicating that international travel demand continues to recover but has not yet fully returned to its pre-pandemic peak.
What This Means for Travellers
The latest figures suggest continued normalization of Schengen travel following the pandemic. Applicants from major markets such as China, Türkiye, and India continue to drive visa demand, while countries like Germany remain more likely to issue multiple-entry visas. At the same time, a modest decline in the global refusal rate indicates a slightly more favorable approval environment, though outcomes continue to vary by country of application and destination.
Sources
- European Commission – https://commission.europa.eu/index_en
