Traveling from non-EU countries to the Schengen area requires securing a visa, a process that often feels challenging for many Nigerians. Navigating this application journey can be daunting, especially with varying requirements across the 27 member countries, each with unique standards for visa approval.

Interestingly, not all Schengen embassies have the same approach—some enforce stricter measures than others. Data from Schengen Visa Info reveals that countries processing fewer applications tend to have higher rejection rates, leaving prospective travelers uncertain about their chances.

This inconsistency has caused frustration for Nigerians who aim to travel to Europe for business, education, or leisure. In 2023, several countries stood out due to their notably high rejection rates, posing additional hurdles for applicants.

Malta
In 2023, Malta had the highest rejection rate among Schengen nations, rejecting 37.6% of its 33,306 visa applications. Algerian applicants faced a particularly high rejection rate of 90.35%, followed closely by applicants from Ghana and Morocco, who saw rejection rates of 62.69% and 60.37%, respectively.

Estonia
Estonia turned down 61.4% of its Schengen visa applications, resulting in 4,347 denials. Egyptian applicants faced the highest rate of rejection (59.5%), while UAE and Indian nationals also experienced significant challenges, with rejection rates of 57.9% and 49.7%. In contrast, Chinese applicants saw a much lower rejection rate of 7.3%.

Belgium
Belgium’s rejection rate stood at 26.6%, making it the third toughest Schengen country. Of the 225,951 applications, 60,148 were denied, with Senegalese, Angolan, and Nigerian applicants facing rejection rates of 67.8%, 66.44%, and 62.45%, respectively.

Sweden
With a 23.1% rejection rate, Sweden denied around 60,148 visa requests in 2023. Iranian applicants encountered the highest rate of 76.65%, while Pakistani and Lebanese applicants followed closely with rejection rates of 69.49% and 66.21%.

Denmark
Denmark processed 107,872 visa applications, rejecting 21.2% (21,509 applications). Moroccan applicants faced a 100% rejection rate, albeit only two applications were filed. Iranians and Pakistanis again ranked among the most affected, with rejection rates of 76.65% and 69.49%.

These figures underscore the complexity of the Schengen visa process, with Malta, Estonia, Belgium, Sweden, and Denmark ranking as some of the most challenging countries for visa approvals in 2023