Countries with the Biggest Changes in Schengen Visa Application Rankings in 2024
Schengen Visa Trends 2024: Countries with the Biggest Climbs and Declines in Application Rankings
In 2024, Schengen states recorded a total of 11.7 million visa applications, marking a 13.5% increase from 10.3 million in 2023. While overall applications have risen, a number of countries saw significant changes in their rankings based on the number of visa applications submitted — some rising sharply, others dropping notably.
? Countries with the Highest Climb in Schengen Visa Application Rankings (2024)
Several countries witnessed a dramatic increase in their Schengen visa application counts and ranking positions in 2024. Interestingly, many of these countries do not require Schengen visas for their own citizens, but the rise stems from foreign nationals residing within those countries.
1. France
- 2024 Rank: 56th | Applications: 22,087
- 2023 Rank: 137th | Applications: 164
- Change: ⬆️ 81 positions
Although French nationals do not require a Schengen visa, foreign nationals residing in France accounted for this surge.
2. Sweden
- 2024 Rank: 84th | Applications: 7,518
- 2023 Rank: 135th | Applications: 196
- Change: ⬆️ 51 positions
Foreign residents in Sweden significantly increased their visa requests in 2024.
3. Eritrea
- 2024 Rank: 88th | Applications: 5,255
- 2023 Rank: 104th | Applications: 3,317
- Change: ⬆️ 16 positions
Eritrean nationals, who need a Schengen visa, applied in much greater numbers in 2024.
4. Cape Verde
- 2024 Rank: 49th | Applications: 26,204
- 2023 Rank: 61st | Applications: 18,341
- Change: ⬆️ 12 positions
Visa applications surged by nearly 43%, showing stronger outbound mobility.
5. Central African Republic
- 2024 Rank: 101st | Applications: 2,996
- 2023 Rank: 111th | Applications: 2,211
- Change: ⬆️ 10 positions
An increase of 35.5% in visa applications helped this country climb 10 spots.
? Countries with the Steepest Declines in Schengen Visa Applications (2024)
While many countries gained ground, others saw sharp drops due to changing policies, conflicts, or visa liberalisation agreements.
1. Kosovo
- 2024 Rank: 115th | Applications: 1,499
- 2023 Rank: 21st | Applications: 120,573
- Change: ⬇️ 94 positions
Due to the implementation of visa-free access to the Schengen Area in 2024, applications dropped by 98.7%. Remaining applications were largely filed by non-Kosovar passport holders residing in Kosovo.
2. Sudan
- 2024 Rank: No data available
- 2023 Rank: Noted | Applications: 2,552
Due to ongoing conflict and instability, Sudanese applications were not recorded in 2024.
3. Bulgaria
- 2024 Rank: 124th | Applications: 650
- 2023 Rank: 91st | Applications: 5,459
- Change: ⬇️ 33 positions | Drop: 88%
As EU citizens do not require Schengen visas, only foreign residents applied — in notably lower numbers.
4. Romania
- 2024 Rank: 117th | Applications: 1,292
- 2023 Rank: 86th | Applications: 6,053
- Change: ⬇️ 31 positions | Drop: 79%
Romania experienced a significant drop in visa demand in 2024.
5. Greece
- 2024 Rank: 123rd | Applications: 762
- 2023 Rank: 94th | Applications: 4,894
- Change: ⬇️ 29 positions | Drop: 84%
Greece also saw a steep decline in visa requests, contributing to a drop in global ranking.
Conclusion
The 2024 Schengen visa trends reveal a dynamic shift in global mobility patterns. While France, Sweden, and Cape Verde saw unexpected spikes in application volumes, others like Kosovo and Romania saw drastic declines due to liberalisation and regional factors. These movements highlight how policy changes and global events continue to shape migration and travel dynamics across Europe.
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