The summer vacation season is in full swing, so it's time to apply for a Schengen visa to travel around Europe. Find out more about the easiest and most difficult countries to get a Schengen visa in

You should start the process of applying for a Schengen visa a few weeks before your planned trip. This depends on the availability of seats at the embassy or visa center of the Schengen country you plan to visit. It is important to note that sometimes even making an appointment can take months, especially in countries with a high volume of Schengen visa applications.

The first step is to make an appointment, which can take quite a while. In some cases, the wait can last several months. After making an appointment, travelers have to wait several weeks until the day of submission of documents. After submitting the documents, the application usually takes about two to three weeks to be processed. All this time, travelers are waiting for their passports to be returned with the hope of a positive response.

This process requires advance planning and preparation, as delays can affect your plans. Always consider the possibility of delays when planning your trip and try to apply as soon as possible after your travel plans become concrete. This will help to avoid unforeseen complications and ensure that you receive your Schengen visa on time.

Which countries have the highest chances of obtaining a Schengen visa?

The data of the Schengen visa statistics for 2023 allowed us to determine the top ten easiest countries to obtain a Schengen visa for the summer of 2024:

1. Iceland - 2.2% of refusals;

2. Switzerland - 10.7% of refusals;

3. Latvia - 11.7% of refusals;

4. Italy - 12% of refusals;

5. Luxembourg - 12.7% of refusals;

6. Lithuania - 12.8% of refusals;

7. Slovakia - 12.9% of refusals;

8. Germany - 14.3% of refusals;

9. Austria - 14.3% of refusals;

10. Greece - 14.7% of refusals.

If you want to visit any of the EU member states, apply for a visa at the visa centers of one of these ten countries. You can always visit other countries with the same Schengen visa. Just make sure that the country that issued the visa will be your main destination.

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Which countries have the highest Schengen visa refusal rates?

For those who are planning to get a Schengen visa this summer, it is important to consider the countries with a high refusal rate. For example, Malta is known for its strict approach, having rejected 37.65% of applications in 2023. Thus, you should avoid applying to the consulates of this country.

Estonia is second on the list of countries with a high rejection rate, having rejected 33.1% of applications in 2023. It is followed by Belgium with a rate of 26.5%. Sweden and Croatia also have a significant percentage of rejections - 23.1% and 20%, respectively.

On average, in 2023, 54.2% of Schengen visa applications were rejected among the member states. Therefore, to increase the chances of successfully obtaining a visa, you should choose countries with a lower refusal rate and carefully prepare the necessary documents.

Thus, the easiest Schengen visas for the summer of 2024 are issued by Iceland, Switzerland, Latvia, and Italy. These countries have a lower refusal rate, which reduces the applicant's chances of receiving a negative response to their application. Malta, Estonia, and Belgium are the worst countries in the world to obtain a Schengen visa due to their high refusal rate.

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Daria Rogova, Head of Insurance at Visit World

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Travel guide for 200 countries;

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