Where Is It Easiest to Get a Schengen Visa in 2026: A Ranking of Countries

The Schengen visa rejection rate varies significantly depending on the country where the application is submitted. According to the latest statistics from the European Commission, in some countries, about 9 out of 10 applicants receive a positive decision. Learn more about the countries with the highest Schengen visa approval rates and the rules for choosing a consulate in 2026

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Statistically, it is easier to obtain a Schengen visa in 2026 in some countries than in others. According to data from the European Commission, in 2025, Schengen Area countries received over 12 million applications for short-term visas, and the average rejection rate was approximately 14.6%.

At the same time, there remains a significant difference between individual countries. In countries with the most favorable statistics, about 9 out of 10 applicants receive a positive decision, while in others, the rejection rate is significantly higher.

However, this ranking does not mean that an applicant can simply choose the consulate with the best statistics. According to Schengen Area rules, applications must be submitted to the country that is the main destination of the trip. Therefore, approval rate data should be used as a guideline rather than as a way to circumvent the application rules.

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In which countries is it easiest to obtain a Schengen visa in 2026?

According to the latest statistics from the European Commission, Slovakia recorded the lowest rejection rate in 2025. There, 9.63% of applications were rejected, meaning the vast majority of applicants received a positive decision. At the same time, Slovakia processed only about 18,000 applications, so this result should be evaluated in light of the relatively small volume.

The statistics for Italy are far more revealing. The country ranked second with a rejection rate of 11.33%, but its consulates received over 1 million applications. This means that the favorable rate was not based on a small sample but on one of the largest inflows of applicants in the Schengen Area.

The top ten countries with the lowest rejection rates are:

1. Slovakia – 9.63%

2. Italy – 11.33%

3. Romania – 11.48%

4. Austria – 11.90%

5. Latvia – 12.25%

6. Switzerland – 12.49%

7. Bulgaria – 12.50%

8. Hungary – 12.97%

9. Germany – 13.08%

10. Finland – 13.40%

Switzerland and Germany stand out in particular. The former processed over 600,000 applications, while the latter handled approximately 1.5 million. Despite the significant workload on the consulates, the refusal rate in these countries remained below the Schengen Area average, which stood at about 14.6%.

At the same time, the ranking itself should not be viewed as a list of “easy consulates.” A low rejection rate may depend on the applicants’ geographic location, the purpose of their trips, the quality of their documents, and the structure of the application flow itself. Therefore, for travelers, these statistics indicate a general trend rather than guaranteeing a specific outcome.

Another important conclusion is that major tourist destinations do not necessarily have the highest rejection rates. Italy and Germany are among the busiest destinations but still show relatively favorable statistics. This clearly shows that the decision depends not so much on the country’s popularity as on the specific application and whether the documents meet the consulate’s requirements.

In our previous article, we discussed countries you can visit with a U.S., U.K., or Schengen visa in 2026.

Why do rejection rates vary from country to country?

The difference in rates between individual countries does not mean that one consulate is “lenient” while another intentionally issues fewer visas. The statistics are primarily influenced by the composition of the applications: who is submitting the documents, for what purpose, from which country, and how convincingly the applicant can substantiate the circumstances of the trip.

This is clearly evident in pan-European data as well. In 2025, the average refusal rate for Schengen visas was 14.6%, but depending on the country from which the applications were submitted, the disparity was enormous. For example, for applicants from Russia, the rejection rate was only 6.4%; in Algeria, 31%; in Ethiopia, 34%; in Senegal, 51.9%; and in Burundi, 53.4%. These figures show that the outcome is influenced not only by the country issuing the visa but also by the profile of the specific applicant group.

When reviewing an application, the consulate evaluates a whole range of factors. Under EU rules, an applicant must confirm the purpose of the trip, their place of residence, sufficient financial means, health insurance, and their intention to leave the Schengen Area after the authorized period of stay has ended. The consulate may also request additional documents.

Grounds for refusal may include inconsistencies in the itinerary, insufficient financial resources, an unconvincing explanation of the purpose of the trip, doubts regarding the authenticity of the documents, or doubts regarding the applicant’s intention to return after the trip. This is precisely why two people applying to the same consulate during the same period may receive different decisions.

The scale of the consulates’ operations is also important. For example, a small country may have a very low refusal rate but process only a few tens of thousands of applications per year. In contrast, Italy or Germany handle volumes exceeding one million applications. Therefore, the raw percentage should be evaluated in conjunction with the number of applications and the geographic distribution of where they are submitted.

We previously discussed who is eligible for a long-term Schengen visa valid for more than 5 years and what requirements must be met.

How do you choose the right consulate to apply for a Schengen visa?

A high approval rate does not mean that an applicant can choose any consulate with favorable statistics. The country of application is determined by the itinerary and purpose of the trip, not by the chances of receiving a positive decision.

The basic rules are as follows:

1. Traveling to only one country. The application must be submitted to the consulate of that specific country.

2. Multiple countries with varying lengths of stay. You must apply to the country where you plan to spend the most time.

3. Multiple countries with the same length of stay. If it is impossible to determine the primary destination country, the application is submitted to the consulate of the country of first entry.

4. The trip must have a specific main purpose. For example, if the main reason for the trip is a conference, study program, or business meeting in one country, that country may be considered the primary destination even within a more complex itinerary.

5. Apply based on your actual place of residence. Typically, the applicant applies to the consulate with jurisdiction over the country where they legally reside.

For example, if the itinerary includes seven days in Italy and three days in France, the application is submitted to the Italian consulate. If, however, a tourist spends five days each in Germany and Austria and first crosses the German border, the German consulate will have jurisdiction.

Attempting to artificially alter the itinerary solely to apply to a country with a lower rejection rate is risky. If the reservations, tickets, itinerary, or actual purpose of the trip do not match the country where the application is submitted, the consulate may request additional explanations or question the validity of the application.

The current rules for selecting the competent consulate are described in detail on the official European Commission portal.

Learn more about the ranking of Schengen countries with the highest visa refusal rates by following the link.

What increases your chances of obtaining a Schengen visa?

Even in countries with low rejection rates, a positive decision is not automatic. The consulate evaluates not only the formal completeness of the documents but also how logical, consistent, and convincing the entire application appears.

The following factors are most important:

1. A clear and realistic itinerary. The travel dates, accommodation reservations, transportation, and the country where the application is filed must all align.

2. A confirmed purpose of travel. Whether for tourism, business, personal reasons, or another purpose, the reason must be clear from the documents and consistent with the itinerary.

3. Sufficient financial means. The applicant must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to cover living expenses, transportation, and other costs for the entire duration of the trip.

4. Valid reservations and accommodation confirmations. The consulate may verify that they correspond to the stated dates and itinerary.

5. Health insurance. The policy must meet Schengen Area requirements and cover the entire duration of the stay.

6. A consistent visa history. Previous trips without violations of the permitted length of stay can positively influence the applicant’s overall assessment.

7. No inconsistencies in the documents. Even minor discrepancies in dates, itinerary, financial documents, or the application form may raise additional questions.

Separately, the consulate assesses the risk that the applicant will not leave the Schengen Area after the trip ends. This is why stable employment, education, business, family circumstances, or other ties to the country of residence can be significant.

The best strategy is not to look for the “easiest” country to apply to, but to prepare your application so that it appears logical from the first page to the last. Even at consulates with high approval rates, poorly prepared documents remain the main reason for denials.

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We remind you! New economic indicators show which countries have been able to increase their GDP and which have lost ground due to inflation and slowing growth. Ranking of the richest countries in the world in 2026 — follow the link.

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