EU
Schengen Visa from South Africa — Trends
The Schengen visa refusal rate for ZA nationals was 5.7% in 2024, compared to 1.1% in 2010. Aggregated across all Schengen states, 194,751 applications were processed in 2024.
Verified from European Commission · 2010–2024 historical data
2024 Refusal Rate
5.7%
1.1%
2010 Rate
15
Years of Data
↑ 4.6pp
Change (2010–2024)
Year-over-Year Statistics
| Year | Applications | Issued | Refused | Refusal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 167,930 | 165,563 | 1,926 | 1.1% |
| 2011 | 184,618 | 182,054 | 1,860 | 1.0% |
| 2012 | 182,257 | 180,174 | 1,627 | 0.9% |
| 2013 | 184,232 | 179,462 | 2,420 | 1.3% |
| 2014 | 175,127 | 171,475 | 2,459 | 1.4% |
| 2015 | 192,469 | 187,360 | 2,847 | 1.5% |
| 2016 | 174,191 | 169,504 | 2,899 | 1.7% |
| 2017 | 212,225 | 205,874 | 4,272 | 2.0% |
| 2018 | 228,073 | 220,578 | 5,403 | 2.4% |
| 2019 | 232,904 | 223,863 | 7,388 | 3.2% |
| 2020 | 35,243 | 32,288 | 2,127 | 6.2% |
| 2021 | 26,380 | 23,680 | 1,475 | 5.9% |
| 2022 | 171,142 | 160,426 | 8,644 | 5.1% |
| 2023 | 206,643 | 195,162 | 9,711 | 4.7% |
| 2024 | 194,751 | 181,367 | 10,937 | 5.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Schengen visa refusal rate trend for ZA nationals?
The Schengen visa refusal rate for ZA nationals was 5.7% in 2024, compared to 1.1% in 2010. Aggregated across all Schengen states, 194,751 applications were processed in 2024.
How has Schengen visa demand from South Africa changed over time?
In 2010, 167,930 Schengen visa applications were made from South Africa. By 2024, this grew to 194,751 applications.
Source: WaitVisa.com — European Commission