Schengen states reject 43,000 Russian visa applications in 2025

Schengen states’ embassies and consulates refused visa applications from 43,000 Russian citizens in 2025, with total financial losses exceeding €4.5 million, according to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR).

The association said the rejection rate has been declining for the third consecutive year, but applicants’ financial losses remain significant, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

“Russians may have lost around €3.6–3.7 million in consular fees alone, and over €4.5 million including visa centre service fees,” the statement noted.

Data from the European Commission shows that Schengen consulates processed 679,400 applications from Russian citizens in 2025, up 12% from 606,600 in 2024.

A total of 618,800 applications were approved, while nearly 43,000 were rejected. The rejection rate continued to decline, from 10.6% in 2023 to 7.5% in 2024 and 6.3% in 2025.

The highest rejection rates in 2025 were recorded among applicants from Bangladesh (54.5%), Senegal (51.9%), Nigeria (47.8%), Pakistan (46%), and Angola (45.4%), the association added.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov