Schengen Visa Rejections: Governments Profiting from Denied Applications

Key Points:

1. Many applicants, especially from Pakistan, have faced significant financial losses during their unsuccessful Schengen visa application attempts. 

2. The applicants' total financial loss amounts to £5.3 million for UK visa rejections and €3.344 million for Schengen visa rejections in 2023.

3. The European Union governments have amassed around €130 million on an annual basis from the Schengen visa rejections. This has helped the authorities create a substantial amount of income through visa denials.

4. Marta Foresti of Lago Collective have underlined the inequality citizens from less privileged nations face due to the set visa regimes. 

5. The visa application fees for the Schengen countries and the UK are set to increase in 2024 from £80- £90 to £100 - £120.

In the recent Schengen visa news, it was released that the United Kingdom and Schengen countries have collected millions in fees from the Schengen visa rejection. This includes Pakistani Schengen visa applications being rejected in a large number. According to the findings, Pakistani applicants spent over £5.3 million on UK and Schengen visa applications in 2023, which were later unsuccessful. Nearly 40 per cent of the total applicants faced rejection. Half of the applicants were turned down for their Schengen visa application while they spent €3.344 million on unsuccessful applications.

According to Lago Collective’s collaborative analysis with EUobserver, the EU governments have generated substantial revenue because of Schengen visa rejection on a large scale. This has helped the EU government collect €130 million on an annual basis only through visa denials, which are also termed ‘reverse remittances’. The co-founder of Lago Collective, Marta Foresti, has emphasised how citizens from less privileged countries face this financial burden disproportionately. Foresti also advocates for a reassessment of those costs based on the financial capability of the citizens of a particular country.

“The disparity in the visa regimes is striking.” - Marta Foresti, Co-founder, Lago Collective

The above statement was mentioned in the latest LSE blogs. As Foresti highlights, there is a huge disparity between countries and their citizens applying for Schengen visas. He highlights how an Italian citizen can easily obtain a visa on arrival in Sierra Leone for £30. However, a person from a less privileged country like Sierra Leone faces an expensive amount and has to follow an extensive process to travel to Europe. Schengen visa rejection reasons constitute another intricate aspect to delve into.

However, even after gaining huge amounts of money through Schengen visa rejection, the EU governments plan to increase the Schengen visa application costs from £80- £90 to £100 - £120 in 2024. Additionally, the UK, which has already raised £44 million in non-refundable rejected fees, will see its visa application fee increase from £100 to £120. These fee hikes, coupled with heightened migration restrictions in various European countries amidst ongoing elections, are likely to exacerbate the issue of rejected visas.

The disclosed Schengen visa application cost is only a fraction of the amount that an applicant bears to travel to Europe mentions Foresti. They usually incur more expenses than this as they hire private agencies and brokers, and then they have to pay the entire cost of the Schengen visa application. Moreover, the inability to travel for business and leisure results in significant losses for all parties involved.

TL;DR

Many applicants, especially from countries like Pakistan, have faced a higher Schengen visa rejection while incurring the entire Schengen visa application cost. Although the EU governments have earned £5.3 million for UK visa rejections and €3.344 million for Schengen visa rejections. This issue underscores the inequality faced by citizens from less privileged nations within prevailing visa regimes, as highlighted by Marta Foresti of Lago Collective. 

European Union governments have notably profited from these visa denials, accumulating around €130 million annually. Moreover, the forthcoming increase in visa application fees for Schengen countries and the UK, slated for 2024, further exacerbates financial burdens on applicants, with fees set to rise from £80-£90 to £100-£120. This combination of financial strain and systemic inequality underscores the pressing need for reform in visa policies to promote fairness and accessibility.