This Schengen Consulate Issued the Most Visas in 2023

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In 2023, the Swiss consulate in New Delhi emerged as the top Schengen visa-issuing authority in the world, according to newly released data from the EU’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs.

The Swiss consulate in the Indian capital processed a staggering 186,646 visa applications last year — and approved 166,919 of them, marking an impressive approval rate of 88%. Even more striking is the fact that 98.5% of those visas were multiple-entry, reflecting Switzerland's increasing engagement with Indian travelers, professionals, and tourists.

Top Schengen Visa Issuers in 2023

While New Delhi took the top spot, other consulates also processed high volumes of applications. The French consulate in Rabat, Morocco, issued 127,724 visas out of 146,998 applications, coming in second.

Greece’s consulate in Istanbul followed closely with 124,894 approvals from 152,778 requests. The French consulate in London ranked fourth with 123,880 approved visas, while the Italian consulate in Moscow issued 116,189 visas from 122,970 applications — rounding out the top five.

Top 10 Consulates by Number of Visa Applications in 2023:
Switzerland – New Delhi (India): 186,646 applications
Greece – Istanbul (Türkiye): 152,778 applications
France – Algiers (Algeria): 152,411 applications
France – Rabat (Morocco): 146,998 applications
Germany – Istanbul (Türkiye): 139,661 applications
France – London (UK): 130,181 applications
Italy – Moscow (Russia): 122,970 applications
Germany – Mumbai (India): 113,177 applications
France – Moscow (Russia): 111,128 applications
Spain – Moscow (Russia): 107,193 applications

Who's Applying the Most?

According to data from SchengenVisaInfo, citizens from China, Türkiye, India, Morocco, and Russia submitted the highest number of Schengen visa applications in 2023. On the other hand, the countries receiving the most applications were France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands — continuing their dominance as Europe’s top destinations for travel, tourism, education, and business.

Why This Matters

The high volume of visa applications highlights Europe’s growing connectivity with emerging markets. Indian travelers, in particular, continue to fuel tourism and business links with the EU — and Switzerland’s top rank reflects its popularity as a destination for both leisure and high-skilled mobility.

As visa policies evolve and demand surges, applicants should keep track of approval rates, appointment availability, and preferred consulates to optimize their chances.