Netherlands Granted Most Schengen Visas to Turkish, Indian & Chinese Nationals in 2024

Turkish, Indian, and Chinese nationals led Schengen visa approvals from the Netherlands in 2024, while African applicants faced the highest rejection rates.

The Netherlands maintained its position as one of the most in-demand Schengen destinations in 2024, processing 728,656 visa applications, making it the sixth-largest recipient in the zone after France, Spain, Germany, Italy, and Greece, according to SchengenVisaInfo data cited by Schengen.News.

Despite geopolitical shifts and tighter scrutiny across Europe, the Netherlands continued to approve hundreds of thousands of visas, particularly for applicants from Asia and the Middle East.

Turkish Nationals Received the Most Dutch Visas in 2024

Visa approval data shows that Turkey topped the list of countries whose citizens were granted the most Schengen visas by the Netherlands:

Turkey – 84,240 visas (86.8% approval from 97,006 applications)

India – 75,727 visas (83.2% of 91,003 applications)

China – 70,203 visas (96.71% of 72,595 applications)

Indonesia – 51,103 visas (93.1% of 54,888 applications)

Philippines – 46,500 visas (95.77% of 48,556 applications)

Chinese nationals had the highest approval rate among these top five, suggesting a high confidence level from Dutch authorities in applicants from China.

Schengen States Processed 11.7 Million Applications in 2024

Across all 29 Schengen countries, the total number of visa applications reached 11.7 million in 2024 — a 17% year-on-year increase. The Netherlands' share (6.2%) underscores its status as a consistent entry point into Europe for travelers, business visitors, and family reunification cases.

African Applicants Faced Highest Rejection Rates in the Netherlands

While absolute rejection numbers were highest for large applicant countries such as:

India – 14,569 rejections

Morocco – 12,398

Turkey – 11,792

Ghana – 8,394

Egypt – 7,174

The highest rejection rates by percentage were concentrated among African nations:

Senegal – 81.05% rejection (4,478 of 5,525 applications)

Algeria – 63.4% (2,782 of 4,388)

Mali – 60.8% (2,600 of 4,275)

Ghana – 58% (8,394 of 14,466)

Uganda – 49.97% (1,662 of 3,326)

These figures reveal a pronounced disparity, raising concerns about asymmetric access and possible structural biases in the processing system.

Balancing Migration Control and Economic Interest

Analysts suggest that while the Netherlands remains open to high-demand business and tourism travel from countries like China, India, and Indonesia, it is also increasingly cautious about irregular migration, especially from lower-income regions of Africa.

The rejection trends may reflect both risk assessment frameworks and domestic political pressures surrounding migration and labor market access.

Conclusion: Netherlands Stays Popular but Scrutinized

The Netherlands is cementing its role as a key Schengen gateway for Asian countries with high visa approval rates, while also reinforcing migration control in African corridors. Visa data from 2024 reveals both strategic openness and selective tightening, a trend likely to continue as the EU recalibrates its migration policies.