Schengen Visa Rankings See Major Shifts in 2024: Winners and Losers Revealed

The Schengen Zone remains one of the world’s most coveted travel destinations. Recent data confirms this: in 2024, Schengen member states received 11.7 million visa applications — a 13.5% increase from 2023’s 10.3 million.

But these numbers hide a story of major reshuffling in the rankings of countries submitting applications. Some nations surged up the charts, while others fell dramatically.

Countries Leading the Growth in Schengen Visa Applications

While overall demand rose, a few countries stood out for massive increases in visa submissions. Here’s the top 5:

France

Interestingly, French citizens don’t require a Schengen visa. However, foreign nationals living in France filed around 22,087 visa applications in 2024. That’s a staggering leap from just 164 applications in 2023, propelling France from 137th to 56th place in the rankings — an 81-position jump.

Sweden

Similarly, Sweden saw foreign residents submitting 7,518 applications, rising to 84th place from 135th the previous year, when just 196 applications were filed.

Eritrea

Eritrea advanced 16 spots, moving from 104th to 88th place. Eritreans filed 5,255 applications in 2024 — 3,317 more than in 2023.

Cape Verde

Cape Verde rose from 61st to 49th place, with visa applications growing from 18,341 to 26,204 — a nearly 43% increase.

Central African Republic

The Central African Republic submitted 2,996 applications in 2024, a 35.5% rise over 2023’s 2,211 applications, climbing from 111th to 101st place.

Countries Plummeting in Schengen Visa Rankings

While countries like France and Sweden posted gains, others faced sharp declines.

Kosovo

Kosovo saw the most significant drop, plunging from 21st to 115th place. Following visa liberalization, applications collapsed by 98.7% — from 120,573 in 2023 to just 1,499 in 2024.

Sudan

Due to ongoing conflict, no data was available for Sudan in 2024. In 2023, Sudanese citizens filed 2,552 applications.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria fell 33 places. While Bulgarians don’t need Schengen visas, foreign residents there submitted only 650 applications in 2024, down from 5,459 the year before — an 88% drop.

Romania

Romania dropped 31 positions. Applications fell from 6,053 in 2023 to just 1,292 in 2024 — a nearly 79% decline.

Greece

Greece experienced an 84% fall in applications, dropping from 4,894 in 2023 to just 762 in 2024, moving from 94th to 123rd place.

What Does This Mean for Travelers and Investors?

These shifts largely stem from changes in visa rules and geopolitical events. Visa-free travel for Kosovo slashed applications, while Sudan’s conflict halted the process entirely.

Meanwhile, countries with growing immigrant communities, like France and Sweden, saw soaring numbers from foreign residents seeking Schengen access.

The Schengen Zone remains popular but faces increasing regulatory and political pressures, shaping visa demand in unexpected ways.