Keypoints:
- Africa lost $68m to Schengen visa denials in 2024
- Algeria, Morocco and Nigeria led in rejections
- EU raised $165m globally from rejected visas
AFRICA’S hopes for easier access to Europe were met with financial frustration in 2024, as forty-five African countries lost a combined $68 million due to rejected Schengen visa applications, according to a detailed analysis by TRT Afrika of the 2024 State of Schengen Report.
The figure accounts for 41 percent of the total €145 million ($165 million) collected globally by European Union states from non-refundable Schengen visa fees—despite the majority of these applications never being approved.
Algeria topped the rejection chart on the continent, losing nearly $18 million after 185,000 of its 529,000 visa applications were turned down. Morocco ($11 million), Egypt ($5 million), Nigeria ($4.9 million) and Tunisia ($3.7 million) rounded out the top five.
Despite having one of the continent’s largest volumes of applications, Nigeria’s nearly 46 percent rejection rate meant the country paid heavily. Ghana lost $2.4 million from 25,000 rejected applications, while Kenya forfeited $1.8 million and South Africa $1.1 million.
At the other end of the spectrum, Liberia had only one visa rejection out of 123 applications, making it the least affected African country. Mauritius and São Tomé and Príncipe also recorded under 100 rejections each.
Across the board, nearly 2.6 million visa requests were submitted by African nationals in 2024, of which over 700,000 were denied—meaning the continent accounted for roughly 22% of global Schengen visa rejections.
Schengen visa applications cost €90 ($100) per adult and €45 ($50) for children aged 6 to 12. These fees are non-refundable, regardless of the outcome, a policy that has drawn criticism in African civil society and diplomatic circles.
The European Commission defends the rejections, citing standard reasons including lack of sufficient funds, incomplete documentation, questionable travel intentions, and unverifiable accommodation claims.
Visa processing times vary, typically taking between 15 and 45 days.
The analysis also revealed that the EU’s financial gains from African visa rejections rose by $14 million compared to 2023, when the continent’s total stood at $54 million.
A Schengen visa grants access to 29 countries, including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands, for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
Critics argue that Africa’s growing middle class is being unfairly penalised through a visa system that disproportionately rejects applicants while profiting from their fees.
As Europe continues to weigh tighter border policies, the mounting cost of simply being denied entry has added another layer of frustration for millions of Africans attempting to engage with the EU—whether for education, business, or tourism.
