Africans lost over $70-million in rejected Schengen visa fees in 2024. Nigerians were hit hardest, with 45.3% of applications denied, followed closely by Ghanaian applicants at 44.5%.

A Schengen visa, which allows short stays in 29 European countries, costs €90 (around R1,800) and is non-refundable.

Data from the European Commission shows that there were 111,201 applications by Nigerians for Schengen visas in 2024, and only 58,808 of those were granted. That means that over $5-million was spent (and lost) by Nigerians whose visa applications were turned down.

South Africans fared much better, only 5.6% of the 193,768 applications were rejected. Still, that translates to over $1-million (or R19.7-million) in lost fees. People travelling from the United States and China had 4% and 4.5% of their Schengen visas rejected.

The average rejection rate for Schengen visas for all countries is 16.9% while the rejection rate for African applications is 27%.