France: Top Schengen Visa Destination for 51 Nationalities in 2024

France has once again emerged as the leading Schengen visa destination in 2024, attracting more visa applications than any other Schengen member state. It continues to dominate the preferences of travelers from dozens of countries, solidifying its status as the most sought-after entry point into the Schengen Area.

France Receives the Most Applications from 32 Nationalities

According to official 2024 data, nationals from the following 32 countries submitted the highest share of their Schengen visa applications to France:

• China – 1,779,255 total applications; 458,018 (25.7%) for France
• Morocco – 606,800 total; 282,153 (46.5%) for France
• Algeria – 544,634 total; 352,295 (64.7%) for France
• Ivory Coast – 77,385 total; 62,786 (81.1%) for France
• Saudi Arabia – 505,455 total; 191,388 (37.8%) for France
• Tunisia – 177,951 total; 106,617 (59.9%) for France
• Nigeria – 111,201 total; 55,833 (50.2%) for France
• Sri Lanka – 25,721 total; 9,555 (37.1%) for France
• Haiti – 4,614 total; 3,661 (79.3%) for France
• Gabon – 18,395 total; 16,913 (91.9%) for France
• Guinea – 17,887 total; 14,000 (78.2%) for France
• Qatar – 105,290 total; 24,274 (23.1%) for France
• South Africa – 193,768 total; 30,304 (15.6%) for France
• Benin – 15,148 total; 13,801 (91.1%) for France
• Togo – 9,113 total; 8,240 (90.4%) for France
• Vietnam – 110,093 total; 43,999 (39.9%) for France
• Cameroon – 51,679 total; 31,349 (60.6%) for France
• Madagascar – 16,618 total; 15,423 (92.8%) for France
• Cambodia – 13,871 total; 10,498 (75.6%) for France
• Lebanon – 115,890 total; 49,096 (42.3%) for France
• Kuwait – 170,754 total; 35,023 (20.5%) for France
• Senegal – 72,412 total; 36,323 (50.1%) for France
• Zimbabwe – 8,288 total; 2,199 (26.5%) for France
• Chad, Djibouti, Central African Republic, Comoros, Vanuatu – 100% of applications filed to France
• Congo – 25,774 total; 24,291 (94.2%) for France
• Iraq – 65,944 total; 19,617 (29.7%) for France
• Azerbaijan – 90,634 total; 23,708 (26.1%) for France

France Preferred by Foreign Residents in Visa-Exempt Countries

In addition to traditional visa-requiring countries, many foreign nationals residing in visa-exempt countries also chose France as their primary destination for Schengen visa applications in 2024:

• United Kingdom – 470,569 total; 132,469 (28.1%) for France
• Malaysia – 6,113 total; 1,741 (28.4%) for France
• Mauritius, Saint Lucia – 100% of applications filed to France
• Taiwan – 1,540 total; 395 (25.6%) for France
• Spain – 367 total; 229 (62.3%) for France
• Japan – 14,698 total; 4,003 (27.2%) for France
• Ireland – 27,761 total; 5,415 (19.5%) for France
• Singapore – 38,188 total; 9,450 (24.7%) for France
• Brazil – 2,083 total; 432 (20.7%) for France
• Switzerland – 120 total; 34 (28.3%) for France
• Canada – 42,265 total; 14,520 (34.3%) for France
• South Korea – 4,362 total; 707 (16.2%) for France
• Norway – 16 total; 10 (62.5%) for France
• Malta – 19 total; 9 (47.3%) for France
• Belgium – 89 total; 40 (44.9%) for France
• Romania – 1,292 total; 329 (25.4%) for France
• Hong Kong – 13,345 total; 3,912 (29.3%) for France
• USA – 201,602 total; 61,152 (30.3%) for France

France’s Strong Appeal

France’s cultural richness, economic opportunities, and world-class infrastructure make it a favored destination among global travelers. The numbers from 2024 affirm that, across continents and nationalities, France remains a top gateway to Europe.