62% of All Schengen Visa Applications in 2024 Came From These 10 Countries

In 2024, Schengen states received over 11.7 million visa applications—up 13.4% from 2023, which saw 10.3 million applications. Notably, just ten countries accounted for 62.4% of the total, contributing more than 7.3 million applications collectively.

Top 10 Countries That Filed the Most Schengen Visa Applications in 2024

1. China
Chinese nationals submitted 1.7 million applications, marking a 59.2% increase from 2023. France remained the most popular destination, receiving 458,018 applications.

2. India
Indian applicants filed 1.18 million Schengen visa applications in 2024, up 14.6% from 966,687 in 2023. Switzerland was the top destination, with 217,373 applications.

3. Türkiye (Turkey)
Visa demand from Türkiye rose 11.1%, from 1.05 million to 1.1 million applications. Greece received the largest share—296,377 or 25.2%.

4. Morocco
Morocco recorded a 2.6% increase, submitting 606,800 applications. France remained the top destination, though applications to France dropped 8.9% from 2023.

5. Russia
Despite ongoing sanctions, Russian citizens submitted 606,594 applications, up 2.5%. Italy was the primary destination, with 161,401 applications.

6. Algeria
Algerians filed 544,634 applications—14.8% more than in 2023. France attracted 352,295 of those, up from 279,005 in the previous year.

7. Saudi Arabia
Visa applications from Saudi Arabia surged 17.8%, reaching 505,455. France accounted for 37.8% of all applications filed by Saudi nationals.

8. United Kingdom (non-EU residents)
Non-EU residents in the UK submitted 470,569 visa applications in 2024, a 5.7% increase. France remained the top choice, receiving 132,469 applications.

9. Thailand
Thai applicants submitted 265,243 Schengen visa applications—a slight 1.9% drop from 2023. Germany replaced Switzerland as the top destination.

10. United Arab Emirates (non-EU residents)
Foreign nationals residing in the UAE filed 260,229 applications, up from 233,932 in 2023. Germany was the preferred destination, accounting for 12.6%.

Application Trends & Insights

While application numbers surged overall, a few countries like Thailand saw a minor decline. However, most countries recorded double-digit growth, with Chinese demand showing the sharpest spike.

France continued to dominate as the top Schengen destination across multiple nationalities, particularly from China, Algeria, Morocco, and the UK. Germany and Switzerland also remained popular, especially among applicants from India, the UAE, and Thailand.