Nigerian Travellers Face Rising Schengen Visa Rejection Rates: Report

Discover why Nigerians are facing significant Schengen visa rejection rates, with over 40% of applications denied. Explore the reasons behind this trend and its impact on global mobility.

Nigerian Travellers Struggle with High Schengen Visa Rejection Rates

A recent report highlights a growing challenge for Nigerian travellers seeking entry into Schengen nations. According to the Henley Global Mobility Report for January 2025, 40.8% of Schengen visa applications submitted by Nigerians in 2024 were rejected. Out of 105,926 applications, a staggering 42,940 were denied.

This significant rejection rate places Nigeria among the top 20 countries with the highest visa denial rates globally, ranking 11th on the list. The trend has been largely attributed to economic hardship, passport ranking, and identity-based visa policies.

Why Nigerians Are Facing Increased Rejection Rates

Migration has long been a part of the Nigerian middle-class identity, but the surge in migration over the last four years is unprecedented. The country’s economic struggles, including a record-breaking inflation rate of 34.6% in November 2024, have exacerbated unemployment and a lack of opportunities. As a result, thousands of Nigerians are pursuing better prospects abroad.

Nigeria’s passport currently ranks 94th globally in terms of strength, contributing to higher visa rejection rates. The report revealed that identity-based visa policies have doubled rejection rates over the past decade, creating obstacles for Nigerians and other Africans seeking economic mobility.

Schengen Visa Rejections in Africa and Beyond

Nigerians are not alone in facing high rejection rates. African nations collectively experience significantly higher denial rates than other continents. Six out of the top 10 countries with the highest Schengen visa rejection rates are African:

Comoros: 61.3%
Guinea-Bissau: 51%
Ghana: 47.5%
Mali: 46.1%
Sudan: 42.3%
Senegal: 41.2%

Asian countries such as Pakistan (49.6%), Syria (46%), and Bangladesh (43.3%) also feature prominently on the list. Even Greece, a European Union member, has a rejection rate of 56.4%, the second-highest globally.

While Africa accounts for only 2.8% of global Schengen visa applications, applicants face a rejection rate of 44.8%, underscoring the continent’s disproportionate barriers to mobility.

Global Mobility Divide Widening

Professor Mehari Maru from the European University Institute emphasizes the widening gap in global mobility. While the number of visa-free destinations has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2025, the disparity between the most and least mobile nations continues to grow.

In 2023, African applicants faced a rejection rate 14 percentage points higher than their Asian counterparts, despite submitting only half as many applications. This trend underscores the need for more equitable mobility policies.

Conclusion

The high Schengen visa rejection rates for Nigerians reflect broader global challenges surrounding economic mobility and passport power. Addressing these barriers requires concerted efforts to create fairer policies that enable individuals from less mobile nations to access opportunities abroad.