Schengen Visa Refusal Rates for South Africans
What the European Commission's published figures actually say about how often South African applications are refused, and how that has changed since 2019.
South Africans do well, and it is getting harder
Both things are true, and most coverage only reports one of them. At 5.3%, applications made in South Africa are refused at roughly a third of the global rate of 14.6%. On that measure a South African passport is a strong one to apply with.
But the rate was 3.3% in 2019. It has risen by about 61% in six years, and on 195 946 applications a 5.3% rate means in the order of 10 385 refusals in 2025 alone. The consulate fee is not refunded, the appointment is gone, and any non-refundable travel booked around it is at risk.
So the useful way to read this is not "will I be refused" but "am I in the 5.3%". That is decided almost entirely by the quality of the file you submit.
View as table
| Year | South Africa | Global | Applications (SA) | Visas issued (SA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 3.3% | 9.9% | 225 060 | 216 301 |
| 2024 | 5.3% | 14.8% | 193 786 | 180 416 |
| 2025 | 5.3% | 14.6% | 195 946 | 183 800 |
What the numbers do not tell you
The European Commission publishes refusal rates by the consulate that made the decision, not by the applicant's nationality. The 5.3% figure therefore covers everyone applying in South Africa, which is overwhelmingly but not exclusively South African passport holders.
The data also says nothing about why individual applications fail, because refusal grounds are not published in aggregate. What follows is drawn from the standard grounds listed on refusal notices and from what consulates consistently ask for.
The grounds that appear on refusal notices
- Justification for the purpose and conditions of the stay was not provided
- Proof of sufficient means of subsistence was not provided, for the duration of the stay or for the return
- Information submitted about the purpose of the stay was not reliable
- Travel medical insurance was not valid, or did not meet the required level of cover
- The intention to leave before the visa expires could not be ascertained
Read together, four of these five are documentary. They are about what was in the file, not about who the applicant is.
Where South Africans apply
Italy received the most Schengen applications in South Africa in 2025, just over 33 500. That does not make it the right consulate for your trip: you must apply to the country where you will spend the most nights, or, if the nights are evenly split, to the country you enter first. Applying to the wrong one can end an application before it is properly assessed.
If you are refused
You receive a written notice stating which of the standard grounds applied. Each Schengen country runs its own appeal procedure with its own deadline. In practice many South Africans reapply with a corrected file rather than appeal, because appeals are slow and a fresh application that fixes the stated problem is often quicker. Neither route refunds the original fee.
If you do reapply, address the specific ground given. Submitting the same file again with a different cover letter is the most common way to be refused twice.
Frequently asked questions
In 2025 the refusal rate for Schengen visa applications made in South Africa was 5.3%, against a global average of 14.6%. South African applicants are refused at roughly a third of the worldwide rate.
Yes. The refusal rate has risen from 3.3% in 2019 to 5.3% in 2025, an increase of about 60% in six years, even though South Africa remains well below the global average.
On 195,946 applications made in South Africa in 2025 at a 5.3% refusal rate, in the order of 10,000 applications were refused. The visa fee is not refunded when an application is refused.
Italy received the most applications in South Africa in 2025, just over 33,500. You must apply to the country where you will spend the most nights, so the busiest consulate is not necessarily the one you apply to.
Yes. Every refusal comes with a written notice stating the grounds, and each country has its own appeal window and procedure. In practice many South Africans reapply with a corrected file rather than appeal, because it is often faster. The original fee is not refunded either way.
Sources and method
Refusal rates, application volumes and issuance figures are from the European Commission's annual statistics on short-stay visas, published by Migration and Home Affairs, as reported for South Africa by the South African travel trade press. The 2025 figures were published in May 2026 and cover the 2025 calendar year.
- European Commission — Schengen short-stay visa applications, 2025
- Travelnews — SA Schengen visa demand rises
Figures are reproduced as published. Journalists and researchers are welcome to cite this page; if you spot an error in our reading of the data, tell us at help@getvisa.co.za and we will correct it.
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Also applying for a US visa? Our US refusal-rate data shows South Africans are refused at 11.66%, about twice the Schengen rate. Applying soon? Our Schengen visa guide covers documents, fees and processing in detail, and the visa services page explains what we do and what it costs.