Nigeria’s Schengen visa rejection rate rose to 45.9% in 2024, making it the third highest globally, up from 40.8% in 2023.

The European Commission reported over 11.7 million applications for short-stay visas in 2024, a 13.6% increase from 2023, with more than 9.7 million visas issued.

Senegal and Bangladesh had higher rejection rates at 46.8% and 54.9% respectively, with Malta recording the highest rejection rate among Schengen countries at 38.5%.

The Schengen Area currently comprises 29 countries, facilitating free movement across internal borders.