Rejected? These are the 10 Most Common Schengen Visa Rejection Reasons (and How to Avoid them)

In this post, I will walk you through 10 of the most common reasons why Schengen visa applications get rejected. More importantly, I’ll share what these reasons mean and practical tips to help you avoid these pitfalls, so you can submit a strong and confident application.

Getting a Schengen visa isn’t always a straightforward process. Even if you feel like you have submitted everything right, many applicants still face the disappointment of a visa rejection – sometimes without knowing why.

I’ve experienced a Schengen visa rejection first-hand in my family’s visa journey (spoiler: we appealed successfully!). So I know how easy it is to get rejected, how confusing it can be trying to understand why and addressing that rejection.

If your Schengen visa has been rejected, don’t worry. It’s much more common than you think.

Remember that Schengen embassies are following very strict guidelines and rejections will often come down to avoidable mistakes or missing information.

Which countries have the highest Schengen visa rejection rates?

Based on the latest data given by the European Union, 14.8% of Schengen visa applicants in 2024 were rejected.

The European countries most likely to reject applicants were:

• Malta 37.09%
• Estonia 27.14%
• Slovenia 24.31%
• Belgium 24.15%
• Sweden 23.63%

Rounding out the top 10 are Denmark, Croatia, Poland, Czech Republic, France.

Which nationalities have the highest Schengen visa rejection rates?

The nationalities with the highest proportion of Schengen visa rejection rates were:

• Comoros 61.48 %
• Bangladesh 54.9%
• Senegal 46.8%
• Nigeria 45.9%
• Haiti 44.95%

Other nationalities with high Schengen visa rejection rates were Pakistan, Ghana, Congo (Brazzaville), Bolivia and Mali.

Now, let’s dive into those rejection reasons…

10 Common Schengen Visa Rejection Reasons

1. Unclear Travel Purpose

What it means: The official reason might be checked as “Justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay was not provided.”

It means that:

1. You did not provide documents showing the purpose of your stay, like invitation letters, tours etc;
2. You did not provide proof of accommodation;
3. You submitted a hotel and flight reservation that was cancelled or not verifiable;
4. The purpose of the trip has lapsed by the time the application is processed; or
5. The reason for the trip is no longer valid, e.g. it was cancelled

How to avoid it:

• Use your cover letter to very clearly explain why you want to visit that specific country, those cities. Include details around dates, activities, accommodation, and transport.
• Please do not use AI to generate a generic letter, let your voice and intentions shine through here.
  • A well-structured and thought out cover letter go a long way to prove genuine intent for travel

Apart from the cover letter, here are the documents a visa officer would expect to see depending on your reason for travel:

• Tourism: Detailed travel itinerary, accommodation, flight reservations
• Business: Invitation letter from company in Schengen Area, letter from your employer outlining reason for business
• Wedding: Wedding invitation, Proof of relationship with bride/groom
• Study: admission letters, scholarships documents, accommodation details, previous student accomplishments (like degree certificate)
• Visiting friends or family: Formal invitation letter from host with name, address, contact and proof of relationship with inviting person
• Medical: Receipts of payments from hospital or invitation by hospital with appointment confirmation, letter from doctor explaining need for treatment and treatment plan

2. Lack of sufficient proof of funds

When applying for a Schengen visa, you must show sufficient financial means to cover your travel expenses. This includes flights, accommodation, daily expenses and any emergencies for your stay.

Schengen countries are looking for proof that you are not going to be a financial liability or in any way rely on public funds. It is not only about having money, it’s about showing a stable, believable financial picture.

If your application is rejected due to funds, this could be because of a few things:

1. You have provided no or insufficient evidence of financial means for the duration of stay. Either:
   • The submitted bank accounts do not show sufficient funds
   • There is a simple bank confirmation without bank statements from at least the last 3 months, and including the current balance
   • There is a recent, one-time large deposit into your savings account
2. You don’t show that you receive a regular income
3. If you have a sponsor, the credit worthiness of the sponsor is not provided or you present a cost guarantee from someone who you are not dependent on and is not dependent on you.

How to avoid it:

Ensure your financial documents clearly show proof of adequate financial means to cover all your expenses.

In my previous applications, I have submitted 3-6 months of both bank statements and pay slips to prove regular income and consistent balances.

Some tips for what you can do:

• Research the minimum daily financial requirements of the Schengen country in detail as these may vary.
• If the Schengen country does not have a set minimum, then estimate about 100 – 120 EUR per day of stay. It is recommended to ensure your account balance exceeds this minimum. Be aware of the varying cost of living in different countries too, for instance funds required for Switzerland will differ from countries with lower cost of living.
• If you are being sponsored by someone, ensure to include comprehensive supporting documents that clearly prove the relationship with the sponsor as well as their ability to cover the trip.
• Add backup funds like investments, money market or other accessible funds to strengthen your case.

3. Lack of strong ties to home country

What this means: The embassy is concerned that you may not return after your trip. One of the main criteria for issuing a short-stay visa is proving that you will leave when your visa expires.

Your application needs to show strong ‘anchors’ tying to your home country such as a job, studies, close family, or property. Not showing reasons to come back leads to the assumption that you intend to overstay.

How to avoid it:

The best way to address this is to show stable employment, business ties, property ownership, or close family responsibilities as they show the need for you to return to your home country. Here is a list of documents you can use.

• Employment ties: Show stable employment through an employment letter, consistent salary, leave letter (No Objection Certificate)
• Close family responsibilities: Birth certificates of dependants, Marriage certificate , Guardian documents to demonstrate family unions.
• Property ownership: Title deeds, lease agreements, utility bills. Ensure to show any significant investments in your home country.
• Education ties: Enrolment letter from your university showing enrolment dates, program details etc.
• Business ties: Business registration documents, tax returns, bank accounts with consistent income.

4. Fake hotel or flight bookings

What it means: You are asked to submit flight and accommodation reservations when applying for Schengen visa. Unfortunately, submitting fake hotel or flight reservations results in certain denial, and you may risk future bans.

How to avoid it: There are many hotel/accommodation booking sites and airlines with fully refundable and cancellable options, use these. I personally would not recommend using dummy tickets at all.

5. False or forged documents

What it means: Like the reason above, your application will be immediately denied if you submit a fake passport, fake bank statement, travel itinerary, employment letter, insurance etc.

How to avoid it: Do not submit any fake documents! The risk is just too high and there is no need to. If you feel like you’re not ready to apply with your real documentation – then work on strengthening your application first.

6. Inconsistent or mismatched information

What it means: This happens when there is a mismatch in your application details, for instance there is contradictory information about the purpose of your stay. Even small discrepancies like travel dates, or mismatched names can make a visa officer suspicious.

Visa officers want to see that you documents tell a clear story about where you’ll be, what you’ll be doing, and who you’ll be with. Or else they may suspect you’re not being fully transparent or your reasons are not fully genuine.

How to avoid it:

• Proofread your application a few times to check for mismatches
• Make sure passport number and name match across tickets, bookings, insurance
• Cross-check your documents and make sure everything is correct e.g. travel dates, name, location in your bookings match the visa applications

It’s easy to miss small errors when you’re juggling multiple bookings and forms. I’ve included a document checklist in my Visa Resources & Tools section that can help you catch mismatches before you submit your application.

7. Inability to verify information

What it means: This might be officially marked as “There are reasonable doubts as to the reliability of the statements, authenticity of supporting documents made…”

Having submitted your application, the visa officer may take steps to verify some of the information provided with the issuing institution. If they are unable to verify documentation or do not receive responses from your host/employer etc, then you risk your application being rejected.

How to avoid it:

• Employment contract: Ensure that your employment contract is properly signed and your employer is reachable to confirm the contract if needed
• Bank Statements: If you can, have your bank statements signed and verified by the bank. However, the bank should be able to confirm existence of the account if needed
• Inviting Host: The inviting host in your destination country may be contacted to either confirm invitation or respond to queries. Let them know to be on the lookout for any contact
• Flight and Hotel Reservations: Ensure both your flight and hotel reservations have a confirmation code that the visa officer can confirm if needed.

8. Unrealistic travel plans or overly long stays

What it means: Your proposed itinerary or trip length doesn’t match your purpose of travel, financial means or vacation entitlements.For example, planning to visit 10 countries in 7 days does not sound reasonable.

Your application should make sense to the visa officer. If they see that your plans seem rushed, ambitious, or unnecessarily long, then it looks you may have other motives like seeking work or overstaying.

How to avoid it:

• Make sure your documents reflect your real-life obligations and intentions. Have your trip length match your circumstances. If you’re employed, you may want to ensure your leave request matches your employer letter
• Support longer stays with strong proof – such as detailed accommodation bookings, solid finances and justification in your cover letter
  • For instance, say your itinerary says you will be travelling around Switzerland – one of the most expensive countries – for 2 weeks, make sure your financial documents show you can indeed afford the trip.
• Plan a realistic itinerary. 3-4 days in a city is more believable than “doing Europe” in 2 weeks
• Don’t apply for the full allowed visa duration

9. Lack of strong travel history or Previous visa violations and visa refusals

What it means:

Previously misusing or overstaying your visa, whether Schengen or somewhere else, will affect your eligibility for another visa. Visa violations may include overstaying (even by some days) and working without authorization. Generally breaching the terms of a previously issued visa like not using the Schengen visa as intended may also raise eyebrows.

Additionally, your past travel record is a great way to assess your reliability as a traveller. A history of visas from other strong countries like the UK, US and Canada significantly improves your chances of getting a Schengen visa. It tells the officer, “This applicant travels and returns.”

Remember, previous visa violations or no prior travel history is not an automatic rejection, it just means your application may be scrutinized more closely.  

How to avoid it:

• Be honest about past rejections. Don’t try to hide it as embassies can access shared databases. Instead, address the issue in your cover letter showing what has changed
• Build a travel record by obtaining and travelling to countries with visas easier to obtain e.g. regional travel or touristy destinations. This will help strengthen your Schengen visa application. Wherever possible, show you have a track record of travelling and coming back.

10. Invalid travel insurance

What it means: Travel medical insurance is a required part of the Schengen visa application process, Failure to submit proper insurance that meets the requirement may result in rejection!

Schengen embassies require travel insurance as it covers emergency medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation including in the event of death.

How to avoid it:

There are 3 important requirements to remember for your travel insurance to be valid:

• Must have minimum coverage of at least 30,000
• Must be valid in all Schengen Area member states
• Must cover the entire duration of your stay

Bonus: Other Avoidable Schengen Visa Rejection Reasons

11. Invalid Passport

What this means:

Your passport needs to meet certain requirements:

• must be valid for up to 3 months after your return from the Schengen member state.
  • For instance, if leaving the Schengen area on 30^th June, the expiration date for your passport should be on/after 30^th September.
• have at least two blank pages so the visa can be affixed
• issued in the last 10 years

It may also mean your passport is damaged, missing blank pages, missing information pages etc – all reasons that would invalidate it.

How to avoid it:

Ensure your passport meets all the requirements above: Renew the passport early if needed so you can save yourself last minute stress and guaranteed rejection.

12. Breaking the 90/180 Day Rule

What it means: This means you have already stayed for 90 days during the current 180-day period in a Schengen country. Schengen visas cover short stays (i.e. less than 90 day stays) therefore staying for over 90 days in a rolling 180 day period results in immediate rejection.

How to avoid it:

Use the EU provided calculator to calculate your allowed period of stay.

If you need a longer period of stat, then you need to apply for long-stay D type visas

Parting Advice

A Schengen visa rejection can be frustrating especially when you have invested time, money and hopes into your application.

By understanding the common reasons for rejection and addressing them before you apply, you can greatly improve your approval chances. Most rejections are due to avoidable mistakes like unclear purpose, weak ties, insufficient funds, or mismatched documents.

Approach your application like you’re telling a story that makes sense: your purpose of travel is clear, your documents support each other, and your financial and personal circumstances show you’ll return home as promised.

And if you’ve been refused before, treat it as feedback. Learn from it, strengthen your case, and try again.

If you’re ready to put together a strong application, you might find these guides helpful:

• How to Get a UK Visa Appointment – tips that also apply to booking Schengen slots during peak times.
• How I Got My First Schengen Visa: Mistakes, Lessons & What I’d Do Differently – my personal experience and what I learned along the way.

In an upcoming post, I will share my own experience with a family member’s rejection including the appeal letter we used.

Safe travels and may your next visa application be approved.

Schengen Visa FAQs

If my Schengen visa is rejected, can I apply again?

Yes, you can apply again at any time, even immediately after a refusal. However, reapplying with the exact same documents and circumstances will likely lead to another rejection.

First, carefully read your refusal letter to understand the reasons for denial. Then, address each issue directly, whether that means adding missing documents, strengthening your financial proof, clarifying your travel purpose, or correcting inconsistencies.

Some travellers also choose to wait a few months (I recommend 6) to improve their situation or gather stronger evidence before reapplying.

What next after your Schengen visa is rejected?

If your Schengen visa is rejected, you have 2 options:

• Reapply: If the reason is easily rectified, then compile your application and resubmit the application again.
• Appeal the decision: You may appeal against a visa rejection, if you believe it was unfairly rejected. Different embassies will have different appeal processes. Often you can write an appeal letter to the embassy explaining why the rejection was unwarranted and providing evidence to that effect.

How long after Schengen visa rejection can you reapply?

There’s no mandatory waiting period – you can reapply right away. If the reason for refusal is easily addressable, then rectify and reapply right away.

If not, it’s better to wait until you have addressed the rejection reasons in your letter. For example, you may want to build a strong travel history by making some trips to a non-Schengen country. If the rejection reason was due to finances, you may want to show stronger account activity first.

I recommend waiting some months to rectify your situation and strengthen your application before reapplying.

Can I apply to a different Schengen country if one refuses me?

Yes, you can, but the refusal might still appear in the Schengen Visa Information System (VIS), which all member states can access. This means your new application will likely be reviewed more carefully, and you’ll need to address the original refusal reason directly.

It’s also important to follow the Schengen “main destination” rule: you must apply to the country where you’ll spend the most nights, or if staying equally in multiple countries, the country of first entry. Applying to a different country without changing your travel plans could be seen as “visa shopping” and might harm your chances.