In an era of global interconnectedness, movement of persons remains a vital driving for improved economic growth. However, in recent years, African visa applicants face disproportionately high rejection rates when applying for Schengen visas compared to other regions. In 2022, Africa nationals topped the list of most rejections with one in three of all processed applications being turned down. This was 12.5% higher than the global average. The rejection rates for Schengen visas are generally 10% higher than the global average and ten times higher than for United states citizens. This article highlights the deep-seated biases in the Schengen visa process and advocates for necessary reforms such an equitable and accessible appeal system which states legitimate reasons for visa denials in order not exacerbate high influx of illegal African migrants risking their lives across the Central Mediterranean- the most deadliest migration routes in the world- to enter Europe. ensure a fairer and more equitable system.
by Sara Hafidh, Eden Getenet, and Dorcas Ameonu
Statistical Evidence of Disproportionate Schengen Visa Denials for African Applicants
Open borders within the Schengen Area, comprising 29 European countries, was adopted to facilitate economic growth and productivity after the abolishment of their internal borders to allow free and unrestricted movement of people. The Schengen area covers a vast area of 4,718,084 km2 and is home to over 448 million citizens. Yet, African applicants face high numbers of visa denials which present significant barriers to mobility and opportunities. According to a 2022 study by Henley and Partners, Africa visa application denial rates are 10% higher than the global average, which hinders trade and educational partnerships to the detriment of African economies as compared to European applicants who can move in easily into Africa, set up business, engage in exchange programmes in African universities and have significant investment agreements with African governments.
Although the globally, the total rejection rate of Schengen visa applications surged from 5% to 17.5% in 2022, marking an increase of 12.5%, Africans suffered a greater rate of rejection. Africa accounted for seven of the top 10 countries with the highest Schengen visa rejection rates in the world as at 2022. Algeria ranked the highest level of visa rejections of 45.8%, followed by Guinea-Bissau at 45.2%, Nigeria at 45.1%, Ghana at 43.6%, Senegal at 41.6%, Guinea at 40.6%, and Mali at 39.9%. As per illustration, Algerians face a rejection rate that is ten times greater than that of those applying in Canada, while Ghanaians are four times more likely to be rejected than Russians. Nigerians face almost three times the rejection rate of applicants in Turkey whose rejection rates stand at 15.5% and twice that of Iranians, whose rejection rates stand at 23.7%, although all three countries are emerging economies.
In contrast, only one in 25 applicants from the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom was rejected, and one in ten from Russia. The study condemned the practice as discriminatory and urged European countries to reform their visa application process to bring about migration justice.
The study also found that while the overall number of Schengen visa applications has declined, rejection rates for African nationals continue to increase significantly. African students face even higher rejection rates. according to a report from the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration and the Shorelight Education. In 2022, over 50% of African students visa applications were denied, nearly double the rate for students from Australia and the Pacific islands and more than five times higher than for European students.
This study is corroborated by findings from Schengenvisainfo.com, which evidences that Africans are the most rejected nationals for Schengen visa applications, even for the most qualified elites. In 2023, Schengen states rejected 1.6 million visa applications or 15.8 per cent of all visas. According to data from Schengen Visa Statistics, six out of ten nationalities with the highest rejection rates in 2023 came from Africa. In detail, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Mali, Guinea and Senegal were on the list of countries with the highest rejection rates for 2023. Out of the total number of applications filed by these nationalities, Schengen states rejected between 57 and 41 per cent of all requests.
Reasons for Visa Rejection
A report made by Adam saidane shows that visa rejections for African applicants often stem from stringent application requirements for Africans as compared to other parts of the world, such as proving a minimum bank balance, providing detailed evidence of the visits purpose, and demonstrating the intention to return home. These requirements are particularly challenging for individuals from lower-income countries. Additionally, economic disparity plays a significant role, as applicants from wealthier nations generally face fewer rejections. European governments also utilize visa rejections as a political strategy to negotiate the deportation of unauthorized migrants. "The European visa system clearly demonstrates a bias against African applicants, despite claims of security or economic concerns." "Reasonable doubts about the visa applicants' intention to return home" are frequently used by European states as justification for most rejections. Researchers contend that this reasoning reveals a clear bias against African applicants within the European visa system. This paper in the strongest of terms condemn this practice as discriminatory and urge European Schengen visa regime to reform their visa application process to bring about migration justice
Implications
The high rejection rates have far-reaching implications. Economically, they deter potential. business and investment opportunities between Africa and European nations while European businesses are scattered across the continent, earning high levels of profits, and repatriating them back into their home economies, leaving African economies benefitting less from bilateral relations. Academically, unfair visa denials they limit the potential for African students to enhance their education abroad in comparison to other students in Europe, the Americas and China who express less visa denials as tourists, let alone as students. Psychologically, the emotional toll of repeated rejections can be disheartening for applicants and their families, affecting their mental well-being and outlook on future opportunities.
Fundamentally high visa rejection rates without legitimate reasons remains a counterproductive approach as it leads to high illegal migration numbers as evidenced by the high level of crossings across the Mediterranean for most young Africans in Europe. Corresponding to high visa rejection rates for Africans is the rise in the number of illegal border crossings.
According to Frontex,[1] number of irregular border crossings at the EU’s external border in 2023 reached a total of approximately 380 000, driven by a rise in arrivals via the Mediterranean region. This marks the highest level since 2016 and constitutes a 17% increase from the figures in 2022, indicating a consistent upward trend over the past three years.
The Central Mediterranean was the most active migratory route into the EU, accounting for two out of every five irregular crossings in 2023, followed by the Western Balkans and Eastern Mediterranean. Guineans were part of the top three nationals accounting for over 100,000 illegal crossings last year. The Central Mediterranean route experienced a 50% increase in irregular border crossings compared to 2022, totalling around 158 000. The Western African route marked its highest annual figure to date, with over 40 000 incidents, with a noticeable increase in African migrants, particularly from West Africa, who now represent nearly half of all detected migrants at 47%.
In July 2023, the EU Commission signed a "strategic partnership" with Tunisia - a growing jumping-off point to Europe - to crack down on human traffickers and tighten borders, hailing it as "a blueprint for the future". Tunisia has over Libya as the most popular departure point for illegal migration into the bloc, according to the Norwegian Refugee council, with 75,000 people intercepted by the Tunisian coast guard last year. In February this year, the EU pledged millions of euros to help Mauritania combat migration as instability in the Sahel fuelled increased transit through the impoverished West African nation. Last month, the EU promised Egypt training and study schemes if Cairo did more to tackle illegal migration, two years after it bought its border force new vessels and surveillance kit. Morocco - another key port of illegal entry - also got millions to bolster its coastguard and return unwanted migrants, part of a broader pact it struck with the EU last year. The EU has similarly strengthened its eastern flank, targeting the Western Balkans - one of the main migratory paths into Europe - with a package of investment in exchange for more robust border and migration management.
Not only is the system discriminatory, it also enriches the Schengen countries. In all of this, the European Union (EU) has hit a jackpot with visa rejections through the non-refundable fees paid. The EU accumulated EUR 56.3 million from 704,000 rejected visa applications from African countries in 2023. This is an increase from the amounts generated in 2022, which was €49.9 million. Research from schengenvisainfo.com shows that the EU made such millions in non-refundable application fees for rejected applications alone. This means that Africa accounted for 43.1% of the total amount generated by rejected applications in 2023.
According to research conducted by the UK-based LAGO Collective, the United Kingdom and Schengen states make millions off rejected visas. The total revenue from denied visas increased to €130 million (R2.3 billion) in 2023 from €105 million (R2.1 billion) in 2022. The EU observer report noted that this total sum is likely to increase in 2024 since visa application fees to travel to the EU Schengen area is set to increase for adults and children from 11 June 2024. The United kingdom raised £44m in rejected fees, which are non-refundable regardless of the outcome, with African and Asian countries bearing 90% of rejected visas.
In a statement, Lago Collective said: “These costs are just the tip of the iceberg: in most cases, applicants pay more than the basic application fee, with private agencies involved in processing visa applications and brokers providing additional services along the way. The costs of not being able to travel for business and leisure also results into significant losses for all those involved.”
Access to Schengen visas correlates closely with the economic strength and passport power of the applicant's country of origin. Generally, applicants from countries with lower economic indicators and weaker passport rankings face higher rejection rates. Initial research indicates that the GDP per capita of the nation where a Schengen visa application is submitted determines the application's likelihood of approval. The rejection rate increases with national poverty. This phenomenon highlights a significant disparity in visa approval based on the socio-economic status of the applicant's home country. Countries with higher gross national income per capita and stronger passports tend to have lower rejection rates, reflecting a systemic bias favouring applicants from more affluent nations.
Less than 7% of applications were denied in some African nations such as South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia, indicating regional variations in the approval procedures for visas. In 2022, South Africa had one of the lowest Schengen visa rejection rates in Africa, that is 5.2%[2].
Mehari Taddele Maru[3] argues that the reasons for this bias against Africans could be political as visa rejections are used as a tool by European governments to negotiate the deportation of those who migrate to Europe without proper authorization. This is evidenced by countries in Europe urging their counterparts in Africa to "take back" the "illegal migrants" who have come to Europe. Nevertheless, there are few returns. For instance, between 2015 and 2019, Senegal only accepted 9% of return orders. Unsurprisingly, over 40% of applications for Schengen visas submitted in Senegal are denied.
Recommendations
Reform of Visa Application Procedures: The principle of non-discrimination and mutual respect mandates that European authorities should enhance transparency and fairness in the visa application process, in order to reduce arbitrariness subjective decision-making which does not provide legitimate reasons as to why visas are denied and promoting equity, especially for applicants from African countries by explaining why visas are denied, especially since these applicants have paid for a non-refundable service and deserve such feedback at least as a response. The failure of these consulates and High commissions to provide reasons leaves much greater questions to be answered as to the real intentions for the denials raising the alarm of underlying biases and prejudices in migration rules. Switzerland is commended for its decision to introduce new changes to the regulations for the Central Visa Information Systems (C VIS). These amendments have arrived at the opportune time of heightened discussions of Africa’s high rejection rates to the Schengen region of which Switzerland is a member. The new amendments aim to address challenges in the visa policy and border controls, creating an avenue to address Africa’s Schengen visa rejection rates. Other EU member countries within the Schengen visa scheme are also encouraged to emulate similar legislation to create fairer immigration rules for all.
This paper therefore advocates for European authorities to reform visa application procedures to enhance transparency and fairness, reducing subjective decision-making and promoting equity, especially for applicants from African countries.
Secondly this paper advocates for international organizations, African governments, and civil society groups to raise awareness about the negative impacts of restrictive visa policies on African individuals and businesses.
Finally, this paper encourages African countries to collaborate regionally in order to strengthen their economic indicators and passport strength. Adoption of such progressive economic reforms have been on the continent with the implementation of the African Continental Free Agreement, regional blocs allowing ease of access and nation states engaging in bilateral relations for visa on arrival agreements. However more must be done expand free movement on the continent as well as economically integrating to strengthen African economies for its citizens to meet economic requirements which some visa requirements demand.
Conclusion
In a world striving for interconnectedness and global cooperation, the visa rejection rates faced by African applicants seeking entry into Europe's Schengen Area represents a significant barrier to mobility and opportunities.
The disproportionately high Schengen visa rejection rates faced by African applicants represent a significant barrier to mobility and opportunities. The statistics paint a clear picture of prejudice and discrimination embedded within the visa application process, with 70% of the top ten countries with the highest rejection rates being African nations. This disparity not only impedes individual movement but also hampers significant opportunities for commerce, education, and cultural exchange between Europe and Africa. It also curbs efforts of the European Union in the high influx of illegal crossings via the mediterranean. These discriminatory visa regimes not only affect individuals and businesses but also costs the European Union millions of revenue in building asylum centres and detention facilities. Other schemes fund monitoring equipment or coastguard training, others offer broad support to partners who slow illegal transit or crack down on gangs of people smugglers, costing European taxpayers billions of euros of their revenue.
This evidences that an actual effort to address unequal visa regimes between the European Schengen area and Africa are valuable efforts to address the high influx of illegal migration numbers across European borders and a mutually beneficial for both parties.
[1] Frontex is a European Border and Coast Guard Agency which supports EU Member States and Schengen-associated countries in the management of the EU’s external borders and the fight against cross-border crime.
[2] Out of 165,893 visa applicants from South Africa, 8,644 were rejected, compared to 155,455 issued visas.
[3] The European University Institute's Migration Policy Center
