Indian travellers faced a 15.8% Schengen visa rejection rate in 2025, with more than 1.81 lakh applications refused out of over 1.15 million submissions, according to European Commission data. India remained the third-largest Schengen visa applicant market globally despite the higher rejection rate. The refusals resulted in an estimated ₹154.9 crore in non-refundable visa fees alone, excluding expenses on travel insurance, flight bookings, and other documentation, significantly increasing the financial burden on travellers.
Janice Alyosius is a travel and MICE journalist focusing on business travel, destination marketing, aviation and industry policy. She leads editorial content at MICEtalk and also writes for TravTalk, covering global trends, trade developments and key industry conversations. With regular reporting from tourism forums, conventions and on-ground industry events, her work blends news-led analysis with strong industry voices, offering clear context and relevance for travel trade professionals and decision-makers.