Germany remains one of the most popular destinations for Schengen visa applicants. According to recent Germany Schengen Visa Statistics, the country has consistently ranked among the top three Schengen states receiving the highest number of visa applications over the past decade.
Germany Schengen Visa Statistics (2014–2024) — Applications, Approvals, Rejection Rates
| Year | Applications | Approved | Denied | Approval Rate | Rejection Rate |
| 2014 | 2,061,137 | 1,943,053 | 118,084 | 94.27% | 5.73% |
| 2015 | 2,022,870 | 1,908,752 | 114,118 | 94.36% | 5.64% |
| 2016 | 2,004,235 | 1,881,865 | 122,370 | 93.89% | 6.11% |
| 2017 | 2,049,055 | 1,892,662 | 156,393 | 92.37% | 7.63% |
| 2018 | 2,056,296 | 1,869,597 | 186,699 | 90.92% | 9.08% |
| 2019 | 2,171,309 | 1,958,003 | 213,306 | 90.18% | 9.82% |
| 2020 | 411,826 | 353,581 | 58,245 | 85.86% | 14.14% |
| 2021 | 346,284 | 286,531 | 53,987 | 82.74% | 15.59% |
| 2022 | 1,043,297 | 869,465 | 167,517 | 83.34% | 16.06% |
| 2023 | 1,459,560 | 1,246,078 | 208,155 | 85.37% | 14.26% |
| 2024 | 1,512,675 | 1,298,650 | 206,733 | 85.85% | 13.67% |
Key Insights From Germany Schengen Visa Application
Several trends stand out when analyzing the Germany Schengen visa statistics over the last decade:
- High application volumes before the pandemic: Between 2014 and 2019, Germany consistently received around 2 million visa applications per year.
- Pandemic-driven decline: Applications dropped dramatically in 2020 and 2021, when travel restrictions reduced visa demand worldwide.
- Strong recovery after 2022: Visa applications began recovering in 2022 and continued increasing through 2023 and 2024.
- Stable approval rates: Even during fluctuating application volumes, Germany maintained relatively strong approval rates, generally above 85% in recent years.
Overall, these trends show that Germany remains one of the most accessible and widely applied-to destinations in the Schengen Area.
Top Nationalities Applying for Germany Schengen Visa (2024)
In 2024, applicants from China submitted the highest number of Schengen visa applications to Germany, followed by several other high-travel-demand countries.
Pandemic Impact on Germany Visa Applications
Like most Schengen countries, Germany saw a dramatic drop in visa demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Applications fell from over 2.17 million in 2019 to just 411,826 in 2020.
- In 2021, applications dropped further to 346,284, marking the lowest level in the decade.
- Demand began recovering in 2022, when applications crossed 1 million again.
By 2024, the number of applications had rebounded to 1.51 million, showing that international travel demand for Germany has largely recovered.
Expenditure on Germany Schengen Visa Applications
Visa application fees generate substantial revenue due to the high number of applicants.
Based on the standard €80 Schengen visa fee, applicants spent approximately:
- €1.37 billion on Germany Schengen visa applications in 2024
- Around €128 million of this came from rejected applications
These figures highlight the significant financial scale of Schengen visa demand globally.