Key Takeaways:
- India held the third spot globally for Schengen visa applications in 2025, with 1.15 million filings.
- The rejection rate for Indian applicants edged up to 15.8% from 15% in 2024.
- Switzerland and France processed the most applications from India, with faster turnaround times.
- Overall, Indians made 3.3 crore foreign trips in 2025, a 6% increase over 2024.
India's Schengen Visa Surge: New Data Reveals Top Travel Trends
Despite soaring international airfares and a steep depreciation of the rupee, Indian travelers have not lost their appetite for Europe. New data from the European Commission (EC) shows that Indians remained the third-largest applicant group for Schengen visas in 2025, submitting a total of 11.5 lakh (1.15 million) applications.
Only China (18 lakh applications, 4.1% rejection) and Turkey (12.5 lakh applications, 14.6% rejection) received more applications globally. The top five was completed by Russia (6.8 lakh) and Morocco (6.2 lakh).
4% Growth in Indian Applications Despite Headwinds
While cost pressures mounted, the number of Indian applicants still grew by 4% compared to 2024. However, the rejection rate ticked up slightly from 15% to 15.8%.
Rajesh Magow, co-founder and group CEO of MakeMyTrip, attributed the sustained interest to Europe's diverse appeal. "After the budget-friendly Middle East and Southeast Asia, Europe has been top of the list for Indian globetrotters," he said. He also highlighted a new driver: sports tourism, with a significant number of Indians traveling to watch matches.
Which Schengen Countries Are Indian Travelers Targeting?
Among EU and Schengen-associated consulates, Switzerland saw the most applications from India—nearly 2.3 lakh—with a relatively low country-specific rejection rate of 13.6%.
Top Consulates for Indian Applicants in 2025:
- France: Over 2 lakh applications
- Germany: 1.5 lakh applications
- Netherlands: Just under 1 lakh applications
- Spain: About 91,000 applications
Other popular destinations included the embassies of Italy, Austria, Greece, Belgium, and Sweden.
Visa Processing Speed: Switzerland and France Lead
A major pain point for Indian travelers has long been appointment availability and turnaround times. According to a leading travel agent, Switzerland and France have significantly smoothed the process.
"While the overall turnaround time is 15 working days for Schengen states, Switzerland and France return passports in 7-10 days. Italy, however, has a major issue with date availability."
The highest rejection rate for Indian applicants was recorded at the Slovenia consulate, at a staggering 46.5%.
Global Schengen Trends: Applications Still Below Pre-Covid Levels
Worldwide, EU and Schengen-associated consulates received nearly 1.2 crore (12 million) applications for short-stay visas in 2025, granting over 1 crore visas. While this marks a 3% increase from 2024, it still lags behind the 1.5 crore visas issued in 2019.
The global refusal rate held steady at 14.8%. However, rejections rose sharply for applicants from Cape Verde (21.4%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (40.1%), Senegal (51.9%), and Burundi (53.4%).
Indian Travel Boom: Europe Is Not the Only Destination
In 2025, a record 3.3 crore (33 million) Indians traveled abroad—a 6% increase from 2024 and 21.5% more than the pre-pandemic year of 2019.
Top Five International Destinations for Indians in 2025:
- UAE (86 lakh travelers)
- Saudi Arabia (34 lakh)
- Thailand (22 lakh)
- USA (20 lakh)
- Singapore (15 lakh)
This data underscores a broader trend: while Europe remains a strong draw, budget-friendly and culturally familiar destinations in the Middle East and Southeast Asia are also seeing massive demand.