The European Commission has reported a notable surge in Schengen visa applications in 2023, attributing this increase to the growing desire for global travel. Notably, India has emerged as a significant contributor, securing the third spot among the top countries for short-stay visa applications. This achievement marks a significant milestone in India’s global travel aspirations.
In 2023, EU consulates and Schengen-associated states collectively received over 10.3 million short-stay visa applications, a substantial 37% increase from the 7.5 million applications in 2022. While this surge is encouraging, it remains below the pre-pandemic peak of 17 million applications recorded in 2019.
India’s contribution to this rise is noteworthy. With 966,687 visa applications in 2023, India has demonstrated a significant jump from the 671,928 applications in 2022. This upsurge underscores the growing enthusiasm among Indian travelers to explore Europe. India’s consistent ranking in the top three for Schengen visa applications further emphasizes this rising interest.
In 2023, the number of visas issued remained below pre-pandemic levels. Approximately 8.5 million visas were issued, up from 5.9 million in 2022, but still short of the 15 million visas issued in 2019. This suggests that while demand is recovering, visa issuance rates are yet to fully rebound to match pre-pandemic highs. Notably, multiple-entry visas accounted for a significant portion of the visas issued in 2023. Around 4.6 million visas, or 54.2% of the total issued, were multiple-entry visas. This reflects a gradual return to pre-pandemic travel patterns, albeit with a slightly decreased share compared to the previous year’s 58.1%.
India’s significant rise in Schengen visa applications underscores its growing global engagement and the increasing propensity of its citizens to travel abroad. This trend is anticipated to continue, further consolidating India’s position as a major player in international travel. As the world continues to emerge from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the robust increase in visa applications from India highlights a strong desire among its people to explore new horizons and opportunities across Europe.
