(Ecofin Agency) - African and Asian applicants accounted for 90% of the global costs of Schengen visa refusals in 2023, a figure set to rise by 12.5% as application fees increase from €80 to €90.

In 2023, SchengenVisainfo reported that 704,000 visa applications from Africans were rejected, totaling approximately $60.5 million (€56.3 million) lost in fees paid to the European Union without reimbursement. These fees, currently set at €80 per application, remain non-refundable.

This amount constitutes 43% of the worldwide expenditure on visa applications. Morocco, the largest African applicant in 2023, received over 410,000 negative responses, costing applicants €10.9 million. Algeria followed closely with more than 285,000 visa rejections.

Overall, Schengen visa refusals generated €130 million for European immigration services in 2023, up from €105 million in 2022, according to recent EU Observer statistics. These fees were predominantly from African and Asian continents. Observers note that Africa, with its comparatively lower average income levels, bears a significant impact.

With visa applications and rejections on the rise, these figures are expected to increase further as application fees rise to €90 from June 11, 2024, under a new EU directive.