‘Disproportionately High!’ Nigerians Face Massive Schengen Visa Rejection — Report

Nigerians intending to travel to Schengen countries are grappling with soaring visa rejection rates as economic challenges continue to drive migration.

According to the latest Henley Global Mobility Report for January 2025, nearly 41% of Schengen visa applications submitted by Nigerians in 2024 were rejected.

The report revealed that out of 105,926 applications from Nigeria, 42,940 were denied. This rejection rate placed Nigeria among the top 20 countries with the most denied visas, ranking 11th on the list. The findings highlight significant barriers to international mobility for Nigerians and other African citizens.

The report attributes the increasing rejection rates to passport power and identity-based visa policies, which have doubled over the past decade. Nigeria’s passport currently ranks 94th on the global list of the most powerful passports, further limiting travel opportunities for its citizens.

Economic Struggles Fuel Migration
The migration trend among Nigerians has intensified over the past four years, fueled by economic hardship, inflation, and unemployment. Inflation reached a historic high of 34.60% in November 2024, exacerbating the cost-of-living crisis and pushing many to seek better opportunities abroad.

The rejection rate for Schengen visas in Africa remains disproportionately high compared to other regions, with six of the top 10 countries facing the highest rejection rates located on the continent. Comoros leads the list with a 61.3% rejection rate, followed by Guinea-Bissau (51%), Ghana (47.5%), Mali (46.1%), Sudan (42.3%), and Senegal (41.2%).

Widening Global Mobility Divide
Globally, the gap between nations with high and low mobility continues to grow. While global travel freedom has nearly doubled since 2006, the divide between the most mobile and least mobile countries has reached unprecedented levels, according to Prof. Mehari Maru of the European University Institute.

In 2023, African applicants faced a rejection rate of 45%, significantly higher than the combined Africa-Asia average of 40%. Despite submitting half as many applications as Asian applicants, Africans were twice as likely to face rejection.

The challenges underscore the persistent disparities in global mobility, as economic, political, and policy factors continue to limit opportunities for citizens of less powerful nations