So you’ve decided to travel to Europe, but don’t know what Schengen countries are the easiest to apply for a Schengen Visa.
First, the basics: when applying for a Schengen Visa, the requirements are roughly the same, whichever Embassy you use.
However, the rejection rates differ from country to country.
In fact, some Schengen countries are famous for having high rejection rates while others are well-known for having a great track record for issuing Visas.
So, if you’ve ever wondered what are the easiest Schengen countries to get a Visa, wonder no more!
In this post, we introduce the 12 easiest countries to get a Schengen Visa from, with officers granting over 90% of applications.
Table of contents:
- Does it really matter where you apply for a Schengen Visa?
- Top 12 easiest Schengen countries to get a Visa for Europe
1. Does It Really Matter Where You Apply for a Schengen Visa?
“What is the easiest Schengen country to obtain a Schengen Visa and travel to Europe?”
This is one of the questions we get asked the most often.
This got us thinking: “Does it really matter where you apply for a Schengen Visa?”
Truth is, if you collect all of the required documents to support your application and answer the Visa interview questions with confidence, there’s nothing to worry about – no matter where you apply.
However, the Schengen Visa statistics published on the official website of the European Commission reveal that not all Schengen Visas are easy to come by, with rejection rates going over 25%.
For example, Portugal and Malta were the Schengen countries with the highest rejection rates in 2020 (30% and 27.8% respectively).
Don’t get us wrong; we are not encouraging you to only submit your application to the Schengen countries with low rejection rates.
After all, there are different factors you should consider when choosing a travel destination, such as your budget, the travel experience you want, weather, drivability, and much more.
However, if you’re undecided about where to travel, looking at the Schengen countries that have a fantastic track record for issuing visas may help you clear up the confusion.
Just remember, even if you apply for a Schengen country with low rejection rates, you still need to ensure you meet all of the Embassy requirements.
Applying at the Embassy of a Schengen country with low rejection rates doesn’t mean you will automatically be approved even if you submit incomplete or wrong documents.
With that being said, let’s explore the 12 easiest Schengen countries to get a Visa in 2020.
2. Top 12 Easiest Schengen Countries to Get a Visa for Europe
- Estonia
Estonia is the easiest country to get a Schengen Visa from, with only 1.5% of applications rejected in 2020. This means that 98.5% of the Schengen Visa applications for Estonia received a positive answer.
In addition, Estonia ranks no. 19 for the number of Schengen Visa applications received, meaning that it has shorter wait times for Schengen Visa interview appointments.
- Lithuania
Lithuania is another Baltic state where it is easy to get a Schengen Visa, with only 2.1% of applications refused, according to the 2020 rejection rates.
This means that 97.9% of the applicants were granted a short-term Visa to the Schengen Area.
- Latvia
Latvia is another Baltic country, bordered by Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south.
In 2020, Latvia rejected 2.7% of Schengen Visa applicants, while the remaining 97.3% were granted a Visa to travel to Europe. This means that all three Baltic states are the easiest to obtain a Schengen Visa.
- Finland
Even if Finland ranks no. 7 for the number of Schengen Visa applications received, it remains one of the easiest countries to get a Visa for Europe.
In 2002, Finland rejected 3.7% of the Schengen Visa applications, meaning that 96.3% of applicants received a positive answer.
- Iceland
In 2020, Iceland was the second country with the least applications received (only 2.552).
With 96% of applications approved and only 4% rejected, you have quite a good chance to get a Schengen Visa from this country.
- Slovakia
In 2020, Slovakia had the same rejection rate as Iceland – meaning that 4% of applications were rejected and 96% approved.
Slovakia is also the third country with the least applications received, which means its embassies and consulates are less crowded and you have to wait less time to make an appointment.
- Poland
The Republic of Poland, despite ranking no. 9 for the number of applications received, remains an easy country to obtain a Schengen Visa.
Rejecting only 4.8% of the applications and approving the remaining 95.2%, you have quite a good chance to get a Schengen Visa to Poland.
- Luxembourg
The small landlocked country of Luxembourg received the lowest number of Schengen Visa applications in 2020 (only 2.469).
Only 5.2% of the applications for Luxembourg were turned down, while the remaining 94.8% were granted a short-term Visa to Europe.
- Czech Republic
With 5.5% of the short-term applications rejected in 2020, 94.5% of the applicants for a Schengen Visa to Czech Republic received a positive answer on their application.
However, do note that the Czech Republic ranked no. 5 for the number of Schengen Visa applications received, meaning that its embassies are typically crowded and you need to book an appointment well in advance.
- Austria
The Republic of Austria is also a relatively easy country to get a Schengen Visa.
Those applying for a Schengen Visa to Austria have a 94.4% chance of getting a positive answer. In 2020, the Central European country had a rejection rate of 5.6%.
- Greece
While in 2019 Greece had a rejection rate of 4.5%, the situation changed in 2020, when 8.4% of applications were rejected.
Even so, Greece remains a relatively easy country to obtain a Schengen Visa, with 91.6% of applications approved.
- Hungary
Hungary is the twelfth Schengen country from which it is easier to get a Schengen Visa.
In 2020, Hungary rejected 9.1% of Schengen Visa applicants, while the remaining 90.9% were granted a Visa to Europe.
Conclusion: It’s interesting to see how Visa approval rates vary from country to country.
But, as we have previously mentioned, you can walk into the Schengen Visa appointment with confidence and have high chances of success whichever Embassy you use – providing that you have all of your documents filled in correctly.
At Visas Association, we strive to streamline the Visa process by providing guidance through every step of your application. Our Schengen Visa experts would be more than glad to provide you with a free consultation, document templates, step-by-step guides, and professional advice concerning any issues you might have with your application.
