In 2024, African countries collectively lost tens of millions of euros in non-refundable application fees due to European Union (EU) visa rejections — highlighting a growing financial and mobility burden for African travelers.
These losses, incurred by African nations due to denied visa applications, stem from a broad category of EU visas, including national visas for study, employment, and long-term residence.
Applicants from Africa continue to face some of the highest visa rejection rates in the world, often paying costly processing fees only to be denied entry — without reimbursement or the right to appeal.
In a previous report, Business Insider Africa estimated that African countries lost around €60 million due to Schengen visa rejections. (The Schengen visa allows citizens of non-Schengen countries to travel to any of the 29 member states for a limited period.)
Alarmingly, six of the ten countries with the highest Schengen visa rejection rates globally are located in Africa. Comoros leads with a staggering 61.3% rejection rate, followed by Guinea-Bissau (51%), Ghana (47.5%), Mali (46.1%), Sudan (42.3%), and Senegal (41.2%). Nigeria tops the list in financial losses, with €4.3 million lost, followed by Senegal (€2.8 million) and Côte d’Ivoire (€2.2 million).
Beyond restricting mobility, these high rejection rates and financial losses have real economic consequences, draining resources from individuals and families who often save for long periods to afford these applications.
This growing trend has intensified calls for more transparent, fair, and accountable visa issuance processes for African citizens.
The table below ranks the ten African countries with the highest estimated financial losses due to EU visa rejections in 2024.
Source: DE
