If you are a frequent traveller, you will know and must have made peace with the fact that, with each visa application you submit, you have the same chances of getting approval as rejection.
Despite careful preparation, there’s always a possibility of rejection on your visa application and the Schengen visa isn’t an exception.
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If you’ve faced the disappointment of a Schengen visa rejection, you’re not alone, many Schengen visa application gets rejected daily.
According to immigrationinvest.com, all over the world, Schengen embassies received a total of 7,572,755 visa applications in 2022.
Out of these, only 3,448,324 (which is 45.53%) visas were approved, and 1,322,819 (which accounts for 17.46%) – were rejected.
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Countries like France had over 408,876 rejections, Spain – had 227,712, Germany with 167,517, Italy recorded 92,186 and the Netherlands made the list with – 70,566.
If yours has been rejected lately, below is when you should apply again and what you need to do before reapplying.
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Common Schengen visa rejection reasons
A Schengen visa rejection occurs due to various reasons:
- Incomplete documents: If you don’t provide all the required documents, your application will be rejected.
- Not enough money: If you can’t show convincing proof that you have enough money for your trip, they will say no to your visa application.
- No travel insurance: You need insurance for medical costs and going back home. If you don’t have it, the immigration authorities will likely reject your visa application.
- No clear reason for travelling: If they’re not sure why you want to visit, they will say no to your visa application.
- Overstaying before: If you stayed longer than allowed on your previous trip, they will not trust you enough to leave after issuing you a visa.
- Weak ties to your home country: If they think you will not come back home after your visit, your visa application will be rejected.
- Safety concerns: If the immigration authorities worry that you might be a risk, your application won’t be approved.
- Giving wrong information: If you provide false details about your or your visit.
In addition, if your application is messy or doesn’t follow the rules, it will be rejected.
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Finally, sometimes, it’s up to the person reviewing your application, and they can say no for any reason they see fit.
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Each Schengen country has its embassy or consulate where visa applications are processed, and the decision-making process varies slightly between them.
If my Schengen visa is rejected when can I apply again?
There’s no fixed waiting period for you to apply after your visa has been rejected, so you can apply again as soon as you address the reasons that led to the rejection. Once you figure out why your visa got rejected, you can apply again whenever you fix those problems. Just make sure your new application is solid before you send it in.
Schengen countries have no fixed period for you to reapply after your precious Schengen visa application has been rejected, they only want you to address the concerns raised in your earlier application before submitting a new one for consideration.
What to do if your Schengen visa application is denied
Once you receive a notification that your Schengen visa has been rejected, follow the steps below:
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Review the rejection letter
Upon receiving a rejection, carefully review the letter provided by the consulate.
This letter will outline the reasons for the refusal, which will help you to address the issue properly in your reapplication.
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After reading the rejection letter, you will understand the specific reason(s) for the rejection.
Was it due to insufficient documentation, financial issues, or doubts regarding your intentions?
Identifying the cause will help you rectify it before applying again.
Depending on the issue, you can rectify it by providing additional documents such as enough evidence of your financial capacity or clarifying the purpose of your visit.
If your initial application was rejected due to ties to your home country, you should demonstrate a significant change in your circumstances – it will strengthen your reapplication.
You can secure stable employment, acquire property, or find other means to demonstrate stronger ties to your home country.
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Prepare a stronger application
Once you’ve addressed the deficiencies, prepare a stronger visa application.
Make sure that all required documents are complete, accurate, and organized according to the consulate’s guidelines.
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Present a compelling case that demonstrates your eligibility and genuine intent to abide by visa regulations.
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Wait a little before applying again
Even though there’s no set waiting period, it’s reasonable for you to wait for a little amount of time before reapplying.
Even if you rectified the issue the day after the rejection, waiting a little longer before reapplying will persuade the immigration authorities to believe that you took your time to rectify the issue.
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If you’re unsure about the issue raised in the rejection letter or have specific questions regarding your case, you can reach out to the consulate or embassy where you initially applied.
They will provide a clear reason for rejecting your application.
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Reapply
After addressing the issue and strengthening your application, double-check that you’ve included all necessary documents and information.
If everything is correct, submit your improved visa application to the consulate or embassy.
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Be patient during the processing period and wait for a decision on your reapplication.
Can I get a visa after 2 rejections?
Yes, you can get a visa after two rejections, but you need to thoroughly address the reasons for the rejections and ensure your next application is stronger.
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How soon can I apply for another Schengen visa?
You can apply again once you’ve addressed the issues that led to the rejection and strengthened your application, no Schengen country has a fixed waiting period for applying for another Schengen visa after your previous application was rejected.
You are allowed to apply again immediately after you are done addressing the issues that led to the rejection of your previous application.
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To increase your chances, provide as much proof of your eligibility for a visa as possible and ensure that you meet every requirement before applying again.
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While there’s no fixed waiting period for reapplying, you must take your time to rectify the issues that led to the rejection and present a compelling case in your subsequent application.