Have a preference for Schengen Visa? Check which countries prefer a visa for France vs Germany
While Chinese nationals accounted for nearly a quarter of all Schengen visa applications to France in 2023, filing a total of 1.1 million requests, Egyptian submitted 46,991 visa applications to Germany in 2023, making up 24.9% of their total applications for the year.
France and Germany consistently attract the most Schengen visa applications each year. In 2023, France emerged as the leading country for visa requests, processing around 2.6 million applications, which could be attributed to the Olympic Games being held in the country.
In contrast, Germany received a total of 1.4 million visa applications, as per data shared by Schengen Visa Info. Nonetheless, despite France being a popular choice for many, it is not the preferred destination for applicants from various nationalities. Let’s explore which nationalities favour France visas over Germany based on application numbers from 2023.
Top Nationalities favouring French Visas: In 2023, France issued approximately 2.1 million visas, with 36.5% classified as multiple-entry visas (MEVs). However, it had a rejection rate of 16.7%, totalling to 436,893 applications. The top three nationalities that opted for French visas over German visas include.
China | Chinese nationals accounted for nearly a quarter of all Schengen visa applications to France in 2023, filing a total of 1.1 million requests. They ranked as the highest applicants to both France and other Schengen nations.
Morocco | France remains a favoured destination for Moroccan applicants, who consistently rank among the top ten nationalities applying for Schengen visas. In 2023, Moroccans submitted 591,401 visa applications, with 52.4% (310,057) directed specifically to France.
Algeria | Algerians filed 279,005 applications for French visas in 2023, representing 58.8% of their total Schengen visa requests. Following France, Spain is the second most sought-after destination for Algerians.
Countries that lean towards German Visas | Germany received 1.4 million visa requests in 2023, with a rejection rate of 14.3%, equating to 208,155 applications. Despite the possibility of rejection, many applicants continue to seek German visas. Below are three countries, whose citizens applied for visas to Germany.
Egypt | Egyptian nationals submitted 46,991 visa applications to Germany in 2023, making up 24.9% of their total applications for that year.
Belarus | Belarusian applicants showed a strong preference for Germany, submitting 52,301 visa applications, which represented 31.8% of all their requests in 2023.
Kosovo | Although Kosovars will not require a visa for Germany starting in 2024, they filed 64,965 applications in the previous year, comprising 53.8% of their total submissions. Switzerland follows as the second most popular destination, with 33,255 applications.