Thursday, May 16, 2024
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European visa applications surge in 2023, revealing India’s third-place ranking and highlighting a growing interest in global travel.
The European Commission has released data highlighting a significant increase in Schengen visa applications in 2023. Among the key contributors to this surge is India, which has secured the third spot in the rankings for the number of short-stay visa applications. This marks a notable milestone in India’s global travel footprint.
Surge in Applications
In 2023, the consulates of EU countries and Schengen-associated states received more than 10.3 million applications for short-stay visas. This represents a 37% increase from the 7.5 million applications received in 2022. Although this is a substantial rise, it is still below the pre-pandemic high of 17 million applications recorded in 2019.
India’s Remarkable Growth
India’s contribution to this increase is significant. The country lodged 966,687 visa applications in 2023, a considerable jump from the 671,928 applications in 2022. This surge underscores the growing enthusiasm among Indian travelers to explore Europe, positioning India firmly in the third spot among the top five countries for Schengen visa applications. In contrast, India had also ranked third in 2022, showing a consistent and rising interest in Schengen travel.
Comparison with Other Leading Countries
While China and Turkey took the first and second spots respectively, with 1,117,365 and 1,055,885 applications, India’s figures are not far behind. The increase in India’s applications reflects a broader trend of rising international travel interest post-pandemic, with more Indians seeking opportunities to visit Europe for tourism, business, and other short-term purposes.
Visa Issuance Trends
Despite the increase in applications, the number of visas issued in 2023 remained below pre-pandemic levels. Almost 8.5 million visas were issued in 2023, up from 5.9 million in 2022, but still short of the 15 million visas issued in 2019. This indicates that while demand is recovering, the issuance rates have not yet fully rebounded to match pre-pandemic highs.
Multiple Entry Visas
A significant portion of the visas issued in 2023 allowed for multiple entries into the Schengen area. Specifically, 4.6 million visas, or 54.2% of the total issued, were multiple-entry visas. This share has decreased slightly compared to the previous year’s 58.1%, suggesting a cautious yet steady approach in visa approvals post-pandemic.
Direct Issuance at External Borders
In addition to the visas issued through consulates, Schengen states also issued 85,200 uniform visas directly at their external borders in 2023. This practice facilitates urgent and unplanned travel needs, further supporting the recovery of international travel.
India’s significant rise in Schengen visa applications reflects its growing global engagement and the increasing propensity of its citizens to travel abroad. This trend is likely to continue, further boosting India’s position as a major player in international travel. As the world continues to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the robust increase in visa applications from India highlights a strong desire among its people to explore new destinations and opportunities across Europe.
