- Nigerians face significant Schengen visa rejections, with 40.8% of applications rejected in 2024.
- The rejection rate is driven by passport power and identity-based visa policies, creating barriers to economic mobility.
- Nigeria’s passport ranks 94th globally, and Africa faces a higher rejection rate compared to other continents.
Nigerians are experiencing significant challenges in obtaining Schengen visas, with a staggering 40.8% of applications rejected in 2024. According to the latest Henley Global Mobility Report, out of 105,926 Schengen visa applications submitted by Nigerians, 42,940 were rejected.
This trend is attributed to passport power and identity-based visa policies, which have created substantial barriers to economic mobility for Nigerians and other African citizens. The report highlights that the rejection rate has more than doubled over the past decade.
Global Passport Rankings
Nigeria’s passport currently ranks 94th globally, indicating a relatively low level of travel freedom. The report also notes that Africa faces a higher rejection rate compared to other continents, despite the insignificant volume of applications from the region.
Top 10 Countries with Highest Schengen Visa Rejection Rates
Six African countries feature in the top 10 list, with Comoros leading at 61.3%, followed by Guinea-Bissau at 51%, Ghana at 47.5%, Mali at 46.1%, Sudan at 42.3%, and Senegal at 41.2%.
