Which Schengen Country Is Easiest for Indians to Get Approved?
Quick answer
By 2025 European Commission data, among popular destinations Germany, Italy and Switzerland approved Indians more often than average, while the Netherlands and Austria were tougher. But you can only apply where your trip's main destination actually is, so treat this as a tiebreaker, not a free choice.
The 2025 numbers for Indian applicants
Of ~1.15 million Indian applications in 2025, 15.8% did not result in a visa, slightly above the global average. The spread by country is large:
Source: European Commission / DG HOME data, reported May–June 2026.
The catch: you can't just pick the easy one
Schengen rules require applying through your main destination, the country where you spend the most nights. Choosing purely for approval rate, when your trip is centred elsewhere, is “wrong country of application,” itself a refusal reason. The stats help most when several countries genuinely fit your itinerary.
How to actually use this
- Design the trip first, then apply where the nights land.
- If two countries genuinely tie, the friendlier consulate is a fair tiebreaker.
- A strong file at a “strict” country still beats a weak one at an “easy” country.
People also ask
Which Schengen country has the highest approval for Indians?
Among popular routes in 2025, Germany (~10.5% refused), Italy (~12.7%) and Switzerland (~13.6%) beat the 15.8% India average.
Can I just apply to the easiest country?
No. You must apply where your trip's main destination is; picking a country only for its approval rate is itself a refusal reason.
Which countries are hardest for Indians?
In 2025 the Netherlands (~20.6%) and Austria (~21.6%) ran above the India average, with some smaller consulates higher still.
Refusal rates, per country, per year.
The published European Commission figures for Indian applicants, country by country — the numbers behind the reputations.
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