Africans lost nearly $70 million in 2024 to denied Schengen visa applications, with Nigerians alone forfeiting $5 million in non-refundable fees. Despite submitting extensive documentation, many applicants were rejected without clear explanations. The LAGO Collective, which revealed the trend, found rejection rates to be disproportionately high in African countries, with Nigeria, Senegal, and Ghana experiencing between 40% and 50% rejection rates. Based on this, the organization labeled the system as discriminatory. While some applicants successfully challenged the rejections in court, most suffer silently or reapply, losing more money. Worse, Schengen visa fees were increased in July 2024, raising the financial burden of applications. While some blame past overstays for heightened scrutiny, many argue the process is opaque and unfair.
CNN
