My Schengen visa was rejected. What now?

European vacations are gaining traction among Indians. As per a report by the European Commission, Schengen visa applications from Indian nationals surged by 43 per cent in 2023 as compared to 2022.

India maintained the third position in Schengen visa applications for 2023, with a total of 9,66,687 filings.

The European Commission last month introduced a new visa "cascade" regime for Indian nationals seeking Schengen visas, allowing for more straightforward access to multiple entry visas with extended validity periods.

But, obtaining a Schengen visa is no walk in the park. Indians were among the top five nationalities with the most rejected Schengen visa applications in 2023. In 2023, Schengen states rejected a total of 1.6 million visa applications, resulting in €130 million in generated funds, according to SchengenNews.

What should I do if my Schengen visa is rejected?

If your Schengen visa has been rejected, you are free to apply at any time since there is no specific rule on how long you should wait before reapplying for a new visa.

However, it is recommended that before submitting the new visa application, you should meet the reasons for the refusal. This way, you can avoid getting another visa refused.

How to write an appeal letter if your visa is denied?

Receive the Refusal Notification: If your Schengen visa application is rejected, you will receive a "Standard Form for Notifying and Motivating Refusal" that explains the reasons for the refusal. You will get a copy of this document.

Determine Whether You Have the Right to Appeal: Before starting an appeal for your Schengen visa rejection, verify if the Member State allows appeals. Contact the embassy of the Member State that refused your visa to confirm if you can appeal. If they confirm, you can proceed with writing your appeal letter.

Analyze and Address the Reasons for Your Visa Refusal: In your refusal letter, the Member State will state the reasons why your Schengen visa was refused, so it is important that you address the reasons in your appeal letter.

Collect the Supporting Documents: The supporting documents required when appealing a visa refusal depend on the reason why your visa application was refused (false documents, criminal charges, insufficient funds, etc.). The reasons for refusal are stated on the refusal letter you received. Unclear purpose of visit, suspicion you may not return to your home country, insufficient travel insurance coverage, not providing proof of sufficient funds are the some of the most common reasons why a Schengen visa application gets refused.

Write the Appeal Letter: Your appeal letter should have at least three paragraphs. Include your personal information and clearly state why you are appealing the visa refusal. Explain why you believe the decision was incorrect, and write the letter in a persuasive and argumentative style. Avoid excessive length.

Submit the Appeal Letter: The refusal letter will specify the authority to which you should submit your appeal and the deadline for doing so. Generally, you must submit your appeal letter to the Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen Member State you wish to visit within 15 days of receiving the refusal letter.

What should I do if my Schengen visa is rejected more than once?
If you tried applying more than once and constantly received a negative response, it means that you are doing something wrong with your visa application or you do not meet the requirements for obtaining the visa. So if you submit a new application with the same mistakes as the first time you applied, your visa will be rejected again.

Try to fix these mistakes on your next visa application, and if that does not work, contact the embassy of the Member State and ask for instructions on what you should do. Although there is a chance that you

You can also try to apply for other types of visas if your Schengen visa gets rejected, if submitting a new application does not work.