France and Germany are the two countries that receive the highest number of visa applications every year. In 2023, France was the top recipient of visa applications, receiving a total of 2.6 million requests.
According to statistics published by Schengen Visa Info, Germany received significantly fewer visa applications – a total of 1.4 million requests filed in 2023, Schengen.News reports.
However, despite France being a top destination for applicants, it is not a preferred destination for many nationalities. Below, you will find which nationalities prefer visas of France or Germany more, based on the number of applications they have filed in 2023.
France Is the Top Destination for These 3 Nationalities
The data show that France issued 2.1 million visas in 2023, with 36.5 per cent of them being multiple entry visas (MEVs). On the other hand, 16.7 per cent of visas received a negative decision, which accounts for 436,893 applications.
The top three countries whose nationals prefer to apply for a French visa over a German visa are as follows:
China
Nearly a quarter of Schengen visa applications filed by Chinese nationals in 2023 were for French visas. Chinese were top applicants to France and Schengen countries for the year, filing a total of 1.1 million visa applications.
Morocco
France is a destination for thousands of Moroccan applicants every year, who are always on the list of top ten applicants for Schengen visas to France. In 2023, Moroccans filed 591,401 visa applications – 52.4 per cent or 310,057 of which were for French visas.
Algeria
Algerians filed 279,005 Schengen visa applications to France in 2023 – 58.8 per cent of all applications submitted for the year. After France, Spain is the second-most popular destination for Algerians to apply for Schengen visas.
These 3 Nationalities Filed Most of Their Visa Applications to Germany in 2023
Germany had received 1.4 million visa requests in 2023, 14.3 per cent of which (208,155) were rejected. Regardless of rejections, many nationalities apply repeatedly for visas to this country. Here are some nationalities who filed most of their visa applications to Germany:
Egypt
Germany is a top destination for Egyptian applicants, as they filed 46,991 visa applications to the country in 2023. This means that Germany received 24.9 per cent of all visa applications that Egyptians filed for the year.
Belarus
Belarus visa applicants filed most visa applications to Germany in 2023. Data from Schengen Visa Info reveals that Belarusian applicants submitted 163,979 visa applications – 52,301 of which were to Germany, representing 31.8 per cent of the total.
Kosovo
Although Kosovar nationals, as of 2024, do not need a visa to enter Germany, in the previous year, they filed 64,965 Schengen visa applications to Germany, which is 53.8 per cent of all applications submitted for the year. After Germany, Switzerland is the second-most popular destination for Kosovars, who filed 33,255 applications to this country.
France and Germany, being the top two destinations for Schengen visa applicants, receive millions of applications every year, and it is safe to say that quite often, the two countries are the main destinations for these visa applicants. While France received more applications, it also had higher rejection rates – 16.7 per cent compared to 14.3 per cent from Germany.