Morocco ranks fourth globally for Schengen visa applications in 2024

Tuesday 20 May 2025 - 16:45

By: Dakir Madiha

Morocco ranks fourth globally for Schengen visa applications in 2024

Morocco has secured the fourth position worldwide for Schengen visa applications in 2024, following only China, India, and Turkey in the global ranking, according to recent data.

SchengenVisaInfo reveals that 11,716,723 Schengen visa applications were submitted to EU countries in 2024, marking a 13.5% increase compared to the previous year. However, these numbers still fall short of the nearly 17 million applications recorded in 2019, prior to the pandemic.

Notably, Moroccans have surpassed Russians, who were previously the largest group of Schengen visa applicants. The slow recovery in application numbers can be attributed to ongoing restrictions for certain nationalities and elevated rejection rates, which deter potential applicants.

France continues to be the leading destination for Schengen visa seekers, accounting for over a quarter of all applications worldwide. Moroccans represent the second-largest group of applicants for France, with 282,153 applications in 2024, trailing only behind Algerians.

In a shift in popularity, Spain has overtaken Germany as the second most sought-after Schengen destination, receiving 1.6 million applications, while Germany has fallen to third place with 1.5 million applications this year.

The rejection rate for Schengen visas has decreased to 14.8% in 2024, down from 16% in 2023 and the peak of 17.9% in 2022. Among the countries with the highest number of rejected applications in 2024 are France (481,139), Spain (244,432), and Germany (206,733).

According to CEOWORLD magazine’s Passport Ranking Index, Morocco currently ranks 67th globally in passport strength, with its citizens enjoying visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 72 countries and territories.

A study by SchengenVisaInfo, compiled in August 2024, identified the top five Schengen countries with the highest approval rates for Moroccan applicants. Switzerland leads with an 83.9% approval rate, followed closely by Poland (83.1%), France (81.3%), Portugal (80.05%), and Czechia (75.60%).

The black market for visa appointments has emerged as a significant challenge for Moroccan applicants, with intermediaries exploiting online appointment systems to book and resell slots at inflated prices, sometimes reaching up to MAD 10,000 (approximately $1,000).

In response to these fraudulent practices, visa service providers have implemented new measures. TLScontact has introduced an automated visa appointment allocation system throughout Morocco for France visas, while BLS International has established stringent protocols to ensure fair and transparent appointment processes for Spain visas.