Residents of Uzbekistan submitted 58,691 Schengen visa applications in 2024 — the highest number in the past decade. Compared to 2023, demand grew by 26.2%, according to data from SchengenVisaInfo.com.
How Many Schengen Visas Were Approved for Uzbekistan?
In total, 51,604 visas were issued to Uzbek citizens last year. This corresponds to an approval rate of 87.29%. On average, 1.51 visas were granted per 1,000 residents of the country.
At the same time, 9,250 applications were denied — a 15.76% rejection rate. The number of rejections rose by more than 1,200 compared to 2023. The denial rate per capita stood at 0.27 per 1,000 residents.
Which Schengen Countries Received the Most Visa Applications from Uzbekistan?
Germany remained the top destination for Uzbek travellers. It received 19,329 applications in 2024 — more than any other Schengen country. It also issued 15,205 visas, but had the highest number of rejections at 3,804.
Other popular countries included France, Italy and Spain. Meanwhile, Poland had the highest rejection rate, turning down 69.2% of applicants from Uzbekistan. Switzerland recorded zero applications.
Bulgaria reported a visa issuance rate of over 133%, which likely reflects the issuing of multi-entry or long-term visas.
How Much Did Uzbek Citizens Spend on Schengen Visas
Visa application fees from Uzbekistan totalled approximately €4.7 mln in 2024. Of that, around €740,000 was spent on applications that were eventually rejected.
Since 2014, Uzbek applicants have spent over €26 mln on Schengen visa fees.
How Did the Pandemic Affect Schengen Visa Demand in Uzbekistan
Between 2020 and 2022, the number of applications fell sharply due to travel restrictions. During that period, Uzbekistan averaged just over 18,400 applications per year — a drop of more than 60% compared to pre-pandemic levels.
In 2024, demand fully recovered, and interest in travel to Europe continues to grow.
