Spain received 1.6 million Schengen visa applications in 2024, up 15.6 percent from the 1.4 million registered the previous year.
According to statistics published by SchengenVisaInfo, Spain's rise to become the second country with the highest number of visa applications was largely due to a 71.3 percent increase in Chinese applicants, who submitted 254,571 applications to Spain alone, Schengen.News reports.
In 2023, Chinese applicants submitted some 148,533 applications for a Spanish Schengen visa. This represented 13.2 percent of all applications submitted by Chinese applicants that year.
In 2024, there were approximately 254,571 Spanish visa applications, accounting for 14.3 percent of all visa applications submitted by Chinese applicants last year.
Spain has become the top destination for visa applicants from 25 countries
As the data shows, Spain has become the top destination for visa applicants from 25 countries, with the majority of visa applications submitted to the consulates of these countries being sent to Spain.
However, it is worth noting that citizens of many of these countries have a visa-free regime with Spain, meaning that passport holders of these countries can enter Spain without a visa for 90 days every 180 days.
On the other hand, foreign nationals holding passports of other countries that do not have visa liberalization with the Schengen area are required to apply for a Schengen visa. Foreigners can do this at visa centers or consulates located in their country of residence.
For example, holders of Argentine passports do not need to apply for a Schengen visa to enter Spain or any other Schengen state. However, an Algerian citizen residing in Argentina must apply for a visa to enter Spain. These applications can be submitted at Spanish consulates located in Argentina.
Spain was the main recipient country of Schengen visas submitted by foreign residents living in these visa-free countries:
Israel - 12,343 visa applications were sent to Spain, or about 42.9% of the 28,711 applications submitted in this country.
Serbia - 2,591 or 14.27% of the 18,149 applications.
Mexico – 956 (37.4%) of 2,552 applications
Chile – 537 (29.8%) of 1,796 applications
Argentina – 596 (44.8%) of 1,328 applications
Panama – 999 (77.7%) of 1,285 applications
Peru – 252 (21.3%) of 1,179 applications
Venezuela – 430 (83%) of 518 applications
Costa Rica – 292 (71.3%) of 409 applications
Guatemala – 196 (53.8%) of 364 applications
Uruguay – 170 (62.5%) of 272 applications
Andorra – 100% of applications (264)
Paraguay – 91 (67.9%) of 134 applications
Honduras – 63 (81.8%) of 77 applications
El Salvador – 38 (74.5%) of 51 applications
Nicaragua – 28 (70%) of 40 applications
As for countries that do not have a visa exemption agreement, Spain was the first destination for citizens of the following countries:
Equatorial Guinea – 8,701 (86.6%) of 10,047 applications
Jamaica – 3,479 (62.8%) of 5,533 applications
Guinea-Bissau – 2,796 (64.4%) of 4,336 applications
Niger – 100% of the 2,460 applications submitted by citizens of these countries were in favor of Spain.
Spain received 1.4 million visa applications in 2023, placing it third in terms of the number of applications submitted. This number increased to 1.6 million in 2024, and the top five countries that submitted the most visa applications were Chinese (254,571), Moroccans (216,985), Russians (125,551), Algerians (123,991) and foreign nationals living in the United Kingdom (123,058).
According to statistics published by SchengenVisaInfo, Spain's rise to become the second country with the highest number of visa applications was largely due to a 71.3 percent increase in Chinese applicants, who submitted 254,571 applications to Spain alone, Schengen.News reports.
In 2023, Chinese applicants submitted some 148,533 applications for a Spanish Schengen visa. This represented 13.2 percent of all applications submitted by Chinese applicants that year.
In 2024, there were approximately 254,571 Spanish visa applications, accounting for 14.3 percent of all visa applications submitted by Chinese applicants last year.
Spain has become the top destination for visa applicants from 25 countries
As the data shows, Spain has become the top destination for visa applicants from 25 countries, with the majority of visa applications submitted to the consulates of these countries being sent to Spain.
However, it is worth noting that citizens of many of these countries have a visa-free regime with Spain, meaning that passport holders of these countries can enter Spain without a visa for 90 days every 180 days.
On the other hand, foreign nationals holding passports of other countries that do not have visa liberalization with the Schengen area are required to apply for a Schengen visa. Foreigners can do this at visa centers or consulates located in their country of residence.
For example, holders of Argentine passports do not need to apply for a Schengen visa to enter Spain or any other Schengen state. However, an Algerian citizen residing in Argentina must apply for a visa to enter Spain. These applications can be submitted at Spanish consulates located in Argentina.
Spain was the main recipient country of Schengen visas submitted by foreign residents living in these visa-free countries:
Israel - 12,343 visa applications were sent to Spain, or about 42.9% of the 28,711 applications submitted in this country.
Serbia - 2,591 or 14.27% of the 18,149 applications.
Mexico – 956 (37.4%) of 2,552 applications
Chile – 537 (29.8%) of 1,796 applications
Argentina – 596 (44.8%) of 1,328 applications
Panama – 999 (77.7%) of 1,285 applications
Peru – 252 (21.3%) of 1,179 applications
Venezuela – 430 (83%) of 518 applications
Costa Rica – 292 (71.3%) of 409 applications
Guatemala – 196 (53.8%) of 364 applications
Uruguay – 170 (62.5%) of 272 applications
Andorra – 100% of applications (264)
Paraguay – 91 (67.9%) of 134 applications
Honduras – 63 (81.8%) of 77 applications
El Salvador – 38 (74.5%) of 51 applications
Nicaragua – 28 (70%) of 40 applications
As for countries that do not have a visa exemption agreement, Spain was the first destination for citizens of the following countries:
Equatorial Guinea – 8,701 (86.6%) of 10,047 applications
Jamaica – 3,479 (62.8%) of 5,533 applications
Guinea-Bissau – 2,796 (64.4%) of 4,336 applications
Niger – 100% of the 2,460 applications submitted by citizens of these countries were in favor of Spain.
Spain received 1.4 million visa applications in 2023, placing it third in terms of the number of applications submitted. This number increased to 1.6 million in 2024, and the top five countries that submitted the most visa applications were Chinese (254,571), Moroccans (216,985), Russians (125,551), Algerians (123,991) and foreign nationals living in the United Kingdom (123,058).
