🇳🇬 Nigerian citizens · 🇫🇷 France · Tourist / Visitor
France tourist / visitor visa refusal rate for Nigerian citizens (2025)
Consulates of France in Nigeria received 58,583 short-stay Schengen applications in 2025 and refused 27,778 of them — a 48.5% refusal rate, meaning roughly 52 in every 100 decided applications ended in a visa. That is up from 44% in 2024. The European Commission groups these figures by the country an application was lodged in rather than by passport, so they describe applicants applying from Nigeria. They are an aggregate outcome, not your personal odds: finances, ties, purpose and refusal history all move an individual case well above or below the average. On the money side: €65/day with a hotel booking, €120/day without. France benchmarks against the daily SMIC (minimum wage), stated as €65.00 per day. Since 19 June 2014, an applicant with no hotel reservation must show €120 per day; where a booking covers part of the stay, €65 applies to the booked nights and €120 to the rest. With a certified attestation d'accueil the requirement halves to €32.50 per day. The estimator below weighs your own finances, ties, travel history and refusal record against that.
Last reviewed August 2026 per our editorial standards. Rate: European Commission — Schengen short-stay visa statistics for consulates (per Schengen state) . Rules: European Commission — Annex 25 of the Visa Code Practical Handbook: reference amounts required for the crossing of the external border, fixed by national authorities .
How likely is a tourist visa to France for Nigerian citizens? Officers focus on whether you are a genuine visitor who will return home on time. A typical applicant sees roughly 49%, and the biggest single lever is return intent. Nigerian applicants historically face higher refusal rates across most destinations, so strong ties and finances matter most.
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Your trip
The essentials. Pre-filled if you came from a specific page.
Key requirements
- Passport valid 3+ months beyond departure and issued within the last 10 years
- Completed application, photo, and biometrics
- Travel medical insurance of at least €30,000
- Round-trip itinerary and confirmed accommodation
- Proof of sufficient funds; €90 visa fee (2026)
Visa fee (cost)
€90 per adult, €45 for children 6–12, free under 6 — plus a service fee (typically €30–45) where an external centre (VFS/TLS) handles the application.
Money & funds
€65/day with a hotel booking, €120/day without. France benchmarks against the daily SMIC (minimum wage), stated as €65.00 per day. Since 19 June 2014, an applicant with no hotel reservation must show €120 per day; where a booking covers part of the stay, €65 applies to the booked nights and €120 to the rest. With a certified attestation d'accueil the requirement halves to €32.50 per day.
Typical timeline
Apply up to 6 months ahead and at least 15 days before travel; standard decisions take about 15 calendar days, occasionally up to 45.
Common refusal reasons
- Insufficient or unclear means of subsistence
- Doubt about the purpose or intent to leave
- Missing or insufficient travel medical insurance
- Unjustified or inconsistent itinerary
- Previous Schengen overstay or visa misuse
Where Nigeria sits in the official data
Two governments publish visa outcomes broken down by country. Neither predicts an individual decision, but together they show how Nigerian applicants fare relative to everyone else, and which of the destinations we cover currently refuses the fewest applications from Nigeria.
US visitor visas — FY2025
A 57% adjusted refusal rate places Nigeria 160th of 199 nationalities the State Department publishes — a lower refusal rate than 20% of them. The median nationality sits at 31.8%, so Nigeria is 25.2 points above it.
Schengen short-stay visas — 2025
Across all Schengen consulates in Nigeria, 47.9% of short-stay applications were not issued — 120th of 127 countries with a meaningful application volume, and 32.3 points above the 15.6% median.
| Destination | Refused | Issued | Decided |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 29.2% | 70.8% | 7,672 |
| Greece | 36.5% | 63.5% | 441 |
| Italy | 42.2% | 57.8% | 13,649 |
| Francethis page | 48.5% | 51.5% | 57,280 |
| Spain | 55.8% | 44.2% | 8,971 |
| Portugal | 56.3% | 43.7% | 3,043 |
Among Schengen states, applications lodged in Nigeria were refused least often by Germany at 29.2% and most often by Portugal at 56.3% — a gap of 27.1 points on a like-for-like basis. That gap reflects who applies where as much as how strictly each state decides, so it is a starting point for choosing a main destination, not a ranking of leniency. You must still apply to the state where you will spend the most nights.
Demand and outcome moved together for Nigeria between 2024 and 2025. Schengen consulates there decided 110,956 short-stay applications, against 109,682 the year before — up 1.2% — while the refusal rate went from 45.9% to 47.9%. Had 2024's rate held, roughly 2,267 of the 110,956 applicants refused in 2025 would have been issued a visa instead.
Sources: U.S. Department of State — Adjusted Refusal Rate, B-Visas Only, by Nationality and European Commission — Schengen short-stay visa statistics for consulates . Schengen figures are grouped by the country an application was lodged in, not by passport.
Frequently asked questions
What is the France tourist visa refusal rate for Nigerian citizens?
48.5% in 2025, against 44% in 2024 — meaning 51.5% of decided cases ended in a visa. Short-stay (type C) applications lodged in Nigeria at consulates of France and refused during 2025, as a share of those decided (issued plus refused) — the European Commission's own basis, which excludes applications still pending or withdrawn. Rows are grouped by where an application was lodged, so this describes people applying from Nigeria rather than passport holders. Your own case is assessed on its own evidence, so use the estimator on this page rather than the average.
Where does this France refusal-rate figure come from?
From European Commission — Schengen short-stay visa statistics for consulates (per Schengen state), covering 2025. We restate the published figure without adjustment and link the source file directly, so you can check it yourself.
What matters most for a France tourist visa?
Officers focus on whether you are a genuine visitor who will return home on time. In practice the single biggest lever is return intent, so make that part of your application as strong and well-documented as possible.
Does a previous visa refusal affect my chances?
Yes. A prior refusal weighs on new applications until its underlying reason is addressed. Find out exactly why you were refused, fix what caused it, and clearly show what is different this time.
Is this a guarantee of approval?
No. GetVisaOdds is an educational planning tool, not legal advice and not a guarantee. Only a consular or immigration officer can decide your application. We show approximate odds and the reasons behind them so you can prepare better.
Is my information private?
Completely. The estimate runs entirely in your browser. Your answers are never sent to a server or stored — there is no sign-up and nothing to leak.
How much is a Schengen visa in 2026?
€90 for adults, €45 for children aged 6–12, and free for under-6s — the same across all Schengen countries. Service centres (e.g. VFS) may add a service fee.
Which country do I apply to for a Schengen visa?
The country of your main destination (most nights), or your first point of entry if the trip is evenly split.
Is travel insurance mandatory for a Schengen visa?
Yes. You need travel medical insurance covering at least €30,000 for the whole Schengen area and stay.
How long can I stay on a Schengen visa?
Up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period across the whole Schengen area.
