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🇿🇦 South African citizens · 🇪🇺 Schengen · Tourist / Visitor

Schengen tourist / visitor visa success rate for South African citizens (2025)

94.7% of tourist visa applications for the Schengen area lodged in South Africa were approved in 2025, and 5.3% refused. Approval is up from 94.3% in 2024. Schengen consulates in South Africa received 195,946 short-stay Schengen applications in 2025, of which 10,203 were not issued. The European Commission groups these figures by the country an application was lodged in rather than by passport, so they describe applicants applying from South Africa. 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: There is no single Schengen-wide amount: each member state fixes its own means-of-subsistence reference figure, and the one that counts is the country you apply to. They range widely — €40/day plus €75 on entry in Portugal, €50/day in Greece, €55/day in the Netherlands, €120/day in France without a hotel booking, and €122.10/day with a €1,098.90 floor in Spain, while Germany sets no fixed figure and assesses case by case. The European Commission compiles all of them in Annex 25 of the Visa Code Practical Handbook. 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 . Rules: European Commission — Annex 25, Visa Code Practical Handbook (national reference amounts) .

Schengen assesses a tourist visa on whether you are a genuine visitor who will return home on time. As an approximate starting point, this route runs near a 93% base approval for South African citizens — your finances, ties and history then push your personal odds up or down. Published approval rates for South Africa run at 88.3% on US visitor visas in FY2025 and 94.7% on Schengen short-stay applications in 2025.

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Your trip

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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

There is no single Schengen-wide amount: each member state fixes its own means-of-subsistence reference figure, and the one that counts is the country you apply to. They range widely — €40/day plus €75 on entry in Portugal, €50/day in Greece, €55/day in the Netherlands, €120/day in France without a hotel booking, and €122.10/day with a €1,098.90 floor in Spain, while Germany sets no fixed figure and assesses case by case. The European Commission compiles all of them in Annex 25 of the Visa Code Practical Handbook.

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 South Africa sits in the official data

Two governments publish visa outcomes broken down by country. Neither predicts an individual decision, but together they show how South African applicants fare relative to everyone else, and which of the destinations we cover currently refuses the fewest applications from South Africa.

UK tourist visas — year to March 2026

The UK is the only government that publishes outcomes by nationality and visa type, so it is the one place a tourist-visa figure for South Africa actually exists. 3.9% of South African tourist applications were refused across 79,168 decisions , against 3.5% the year before. That volume makes South Africa the 6th-largest source of UK tourist applicants, of 110 countries with meaningful numbers. Different country, different rules — a reference point, not your odds here.

US visitor visas — FY2025

A 11.7% adjusted refusal rate places South Africa 40th of 199 nationalities the State Department publishes — a lower refusal rate than 80% of them. The median nationality sits at 31.8%, so South Africa is 20.1 points below it.

Schengen short-stay visas — 2025

Across all Schengen consulates in South Africa, 5.3% of short-stay applications were not issued — 22nd of 127 countries with a meaningful application volume, and 10.3 points below the 15.6% median.

Schengen short-stay applications lodged in South Africa in 2025, by issuing state. All rows use the European Commission's methodology, so they are comparable with each other — the US figure is computed differently and is shown separately above.
DestinationRefusedIssuedDecided
Greece1.8%98.2%12,689
Spain2.3%97.7%21,066
the Netherlands3%97%21,397
Italy3%97%33,534
Germany3.5%96.5%24,683
Portugal7.2%92.8%10,787
France8.5%91.5%32,367

Among Schengen states, applications lodged in South Africa were refused least often by Greece at 1.8% and most often by France at 8.5% — a gap of 6.7 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 South Africa between 2024 and 2025. Schengen consulates there decided 194,250 short-stay applications, against 191,536 the year before — up 1.4% — while the refusal rate went from 5.7% to 5.3%. That easing meant roughly 869 more applicants were issued a visa than 2024's rate would have produced.

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 Schengen tourist visa refusal rate for South African citizens?

5.3% in 2025, against 5.7% in 2024 — meaning 94.7% of decided cases ended in a visa. Short-stay (type C) applications lodged in South Africa at any Schengen consulate and refused during 2025, as a share of those decided (issued plus refused) — the European Commission's own basis. Rows are grouped by where an application was lodged, not by passport. Your own case is assessed on its own evidence, so use the estimator on this page rather than the average.

Where does this Schengen refusal-rate figure come from?

From European Commission — Schengen short-stay visa statistics for consulates, 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 Schengen 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.

Explore related visa odds

Schengen tourist visa odds for other nationalities

Helpful guides

Schengen visa bank statements: how much money and how to show it → Schengen travel insurance: 30,000 euros cover & cost (2026) → How to prepare for a tourist visa interview → How to build a travel history that strengthens your visa applications → Invitation and sponsorship letters that actually help → How to read visa approval and refusal rates →