Schengen Visa Applications are Rising Again, but Europe Has Not Yet Returned to 2019 Levels

According to updated data published by the European Commission on May 28, 2026, nearly 12 million short-stay Schengen visa applications were submitted worldwide in 2025. This is an increase compared to previous years, but the number is still well below the pre-pandemic level of 17 million in 2019. This news is not just about EU border management data: it is also an important signal that inbound tourism to Europe is reviving, while the journey for guests arriving from more distant markets remains not entirely frictionless.

Schengen visa statistics may seem like dry administrative data at first glance, but from a tourism perspective, they are actually a sensitive indicator of demand. Travelers who would come to Europe from China, India, Turkey, Morocco, or other visa-required countries typically make a decision well before departure: are there enough attractive destinations, is the cost of the trip worth it, is the visa process predictable, and do they perceive European routes as safe and accessible? If the number of applications increases, it indicates that interest in Europe is strengthening. However, if the level is still far from 2019, it warns that full recovery is not automatic.

According to the Commission, consulates of the EU and Schengen-associated countries received nearly 12 million short-stay visa applications in 2025. This represents a 1.8 percent increase compared to 2024 and a 15.5 percent increase compared to 2023. The number of issued visas exceeded 10 million, representing a 3 percent annual growth. However, compared to the pre-pandemic picture, the market has not yet recovered: in 2019, approximately 17 million applications and 15 million issued visas were recorded in EU statistics.

Why is this important for the Hungarian travel market?

From a Hungarian perspective, the most important question is not exactly how many of all the world's Schengen visa applications come to Hungary, but in which direction the overall European inbound demand is moving. Budapest, Lake Balaton, thermal baths, conference tourism, and Danube riverside city tours are all products that can benefit if more guests from distant markets plan trips to Europe again. The growth in visa applications is therefore a positive sign for hotels, inbound tour operators, airport service providers, and urban tourism stakeholders.

At the same time, the numbers urge caution. The level of nearly 12 million applications shows that demand has returned to a growth path, but it does not mean that European tourism has regained its former strength in every source market. Long-haul flights have become more expensive, airfare and fuel costs are putting pressure on decisions on many routes, and geopolitical uncertainty is rearranging transfer routes. For an Indian, Chinese, or Turkish traveler, Europe remains attractive, but the decision is often more sensitive to price, visa appointment timing, and route safety than it was a few years ago.

For Hungary, this is particularly significant because inbound tourism is not just about classic sightseeing. Guests from further away typically build longer itineraries: Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Krakow, or the Adriatic can be part of a single circuit tour. If Schengen visa processing is smoother and the proportion of multiple-entry visas is high, it also benefits regional tours. Conversely, if applicants are uncertain about the assessment or entry rules, they are more likely to choose another region.

Who leads the applicant rankings?

According to Commission data, the five largest applicant markets in 2025 were China, Turkey, India, Russia, and Morocco. 1.8 million applications were submitted from China, 1.25 million from Turkey, 1.15 million from India, while Russia had 679 thousand and Morocco had 620 thousand applications. These numbers are important because different markets represent different tourism logics.

In the case of China, Europe often appears as a prestige-value trip involving multiple countries, where capitals, luxury shopping, cultural programs, and iconic sights are all important. India is a strategic market due to its rapidly growing middle class and business travel segment, especially for city visits, wedding and family trips, and conference tourism. Turkey is geographically closer, with strong air connections, so shorter European trips and family or business visits can also be significant.

Hungary is not always the primary European destination for these markets, but it can be an increasingly important supplementary stop. The cityscape of Budapest, the bath culture, the World Heritage environment along the Danube, the gastronomy, and the Central European value-for-money together provide an offer that is competitive even alongside the large Western European cities. The question is how much air connections, package deals, and visa-related information make it easy to integrate Hungary into the itinerary.

The role of multiple-entry visas

51.2 percent of the Schengen visas issued in 2025 allowed multiple entries. This is a slight decrease compared to 52.2 percent in 2024, but it remains an important proportion. Multiple-entry visas are particularly valuable for travelers who would return several times for business, family, or circuit tour purposes, or those who combine routes within and outside Europe.

From a tourism perspective, this flexibility matters a lot. For example, a Far Eastern or Near Eastern traveler could arrive in Vienna, continue to Budapest, then leave the Schengen area for a few days, and later return to another European city. If the visa is only for a single entry, such an itinerary becomes more complicated, or completely different destinations may come to the fore. Multiple-entry visas therefore directly support regional tourism, in which Hungary can naturally be part of a Central European loop.

For Hungarian travel providers, this means it is worth positioning Budapest not only as a standalone destination but also thinking in regional combinations. For someone planning between Vienna, Budapest, and Prague, the visa, airport arrival, rail or bus onward travel, and local transfer merge into a single experience chain. For such travelers, it can be useful to preview the flights of Budapest airport and plan the Budapest airport transfer after arrival.

The rejection rate is stable, but the picture varies by country

According to EU data, the global rejection rate in 2025 was 14.8 percent, matching the 2024 level. This means that overall, the success rate of applications has not deteriorated, but significant differences are visible between individual countries. The rejection rate decreased in Russia, Algeria, and Ethiopia, while it rose in several African markets, such as Senegal, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Cape Verde.

This is important for tourism because the rejection rate is not just a legal statistic. If there are many rejections in a market, it can increase traveler uncertainty, organizer risk, and the planning cost of group trips. A travel agency will find it harder to commit to large contingents from a market where there is a higher risk that some passengers will not receive their visas in time. In contrast, a more stable and predictable visa environment can help encourage earlier bookings and longer stays.

Hungarian tourism stakeholders should therefore read the latest data not as a single general European trend, but on a per-market basis. A Turkish weekend city visitor, an Indian family circuit tour, a Chinese premium group, or a guest arriving for a business conference may require different approaches. The common point is that clear communication of the visa process and entry rules is now part of the product.

EES and ETIAS: not the same, but both influence the travel experience

When interpreting visa statistics, it is important to distinguish between the Schengen visa, the Entry/Exit System, and ETIAS. According to previous information from the Commission, the EES digitizes the crossing of external borders by non-EU citizens arriving for short stays: passport data, facial image, fingerprints, as well as the date and time of entry and exit are recorded. This is not a prior request for permission, but part of the procedure at the border.

ETIAS, on the other hand, will be a prior online authorization for visa-exempt third-country travelers arriving for short stays in the Schengen area and Cyprus. According to current information from the Commission, the launch of ETIAS is expected in the last quarter of 2026, with the exact date to be announced later. Travelers subject to visa requirements, such as many Indian applicants, will still need a visa, not an ETIAS authorization.

This is significant for the Hungarian reader for two reasons. First, if someone lives in Hungary but organizes a joint European trip with a non-EU citizen family member or friend, the entry conditions may differ. Second, Hungarian tourism businesses must also account for the fact that some guests arrive with a different administrative burden. Good prior information can reduce airport stress, delays, and misunderstandings.

What does all this mean for the 2026 season?

The message of the 2025 visa data for the summer of 2026 is twofold. First, Europe is again seeing stronger demand from visa-required markets, which is good news for inbound tourism. Second, the market has not yet reached its pre-pandemic size, so competition remains fierce. It is not enough for cities, airports, hotels, and tour operators to assume that guests will return on their own. Price, transport accessibility, transparency of the visa process, and the sense of security in the travel experience decide together.

Hungary's advantage may be that Budapest is easily combinable with other Central European cities, is more competitive in terms of value-for-money than many Western European destinations, and possesses a strong cultural, bath, and event tourism offer. The challenge is that in long-haul markets, Hungary often needs to become visible as part of larger European routes. For this, air connections, multilingual information, fast airport services, and packages that simplify not only the sights but also the practical steps after arrival are important.

The most important practical advice for travelers is not to leave the visa, passport, and entry conditions until the last moment. For those traveling with a visa-required passport, the consular appointment, supporting documents, and prior clarification of any multiple-entry request are particularly important. Those arriving from a visa-exempt country should pay attention to the introduction of ETIAS at the end of 2026. Due to the EES, it is advisable to allow more time at the external Schengen border, especially during the first entry or at high-traffic airports.

A Cautious but Positive Signal for Europe

The latest Schengen visa data are overall positive: the number of applications and issued visas is growing, the global rejection rate has not increased, and the largest source markets continue to show significant interest in Europe. However, the shortfall from the 2019 level indicates that the recovery of inbound tourism is not yet complete, and in the next season, much will depend on affordability, predictable visa processing, and smooth border crossings.

For Hungary, this is both an opportunity and a warning. An opportunity, because growing Schengen visa demand can mean more potential visitors to Budapest and the Hungarian regions. A warning, because in the competition for international tourists, a good price or a beautiful cityscape is no longer enough on its own. Whoever wants to win in inbound tourism in 2026 must make the traveler's entire journey simpler: from visa planning and flight tickets to arrival and local experiences.