According to data published by the European Commission on May 28, 2026, nearly 12 million short-stay Schengen visa applications were submitted at the consulates of EU and Schengen-associated countries in 2025. This is only a moderate increase of 1.8 percent compared to 2024, but it represents a 15.5 percent increase compared to 2023. These figures signal to the tourism market that interest from distant, visa-required markets in Europe is strengthening again, although demand has not yet returned to the pre-pandemic levels of 2019.
At first glance, the news may seem like technical statistics, but it is actually an important tourism indicator. A short-stay Schengen visa typically allows a stay of up to 90 days for tourism, family visits, or business purposes. If millions more or fewer such applications are received, it shows not only the workload of the consulates but also how attractive Europe is to travelers preparing for longer flights, higher spending, and itineraries involving multiple countries.
What do the latest EU figures show?
According to European Commission data, nearly 12 million short-stay Schengen visa applications were received in 2025. This is more than the 11.7 million in 2024 and significantly more than the 10.3 million applications in 2023, yet it still falls far short of the 17 million level recorded in 2019. The number of issued visas exceeded 10 million, which is a 3 percent annual increase, but this also falls short of the pre-pandemic magnitude of 15 million.
The global refusal rate remained at 14.8 percent, meaning there is no sudden tightening in the overall Schengen system. However, there are large differences by country: the refusal rate decreased in some markets and increased significantly in others. This is important for tourism because, in a high-demand source market, the predictability of the visa process can influence the travel decision as much as the price of the flight ticket or accommodation capacity.
China, Turkey, and India lead the applicant list
Based on the Commission's communication, the five largest applicant markets in 2025 were China, Turkey, India, Russia, and Morocco. 1.8 million applications came from China, 1.25 million from Turkey, 1.15 million from India, Russia appeared with 679 thousand, and Morocco with 620 thousand in the ranking. These markets do not affect Hungary in the same way, but each is part of the larger competition in which European countries compete for visitors arriving from further away, who often have higher per capita spending.
From a Hungarian perspective, China, India, and Turkey are particularly interesting. Budapest can be a natural stop on Central European routes: the city can be easily combined with Vienna, Prague, Bratislava, Krakow, or Danube river cruises. Since a significant portion of visa-required travelers prepare for a circuit tour involving several countries, it matters not only how many specifically apply for a visa at a Hungarian consulate, but also how much the overall desire to enter the Schengen area strengthens.
Why is this important for Budapest?
In recent years, Budapest has simultaneously built on the nearby European city-break markets and guests arriving from further away. The growth in short-stay Schengen visa applications indicates that long-haul, intercontinental inbound tourism is slowly but steadily climbing back. This process can be felt by hotels in the capital, sightseeing providers, baths, event venues, restaurants, and airport services, even if the recovery is not uniform.
Those flying to Hungary often arrive via Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport, which is why visa statistics are also noteworthy from the perspective of airport traffic. In the decision of inbound tourists, direct flights, transfer times, baggage handling, the speed of border crossing, and the convenience of getting into the city all count together. Those arriving from distant markets often plan ahead, so uncertain visa appointments or long processing times can easily steer them toward another European destination.
Growth is not yet a full return
One of the most important lessons from the 2025 figures is that Schengen visa demand is improving, but not explosively. The nearly 12 million applications are far from the 17 million in 2019. This shows that the structure of post-pandemic tourism is still different: some distant markets are returning more slowly, flight prices and travel costs are higher, geopolitical uncertainty in several regions affects the desire to travel, and many travelers continue to plan with more price and time sensitivity.
This represents both caution and opportunity for Hungarian tourism players. It is not worth treating the fresh data as if the distant inbound markets had automatically returned to their old tracks. At the same time, the direction is positive: if interest in Europe grows again in the large applicant markets, then those destinations that provide an easy-to-understand offer, good air connectivity, reliable information, and a smooth arrival experience will win.
The role of multiple-entry visas
According to Commission data, 51.2 percent of the Schengen visas issued in 2025 were multiple-entry. This is a slightly lower rate than in 2024, but it remains significant. Multiple-entry visas are particularly important in tourism because they facilitate a European presence consisting of multiple trips: someone can participate in a business event, return later for a family visit, or plan several short city visits in one year.
For Budapest, this is favorable because the city often appears in itineraries together with other European destinations. For an Indian, Chinese, or Turkish traveler, Hungary can be an independent destination, but it can also be part of a regional circuit. If the visa allows multiple entries, it is easier to build itineraries where Budapest is not a competitor to Vienna, Prague, or other Central European stops, but a complement.
Digital borders: EES and ETIAS in the background
The growth in visa applications is occurring during a period when Schengen border management is also rapidly digitizing. According to the European Commission's May Schengen report, the Entry/Exit System, or EES, became fully operational in April 2026, and in the first six months, it registered more than 66 million entries and exits. The system records the short-term entries and exits of non-EU citizens and replaces previous passport stamping with digital records.
From the travelers' perspective, this has a double effect. In the long term, it promises more accurate, secure, and uniform border management; in the short term, however, every new system brings a learning period for passengers, airlines, airports, and authorities. For third-country nationals traveling visa-free, the planned introduction of ETIAS will also mean a new preliminary authorization step, so the quality of information will become part of tourism competitiveness.
What does this mean for the Hungarian travel industry?
The most important conclusion for Hungarian tourism is that visa-required markets must be worked with more consciously. The distant guest does not only look for inspiring images and favorable prices, but also a secure route, clear entry rules, appointments available at the right time, reliable providers, and good customer support. Wherever any point of the travel chain becomes uncertain, the guest can easily choose another Schengen country as the first point of entry.
This is especially true for group trips, conferences, incentive programs, and city visits associated with Danube river cruises. For a group, it is not enough if the program is attractive: the visa process, the flight ticket, the accommodation, the transfer, and the local logistics must work together. For those who would like to rent a car after arrival, it may be useful to check car rental options at Budapest airport in advance, while for short city visits, hotels near the airport can provide a convenient solution for early or late flights.
What should travelers pay attention to?
The fresh statistics do not change the entry rules on their own, but they are a good reminder that the Schengen visa should be arranged in time. Visa-required travelers should check which country's consulate they must submit the application to: generally where the main destination is, or where the longest stay occurs. In the case of trips involving several countries, this is particularly important, because a poorly chosen submission location can cause delays or refusal.
Passengers should also consider in advance how they will get into the city, especially after landing after a long intercontinental flight or a late evening arrival. Pre-planning Budapest airport transfers and taxis takes a lot of stress out of the arrival, and to track flights, the Budapest airport online flight board can be useful before departure. These seem like small details, but for guests arriving from distant markets, these often decide whether the first impression will be seamless.
Why is this topic important now?
Before the summer season, any data that shows the direction of inbound demand is appreciated. The growth of Schengen visa applications in 2025 does not mean that European tourism has fully recovered in every market. Rather, it indicates that non-European demand is strengthening again, but the competition is tougher, guests are more conscious, and border and visa processes play a larger role in the selection of the destination.
For Hungary, the question is how well Budapest and domestic tourism providers can welcome this demand. The city has a strong cultural offer, good value for money, baths, gastronomy, and a regional location. However, the visa statistics warn that capturing the demand is not automatic: the journey of the distant guest can be decided months before arrival, at the moment of the visa appointment, the flight ticket, and the itinerary planning.
Conclusion
The nearly 12 million Schengen visa applications are both good news and a cautious signal. Good news because interest from visa-required markets is growing, and this provides new opportunities for European, including Hungarian, inbound tourism. A cautious signal because demand still falls short of 2019 levels, while the digitization of border management, the operation of EES and the subsequent introduction of ETIAS present new tasks for every player in the travel chain.
The Hungarian tourism market can truly profit from the growth if it does not just expect more guests, but offers a simpler, more predictable, and better-communicated travel experience. Based on the figures, Europe is more attractive again for visa-required travelers. The next question is how much of this Budapest and Hungary can turn into a convenient, well-organized, and trust-inspiring travel experience.
Sources: European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs, May 28, 2026; European Commission, State of Schengen Report 2026; European Commission communication on the full operation of the Entry/Exit System.