8 Reasons for Schengen visa denial & how to avoid them

Reasons for Schengen visa denial that you've not been paying attention to (and how to avoid them)

Some reasons for Schengen visa denial in Nigeria are just too difficult to figure out on your own. So, if you would soon apply for a Schengen visa, reading this post will help you. Most Schengen embassies are too occupied with applications that they do not breakdown the reasons for a refusal. Instead, they just say: justification for the purpose and conditions of the intended stay was not reliable. In reality, this can mean a lot of different things. It just depends on the profile of the applicant and what the applicant has submitted for their application. Sadly, many Nigerians do not have the secrets shared in this post. And this is why they keep applying for a Schengen visa and getting denied. So, as a would-be applicant, it is your duty to study the reasons for Schengen visa denial in Nigeria. Only then would you be able to avoid them. Visa denial is prone to happen when there is a mistake in your application. It also occurs when you provide false documentation. But there are other reasons why the embassy may decide to deny your visa request. Learn about these reasons below.

Some major reasons for Schengen visa denial in Nigeria

Watch out for the major reasons for Schengen visa denial in Nigeria. Already, many applications from Nigeria contain these errors. Avoiding them will help your application stand out at once. Then you can use this advantage to draw the attention of a visa officer and get your Schengen visa.  

#1 - Unreasonable travel duration and purpose of the trip

The embassy may not approve your Schengen visa if you do not have a genuine purpose for your visit. Applicants must provide documents that clearly state the reason for their trip to Schengen countries. These documents include invitation letters, hotel and flight reservations, and leave letters from work. Schengen visa officers are experts at identifying applicants who do not have valid travel purposes. One of the ways they assess this is through the travel dates. To these officers, it may seem unreasonable to request a visa for a trip lasting several months when you have responsibilities to attend to in Nigeria. Once there is an issue such as an unreasonable travel duration or an unclear purpose of visit, the visa officer may deny the application. They may fear that you plan to travel and not return to Nigeria, or that you intend to seek employment in the Schengen country while holding a tourist visa.

#2 – Failure to disclose a previous Schengen visa refusal and having a criminal record

Some applicants wrongly believe that it is safer not to mention their previous Schengen visa refusal. For example, they may think they can apply for a France Schengen visa without disclosing their previous refusal at the German embassy. However, this is not true. Schengen countries share the same database, so they can see your previous refusal and the reasons for it. The best way to handle a previous refusal is to declare it on the application form. Moreover, if an applicant with a criminal record applies for a visa, the embassy may impose a ban. Therefore, it is not recommended to apply for a visa if you have an existing criminal record.

#3 - Irrelevant financial document and insufficient funds for the trip

Many Nigerian applicants wrongly assume that any close relative can sponsor their trip for a visa application, and this is one of the reasons for Schengen visa denial in Nigeria. Those who may sponsor your trip (to increase your chances of getting the visa) are usually your parents or spouse. However, it is not enough for your sponsor to simply be your spouse or parent—you must also prove the relationship, especially when you have different surnames. Supporting documents may include a marriage certificate or birth certificate. If you are not a student, it is often better to sponsor yourself. Schengen visa officers may find it difficult to believe that a relative is willing to fully sponsor your trip. Also, the visa officer is more concerned about your personal financial ties to Nigeria than your sponsor’s finances. Moreover, there is a minimum bank balance required for a Schengen visa application for a single applicant. It is better to submit a bank statement showing more than the required balance to improve your chances of getting a visa.

#4 - Lack of previous travel history

While there are many first-timer who got their Schengen visas at the first trial, Schengen countries prefer those with travel experience. So, try to visit Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, or Dubai before applying for a Schengen visa. Your travel experience will help you stand out. However, note that the travel experience is not as important as your bank statement of account. It is also not as prominent as an unreasonable travel duration on the application.  

#5 - Failure to provide valid flight and hotel reservations

This is also one of the major reasons for Schengen visa denial in Nigeria. An applicant visa approval is at stake when there is no proper proof of travel itinerary. As an applicant, you need to have a proper plan for your trip to Schengen Area. Therefore, you will need a proper travel itinerary to safeguard your Schengen visa approval. In other words, proof of your reserved flight tickets and accommodation are required to get a Schengen visa approval. An applicant that fails to present proof of accommodation at the embassy may experience visa denial. As a Nigerian applicant, you need to present proof of accommodation. This may be an invitation letter (if someone is inviting you over) or a hotel booking. Flyibat helps Nigerian applicants make hotel and flight reservations at affordable fees. If you do not want to pay expensive nightly rates at hotels for your visa application, speak to us at Flyibat. We will help make these reservations without wasting time.  

#6 - Invalid/fake documentation

This is a serious reason for Schengen visa denial in Nigeria. An applicant that provides fake travel documents can never get visa approval. In fact, it may cause a visa ban. As a Nigerian applicant, you must provide valid travel documents before getting a Schengen visa approval.

#7 - Lack of appropriate Schengen travel insurance

The other reason for Schengen visa denial in Nigeria is the lack of proper Schengen Insurance. Your Schengen visa application may be denied if you fail to provide travel insurance that works for Schengen countries. Also, the insurance duration has to fit your proposed travel date. Talk to us at Flyibat for your Schengen travel insurance. We are partners with top insurance companies whose coverage has been approved by Schengen embassies. Our rates are cheap as well.

#8 - Lack of cover letter in a Schengen visa application

Only a few Schengen countries interview a visa applicant. Some of them are Germany and Austria. The rest of them like France, Netherlands, Spain, and Italy do not hold visa interviews. In this case, it is difficult for a visa applicant to provide detailed information about themselves and their trip. And this is a Major reason for Schengen visa denial in Nigeria. The right thing to do is to include a cover letter that explains more about the documentation and trip. Additional information may cover the use of two bank statements or a breakdown of daily activities for a trip. Flyibat helps plan and construct cover letters that convince the embassy of the genuineness of the purpose of the trip. If you require one, speak to us. Our visa officers are expert trip planners and will work with you closely to get your Schengen visa.

Schengen visa refusal rate by country

Wondering about the country with the highest Schengen visa refusals? Well, scroll down a little. A recent study carried out by the European Commission revealed that France issued 3.3 million visas in 2018. Making France the country with the highest Schengen visa. Germany is the second country that issued the highest Schengen visa in 2018, then followed by Italy. However, here is the list of the top 10 countries with the highest rate of Schengen visa refusals. Also, this post provides information on the top 10 countries with the lowest rate of Schengen visa refusals. Starting with the top 10 countries that grant Schengen visas the most:

1. Malta - 20.45%

2. Belgium - 16.79%

3. Portugal - 16.58%

4. France - 15.71%

5. Netherlands - 12.62%

6. Sweden - 11.69%

7. Slovenia - 9.97%

8. Norway - 9.50%

9. Spain - 9.26%

10. Germany - 9.08%

Conclusion on the major reasons for Schengen visa denial in Nigeria

Note that, some of the information listed is not ONLY applicable to Schengen visa but any type of visa application. However, Schengen visa denial mostly occurs when there is something unsatisfactory about an applicant's visa application. Also, an applicant may reapply for a Schengen visa when the first visa application is rejected. As a determined Nigerian applicant, the need to evaluate the reasons for Schengen visa denial in Nigeria is very crucial. Ask Flyibat to help you evaluate your visa application. This will help you avoid making another mistake that may lead to yet another refusal. For evaluation and professional advice, reach out to us on 09168628435 or 09168628433