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- Spain Anticipates 10% Surge in Indian Schengen Visa Requests 2024
Spain Anticipates 10% Surge in Indian Schengen Visa Requests 2024
In a recent statement to Businessline, the Ambassador of Spain to India, José María Ridao, conveyed Spain's expectations of a notable rise in Schengen visa applications from Indian nationals in the upcoming year.
Ambassador Ridao disclosed that Spain processed over 90,000 Schengen visa applications from Indian citizens this year. Projections for 2024 indicate a ten percent surge, with the anticipated total reaching 100,000 applications, as reported by SchengenVisaInfo.com.
"This year, we had over 90,000 visa applications. Next year, I believe that we will cross the 1 lakh [100,000] mark, thereby an increase of 10 percent," affirmed Ambassador Ridao.
Despite the substantial demand, concerns have been raised by travel companies regarding prolonged processing periods and a scarcity of available appointment slots. Complaints suggest applicants endure wait times exceeding a month, and in some cases, up to 90 days, to receive visa decisions, impacting travel plans significantly.
The extended processing durations have prompted some applicants to consider alternative travel destinations offering visa-free entry, while others have been compelled to rearrange their itineraries due to delays in visa issuance.
Ambassador Ridao addressed these challenges, stating to Businessline that, in response to the high application volumes, they are establishing an office in Bangalore. He emphasized the commitment to facilitating the travel of Indian nationals to Spain, expressing the intention to enhance visa-granting processes and services.
Furthermore, Ambassador Ridao expressed the desire to encourage more Spaniards to explore India, stating, "We want people to come to our country, and we want our citizens to come to India as well."
Statistical data from Schengen Visa Statistics reveals that Indians submitted a total of 671,928 Schengen visa applications in 2022, reflecting a significant 45 percent increase compared to the previous year. Predominantly intended for travel purposes, the rejection rate dropped to 18.3 percent in the same period.