Schengen refusals, all countries

Schengen visas in Australia: refusals consulate by consulate

3.0% of applications refused in 2025 — 576 of 19,163.

2024: 3.1% of 17,474 applications (−0.1 pts). 41 Schengen consulates active in 2025.

What the national rate hides

Fewest refusals
0.6%
Switzerland — Sydney · 1,215 applications
Most refusals
8.8%
Netherlands — Sydney · 2,129 applications
Biggest drop since 2024
−4.8 pts
Netherlands — Sydney · 2,129 applications
Highest share of multiple-entry visas
99.8%
Switzerland — Sydney · 1,215 applications

Ranking based on consulates with at least 1,000 applications: below that, a handful of files moves the rate. The largest consulate by volume is Austria — Canberra, with 4,829 applications.

Every consulate, fewest to most refusals

Schengen visa refusal rate by consulate, Australia, 2025 and 2024
ConsulateApplications 2025Refused 20252024ChangeMultiple entry
Switzerland — Sydney1,2150.6%0.0%+0.6 pts99.8%
Austria — Canberra4,8290.6%1.7%−1.1 pts96.7%
Italy — Sydney1,6390.8%0.5%+0.3 pts53.9%
France — Sydney2,9734.8%3.8%+1.0 pts16.7%
Netherlands — Sydney2,1298.8%13.6%−4.8 pts26.3%

Under 1,000 applications — rates not significant

ConsulateApplications 2025Refused 20252024ChangeMultiple entry
Italy — Melbourne8172.4%1.2%+1.2 pts99.6%
Greece — Sydney6910.0%0.0%0.0 pts52.0%
Spain — Sydney5600.0%0.9%−0.9 pts0.9%
Belgium — Canberra5082.0%4.1%−2.1 pts6.4%
Spain — Melbourne4652.6%3.5%−0.8 pts0.2%
Italy — Perth4050.5%0.5%0.0 pts13.9%
Finland — Canberra37614.9%2.8%+12.1 pts25.0%
Italy — Adelaide3383.0%3.7%−0.8 pts9.8%
Italy — Canberra3260.3%1.4%−1.1 pts13.2%
Italy — Brisbane2842.8%2.8%+0.1 pts95.7%
Portugal — Sydney2525.2%0.5%+4.6 pts2.5%
Czech Republic — Sydney2315.2%4.2%+1.0 pts12.8%
Greece — Melbourne1673.0%0.0%+3.0 pts30.2%
Poland — Sydney1656.6%2.8%+3.8 pts32.5%
Greece — Perth1211.7%0.7%+1.0 pts13.3%
Croatia — Melbourne930.0%3.2%−3.2 pts19.0%
Spain — Canberra684.9%6.4%−1.5 pts0.0%
Slovenia — Canberra6114.8%3.9%+10.8 pts21.2%
Greece — Adelaide500.0%0.0%0.0 pts10.0%
Croatia — Canberra437.1%3.9%+3.2 pts76.9%
Bulgaria — Canberra420.0%0.0%0.0 pts8.6%
Estonia — Canberra365.6%6.7%−1.1 pts20.6%
Malta — Melbourne362.8%50.0%−47.2 pts2.9%
Greece — Canberra290.0%0.0%0.0 pts62.1%
Romania — Sydney2910.3%0.0%+10.3 pts0.0%
Latvia — Canberra2638.5%22.2%+16.2 pts0.0%
Malta — Sydney248.3%0.0%+8.3 pts13.6%
Croatia — Sydney230.0%0.0%0.0 pts65.0%
Portugal — Canberra234.3%2.6%+1.8 pts27.3%
Slovakia — Sydney230.0%0.0%0.0 pts9.1%
Romania — Melbourne175.9%0.0%+5.9 pts31.3%
Germany — Sydney130.0%0.0%0.0 pts100.0%
Croatia — Perth1110.0%0.0%+10.0 pts100.0%
France — Canberra110.0%0.0%0.0 pts87.5%
Malta — Canberra714.3%0.0%+14.3 pts0.0%
Sweden — Canberra70.0%0.0%0.0 pts28.6%

Before choosing a consulate

You do not pick your consulate. The Visa Code (Article 5) designates the one of your main destination — or of the first country of entry if no destination dominates. Applying "where refusals are lower" for a trip elsewhere is itself a ground for refusal.

A low rate is not leniency: it also reflects who applies. A consulate that mostly receives seasoned business travellers refuses less than one receiving first-time applicants. The rate shows where files fail most often — a reason to prepare yours carefully, not to change address.

Where to go visa-free with a Australian passport

Source: Commission européenne — Visa statistics for consulates, 2025 and 2024 editions, published 2026-05-28. Uniform short-stay visas; the rate is the Commission's: refusals / (issued + limited territorial validity visas + refusals).