LONDON: New research published this month reveals that the United Kingdom and Schengen countries have collectively amassed millions in fees from rejected visa applications from Pakistan.
The Lago Collective, a group of researchers, policymakers, and designers, found that Pakistanis spent a staggering £5.3 million on unsuccessful UK visa applications in 2023, with an alarming rejection rate of nearly 40 percent. In the same year, approximately 50 percent of Schengen visa applications from Pakistan were also rejected, costing applicants €3.344 million.
This data, published in collaboration with EUobserver, highlights that EU governments collectively garnered €130 million annually from rejected visa application fees, described as “reverse remittances.”
The analysis by Marta Foresti and Otho Mantegazza from Lago Collective revealed that the Schengen visa rejection costs in 2023 alone amounted to €130 million. Foresti, the founder of Lago Collective and a senior visiting fellow at ODI, emphasized the significant financial burden these visa rejections place on the world’s poorest populations, describing it as a flow of money from poor to rich countries that often goes unaddressed in discussions about aid or migration.
Foresti noted the high rejection rate for short-term visa applications from Pakistan, approximately 40 percent for both Schengen countries and the UK, which incurs substantial costs for Pakistani applicants. This high rejection rate is particularly surprising given the strong ties between Pakistan, Europe, and the UK. The difficulties faced by Pakistani nationals in legally reaching Europe were tragically underscored by the Greece boat capsize incident last year, which claimed hundreds of lives.
The EUobserver report also indicated that the total fees collected from rejected visa applications are expected to rise in 2024, as the visa application fee for EU travel will increase from €80 to €90 for adults on June 11. Additionally, the UK collected £44 million in non-refundable fees from rejected applications, predominantly affecting applicants from African and Asian countries, which bear 90 percent of the costs for rejected Schengen visas.
Writing for the LSE blogs, Foresti highlighted the inequality in visa regimes, pointing out the stark difference in application processes and costs between countries. For example, an Italian national can obtain a visa on arrival in Sierra Leone for £30, while a Sierra Leonean must make multiple costly trips to obtain a visa for Italy.
The analysis also notes that visa application fees are set to increase to €90 for Schengen/Europe and £120 for the UK, leading to a projected rise in rejected visa applications in 2024. This increase will further burden applicants, particularly from countries with high rejection rates like Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Algeria, which collectively incurred millions in costs from rejected UK visa applications.
Lago Collective emphasized that these fees are only part of the total cost, as applicants often incur additional expenses through private agencies and brokers. The inability to travel for business and leisure also results in significant economic losses.
This comprehensive analysis underscores the financial strain imposed by visa rejections on applicants from poorer countries, highlighting a pressing need for more equitable visa policies.