Faith Nyasuguta
The European Union (EU) generated approximately €56 million from visa application fees paid by Africans whose requests were ultimately rejected in 2023, a new report has revealed.
The amount, which represents 43% of all revenues from rejected visa applications globally, has sparked criticism over what analysts describe as a growing intercontinental economic imbalance. According to the report, the funds were collected from thousands of African citizens who paid mandatory non-refundable visa fees, despite the high rejection rates for applicants from the continent.
This practice raises ethical questions, especially as the EU continues to position itself as a development partner committed to supporting Africa through humanitarian and infrastructure assistance.
Countries Most Affected by EU Visa Refusals
| Country | Number of refusals | Amount lost (in millions of euros) | Refusal rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | 166 200 | 13,0 | 35% |
| Morocco | 136 300 | 11,0 | Not specified |
| Egypt | Not specified | 3,7 | Not specified |
| Nigeria | Not specified | 3,4 | Not specified |
| Tunisia | Not specified | 3,1 | Not specified |
| Senegal | Not specified | 2,11 | Not specified |
Algerians were the hardest hit by EU visa refusals in 2023. With 166,200 applications rejected out of 474,032 submitted, they lost over 13 million euros. The refusal rate for Algerians was 35%, one of the highest among African countries. The cost of the visa application, which was 80 euros before the recent increase, represents more than a third of the average salary in Algeria.
Moroccans followed with 136,300 visa refusals, resulting in a loss of almost 11 million euros. Other countries heavily impacted include Egypt (3.7 million euros), Nigeria (3.4 million euros), and Tunisia (3.1 million euros). The Senegalese, with a loss of 2.11 million euros, complete the list.
The €56 million lost by Africans represents 43% of the total sums lost by non-European nationals whose EU visas have been refused. The increase in the cost of the visa application to 90 euros since June 11, 2023, further accentuates the financial impact of refusals. While the European Commission justifies this increase on the grounds of inflation in member states, it also increases the financial burden for African applicants.
In 2024, the EU announced various support initiatives to African countries, including a €5.4 million humanitarian aid package to mitigate the effects of devastating floods in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions. Critics argue that such aid could be offset by the high revenue the EU earns from rejected visa applications, suggesting that funds Africans pay in pursuit of travel opportunities are indirectly recycled back to the continent in the form of conditional support.
“This is one of the most profitable intercontinental business models in modern times,” an international relations analyst said. Africans are essentially paying into a system that systematically denies them access, only for a portion of that money to return as aid, often with strings attached.”
Analysts are calling for greater transparency in visa processing and a review of current fee structures, especially for countries facing high rejection rates.
They also stress the need for African governments to push for fairer migration policies and reinvest in local opportunities to reduce the economic burden on citizens seeking to travel abroad.
The European Commission has not yet responded to growing concerns over the report, but EU officials have previously stated that visa fees are necessary to cover administrative costs and maintain the integrity of the EU visa system.
The visa application fee for a short-stay EU visa currently stands at €80 per applicant, non-refundable regardless of the outcome.
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