Since 2009, France has been a leading nation in Schengen visa issuance, surpassing Germany and other countries in Europe. According to Schengen Statistics, France granted a remarkable 30.2 million visas from 2009 to 2022, making up 23.9% of the total visas issued by the top ten countries in this period. Notably, Germany led in 2009, but France has since maintained its top position, as reported by SchengenVisaInfo.com.

Peak Visa Issuance Before COVID-19

The years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic saw an unprecedented surge in visa applications, with France, a popular destination, at the forefront. Between 2017 and 2019, Europe granted 35.1 million visas, with France contributing 9.7 million or 27.8% of these. This period marked the peak of visa issuance activity.

Impact of the Pandemic on Visa Trends

The pandemic years (2020 and 2021) witnessed a significant downturn in visa issuance. A mere 3.8 million visas were granted, the lowest on record. Despite these challenges, France continued to lead in visa issuance.

Comparative Analysis with Other Schengen Countries

We can further analyze visa issuance trends in other Schengen countries like Poland, Finland, Czechia, and Switzerland. Poland, previously a major issuer, saw a decline in its ranking, dropping out of the top ten in 2021. Conversely, Czechia climbed the ranks, issuing 200,053 visas in 2021 and securing the fifth position. Finland experienced a dip but rebounded in 2022, ranking eighth. Meanwhile, Switzerland's visa issuance increased, placing it seventh in 2022 with 319,841 visas.