In 2025, consulates of Schengen area countries in Uzbekistan received 61,328 applications for short-stay visas, a 4.5% increase compared to 2024. However, the growth rate slowed sharply from 26.2% in 2024 to just 4.5% in 2025, according to European Commission statistics.
The number of uniform Schengen visas issued rose by 4.9% from 48,137 to 50,513, with the approval rate edging up from 82% to 82.4%. At the same time, the number of refusals increased from 9,250 to 9,983, pushing the rejection rate from 15.8% to 16.3%.
Visas with limited territorial validity (LTV) saw a sharp decline, dropping from 3,467 in 2024 to just 822 in 2025. When combining uniform and LTV visas, the overall issuance rate fell from 87.9% to 83.7%. Uzbekistan ranked 96th out of 161 countries in terms of approval rate.
The number of multiple-entry visas decreased from 15,400 to 14,327, and their share of total uniform visas dropped from 32% to 28.4%, indicating a tightening of visa policies for Uzbek citizens.
Germany remained the top destination, with its Tashkent consulate receiving 18,361 applications, though this was 5% fewer than in 2024. Germany issued 14,028 uniform visas (approval rate 76.4%) and refused 3,847 applications (21.3%).
France ranked second, with applications surging 24.2% to 11,549. It issued 9,859 uniform visas, with the approval rate rising to 85.3% and the rejection rate falling from 14.1% to 13%.
Italy, despite a drop in applications to 6,474, recorded the highest approval rate among major destinations at 95%, with only 5% refusals. Italy also led in multiple-entry visas, issuing 4,233 (65.4% of its total).
Hungary saw an 81% jump in applications to 6,398, but its rejection rate climbed to 20.7%. Poland continued to have one of the highest rejection rates at around 33%, with applications falling to 2,370.
Other consulates, including Latvia, Czechia, Slovakia, and Romania, showed varying application volumes and approval rates. Overall, while Schengen visa applications from Uzbekistan increased in 2025, the rise in rejections and decline in multiple-entry visas suggest a stricter visa regime.
Source: www.gazeta.uz