Visa refusal rates for Kuwait: Schengen countries (2025), easiest and hardest, the UK and Canada
Updated on · Data: European Commission, 2025
How many Schengen visa applications made in Kuwait were not issued in 2025, country by country and consulate by consulate, with the easiest and hardest countries for Kuwaiti applicants, and how many UK study visa applications by nationals of Kuwait were refused, with the latest figures for Canada. Official figures only.
Key figures
- In 2025, 146,194 Schengen visa applications were made in Kuwait.
- In 2025, 5.7% of Schengen visa decisions on applications made in Kuwait were "not issued": 8,278 of 145,611 decisions.
- Schengen countries issued 137,078 uniform visas on applications made in Kuwait in 2025.
- The 2025 not-issued rate in Kuwait was 1.0 percentage points lower than in 2024, when it was 6.7%.
Source: European Commission, Visa statistics for consulates 2025 (XLSX, downloaded on 15 October 2026); calendar year 2025, compared with 2024. Not-issued rate = visas not issued ÷ (uniform visas issued + visas with limited territorial validity + visas not issued). © European Union; reuse allowed under CC BY 4.0 (Commission legal notice, Decision 2011/833/EU, checked on 31 October 2026). Download these figures (CSV), CC BY 4.0.
Schengen visas · applications made in Kuwait · 2025: 5.7% not issued (8,278 of 145,611 decisions)
Easiest Schengen visa from Kuwait, by the numbers: the lowest not-issued rate among Schengen countries with at least 500 decisions was France (2.7%); the highest was Hungary (15.1%). Full ranking by country and consulate. Of the 74 countries with the most applications, Kuwait ranks 12 (1 = lowest rate). Multiple-entry visas: 88.1% of uniform visas issued in 2025 (by country).
Source: European Commission, Visa statistics for consulates 2025 (XLSX, downloaded on 15 October 2026); European Commission, Visa statistics for consulates 2024 (XLSX, downloaded on 15 October 2026). Short-stay (Schengen) visas, calendar year. All years on the Commission website.
United Kingdom · nationals of Kuwait · July 2025 to June 20260.8% of study visa decisions refused (details)
Source: Home Office, entry clearance visa outcomes, published 27 August 2026, downloaded on 15 October 2026
Australia, New Zealand and Canada · by citizenship: Latest official full-year figures for nationals of this country
Sources: IRCC (2025, Open Government Licence – Canada); downloaded on 26 October 2026. Details and definitions below.
Statistics, not advice. These are official figures for all applications made in a past period. They cannot predict the decision on your application, and a lower rate does not make a visa easier for you: you must apply to the Schengen country where you will spend the most time (or, for equal stays, the one you enter first), at the consulate responsible for the place where you legally live. Always follow the consulate's official requirements.
Schengen visa rejection rate by country, applications made in Kuwait
Tap a column heading to sort. "Not issued" includes refusals and applications whose examination was discontinued. * Fewer than 100 decisions: the rate can swing a lot.
| France | 2.7% | 3.0% | 35,461 | 34,532 | 959 |
| Spain | 9.0% | 8.2% | 26,898 | 24,046 | 2,379 |
| Italy | 3.0% | 3.4% | 23,772 | 23,051 | 721 |
| Germany | 5.1% | 11.3% | 22,664 | 21,429 | 1,166 |
| Netherlands | 8.2% | 7.0% | 10,517 | 9,582 | 855 |
| Greece | 13.0% | 6.7% | 6,420 | 5,556 | 831 |
| Czech Republic | 3.5% | 9.2% | 5,681 | 5,478 | 201 |
| Austria | 5.8% | 5.7% | 5,277 | 4,897 | 301 |
| Belgium | 7.6% | 12.7% | 3,026 | 2,777 | 228 |
| Hungary | 15.1% | 17.7% | 2,245 | 1,894 | 337 |
| Poland | 4.4% | 4.5% | 2,120 | 2,016 | 92 |
| Bulgaria | 12.9% | 6.0% | 1,166 | 963 | 142 |
| Croatia | 5.4% | 5.5% | 518 | 473 | 27 |
| Romania | 14.2% | 0.4% | 224 | 187 | 31 |
| Malta | 3.9% | 3.0% | 205 | 197 | 8 |
Source: European Commission, Visa statistics for consulates 2025 (XLSX, downloaded on 15 October 2026); European Commission, Visa statistics for consulates 2024 (XLSX, downloaded on 15 October 2026). Short-stay (Schengen) visas, calendar year. All years on the Commission website.
Easiest Schengen visa from Kuwait: lowest and highest refusal rates (2025)
Which Schengen country has the lowest rejection rate for Kuwaiti applicants? Among the 13 Schengen countries that decided at least 500 applications made in Kuwait in 2025, France had the lowest not-issued rate (2.7%) and Hungary the highest (15.1%). Smaller numbers move too much from year to year to compare. These rates describe past decisions, not your chances. See the easiest Schengen visa from Kuwait: all countries and consulates ranked.
Lowest refusal rates
- 1France35,503 decisions2.7%
- 2Italy23,772 decisions3.0%
- 3Czech Republic5,681 decisions3.5%
- 4Poland2,114 decisions4.4%
- 5Germany22,644 decisions5.1%
A lower rate is not a guarantee, and you cannot choose freely. Each rate mixes different travellers, purposes and documents. You must apply to the country of your main destination: the rule is on the European Commission page on applying for a Schengen visa (checked on 15 October 2026). Applying to a country you do not plan to visit mainly can itself lead to a refusal.
Source: European Commission, Visa statistics for consulates 2025 (XLSX, downloaded on 15 October 2026). Short-stay (Schengen) visas, calendar year. All years on the Commission website.
Multiple-entry Schengen visas issued in Kuwait (2025)
Schengen visas issued in Kuwait · 2025: 88.1% were multiple-entry visas (120,779 of 137,078 uniform visas issued)
Among the 12 Schengen countries that issued at least 500 visas in Kuwait in 2025, Germany gave the highest share of multiple-entry visas (99.8%) and Bulgaria the lowest (72.5%). All Schengen visas issued worldwide in 2025: 51.7% multiple-entry. Multiple-entry Schengen visas by country and by place of application.
Source: European Commission, Visa statistics for consulates 2025 (XLSX, downloaded on 15 October 2026); European Commission, Visa statistics for consulates 2024 (XLSX, downloaded on 15 October 2026). Short-stay (Schengen) visas, calendar year. All years on the Commission website.
Schengen countries that issued at least 500 uniform visas in Kuwait in 2025, from the highest share of multiple-entry visas. Tap a column heading to sort. "Change" is in percentage points; * fewer than 500 visas issued in 2024. Not shown (fewer than 500 visas issued): Croatia, Malta, Romania.
| Germany | 99.8% | 99.9% | −0.1 pts | 21,429 | 21,393 |
| Poland | 96.9% | 95.0% | +1.8 pts | 2,016 | 1,953 |
| Austria | 96.0% | 97.9% | −1.9 pts | 4,897 | 4,701 |
| Italy | 91.6% | 89.6% | +2.0 pts | 23,051 | 21,106 |
| Hungary | 90.5% | 90.4% | +0.2 pts | 1,894 | 1,715 |
| Belgium | 89.7% | 88.4% | +1.2 pts | 2,777 | 2,490 |
| Czech Republic | 88.8% | 93.1% | −4.2 pts | 5,478 | 4,865 |
| Greece | 87.7% | 94.1% | −6.4 pts | 5,556 | 4,874 |
| Netherlands | 82.8% | 87.3% | −4.5 pts | 9,582 | 7,938 |
| France | 82.4% | 83.9% | −1.4 pts | 34,532 | 28,469 |
| Spain | 82.3% | 81.0% | +1.3 pts | 24,046 | 19,780 |
| Bulgaria | 72.5% | 83.4% | −10.9 pts | 963 | 698 |
Source: European Commission, Visa statistics for consulates 2025 (XLSX, downloaded on 15 October 2026); European Commission, Visa statistics for consulates 2024 (XLSX, downloaded on 15 October 2026). Short-stay (Schengen) visas, calendar year. All years on the Commission website.
What this share means, and what it does not. A multiple-entry visa "allows several visits to the Schengen area for as long as the visa is valid"; a single-entry visa allows one entry (European Commission, checked on 30 October 2026). Every visit is still a short stay, of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. A multiple-entry visa is not a long-stay visa, a work permit or a residence permit. The Commission's file only says whether each visa allows multiple entries: it does not say how long the visas were valid for. The share describes visas issued in the past, not your chances: the consulate decides the number of entries and the validity of each visa.
By consulate
Each Schengen country's consulates (or visa sections) in Kuwait, by number of applications in 2025. Where a country is represented by another, the applications appear under the country that decided them.
| France | Kuwait | 2.7% | 35,461 | 959 |
| Spain | Kuwait | 9.0% | 26,898 | 2,379 |
| Italy | Kuwait | 3.0% | 23,772 | 721 |
| Germany | Kuwait | 5.1% | 22,664 | 1,166 |
| Netherlands | Kuwait | 8.2% | 10,517 | 855 |
| Greece | Kuwait | 13.0% | 6,420 | 831 |
| Czech Republic | Kuwait | 3.5% | 5,681 | 201 |
| Austria | Kuwait | 5.8% | 5,277 | 301 |
| Belgium | Kuwait | 7.6% | 3,026 | 228 |
| Hungary | Kuwait | 15.1% | 2,245 | 337 |
| Poland | Kuwait | 4.4% | 2,120 | 92 |
| Bulgaria | Kuwait | 12.9% | 1,166 | 142 |
| Croatia | Kuwait | 5.4% | 518 | 27 |
| Romania | Kuwait | 14.2% | 224 | 31 |
| Malta | Kuwait | 3.9% | 205 | 8 |
Source: European Commission, Visa statistics for consulates 2025 (XLSX, downloaded on 15 October 2026). Short-stay (Schengen) visas, calendar year. All years on the Commission website.
UK visa refusal rate for nationals of Kuwait: study visas
From July 2025 to June 2026, the UK refused 0.8% of study visa decisions for nationals of Kuwait (39 refused out of 5,172). Unlike the Schengen figures, the UK counts applicants by nationality, wherever they apply.
| Visa type | Refused 12 months to Jun 2026 | Year before 12 months to Jun 2025 | Decisions | Granted | Refused |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor visas | 6.5% | 5.8% | 216 | 202 | 14 |
| Study visas | 0.8% | 1.2% | 5,172 | 5,133 | 39 |
| Work visas | 1.8%* | 0.0% | 57 | 56 | 1 |
| Family visas | 64.1%* | 20.0% | 92 | 33 | 59 |
| Other visas | 0.0%* | 1.0% | 70 | 70 | 0 |
| All visas | 2.0% | 1.6% | 5,607 | 5,494 | 113 |
Source: Home Office, Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes detailed datasets, year ending June 2026 (XLSX, published 27 August 2026, downloaded on 15 October 2026; next update 26 November 2026). Refusal rate = refused ÷ (granted + refused), as in the Home Office grant rate; withdrawn and lapsed applications are excluded. Figures from 2026 Q1 are provisional.
Study visas, quarter by quarter
- 0.8%Q3
2024 4,459 decisions - 3.4%Q4
2024 562 decisions - 4.8%Q1
2025 250 decisions - 1.0%Q2
2025 411 decisions - 0.3%Q3
2025 4,136 decisions - 2.4%Q4
2025 535 decisions - 4.8%Q1
2026 315 decisions - 0.0%Q2
2026 186 decisions
Source: Home Office, same file as above (published 27 August 2026, downloaded on 15 October 2026). Each bar is the share of study visa decisions taken in that quarter that were refusals; 2026 figures are provisional.
Study visas, quarter by quarter
| Q3 2024 | 0.8% | 4,459 |
| Q4 2024 | 3.4% | 562 |
| Q1 2025 | 4.8% | 250 |
| Q2 2025 | 1.0% | 411 |
| Q3 2025 | 0.3% | 4,136 |
| Q4 2025 | 2.4% | 535 |
| Q1 2026 | 4.8% | 315 |
| Q2 2026 | 0.0% | 186 |
Source: Home Office, Entry clearance visa applications and outcomes detailed datasets, year ending June 2026 (XLSX, published 27 August 2026, downloaded on 15 October 2026). "Study" is the Home Office group for sponsored study (Student, Child Student) and short-term study visas; "Work" groups all work routes (Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, temporary and seasonal work, Global Business Mobility, talent and business visas, and their dependants). * Fewer than 100 decisions; 2026 figures are provisional.
Australia student visa refusal rate
In 2025-26 Australia decided 265 student visa applications from primary applicants who are nationals of Kuwait and applied from outside Australia, fewer than the 500 we need to show a meaningful rate. See Australia visa refusal rates for all nationalities.
New Zealand visa decline rate
In 2025/26 Immigration New Zealand decided at most 202 visitor, student or work visa applications from nationals of Kuwait in each category, fewer than the 500 we need to show a meaningful rate. See New Zealand visa decline rates for all nationalities.
Canada: temporary resident applications from Kuwait approved (2025)
In 2025, IRCC approved 87.8% of the temporary resident applications from Kuwait that it processed (1,510 approved out of 1,720 people). This share mixes visitor visas, study permits and work permits, first applications and extensions; "processed" includes applications refused and withdrawn, so the other 12.2% were refused or withdrawn. In 2024: 89.0%. January to August 2026: 78.2% (1,470 processed).
No study permit or visitor visa refusal rate. For each country IRCC publishes only the number of new study permit applications processed (55 from Kuwait in 2025) and the number of visitor visas approved (1,025), never both for the same visa, so a study permit or visitor visa refusal rate cannot be calculated from the official files.
| January to August 2026 | 78.2% | 1,470 | 1,150 | 45 | 775 |
| 2025 | 87.8% | 1,720 | 1,510 | 55 | 1,025 |
| 2024 | 89.0% | 1,910 | 1,700 | 80 | 1,150 |
| 2023 | 85.0% | 3,110 | 2,645 | 190 | 1,785 |
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Operational Processing – Monthly IRCC Updates: temporary resident applications processed, temporary resident applications approved, new study permit applications processed, visitor visas (V-1) approved (XLSX, data as of September 1, 2026, downloaded on 26 October 2026). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. IRCC rounds counts to the nearest 5 and does not publish counts from 1 to 4; the data are operational and subject to change.
Approved share, month by month (all temporary resident applications)
- 90%Sep
2025 205 processed - 78%Oct
2025 115 processed - 74%Nov
2025 95 processed - 88%Dec
2025 85 processed - 76%Jan
2026 105 processed - 53%Feb
2026 235 processed - 75%Mar
2026 140 processed - 81%Apr
2026 180 processed - 88%May
2026 200 processed - 88%Jun
2026 215 processed - 85%Jul
2026 170 processed - 78%Aug
2026 230 processed
Source: IRCC, same files as above (data as of September 1, 2026, downloaded on 26 October 2026). Each bar is approved ÷ processed in that month. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
All countries: Canada temporary resident approval rate by country.
Travel medical insurance
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See SafetyWing travel medical insurance (opens in a new tab)
SafetyWing sells travel medical insurance for travellers and nomads online. Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Buying insurance does not change the decision on your visa, and we do not know whether a given consulate accepts a given policy: check before you pay.
How to read these figures
- Where you apply, not your passport. The Schengen figures count applications made in Kuwait, including residents of other nationalities, and leave out nationals of Kuwait who applied elsewhere.
- Not-issued rate = visas not issued ÷ (uniform visas issued + visas with limited territorial validity + visas not issued), the formula in the Commission's file. Applications still pending at the end of the year are not counted.
- If you are refused, the consulate must tell you why and how to appeal (European Commission).
- Australia, New Zealand and Canada count applicants by citizenship (Canada: "source country"), like the UK, and each authority defines its rate differently: see the notes under each table.
- Full method: how we calculate the rates.
Other countries where people apply
Schengen visa refusal rates by country, 2025 · Multiple-entry Schengen visas by country · UK visa refusal rates by nationality · Australia · New Zealand · Canada · Visa income calculator