France Was the Top Schengen Visa Destination for 51 Nationalities in 2024

France, which was the top destination for Schengen visa applicants in 2024, has been a popular destination for many nationalities throughout the years.

According to statistics published by SchengenVisaInfoFrance received over three million visa applications in 2024. That is a difference of 17 per cent compared to the 2023 numbers, Schengen.News reports.

France continues to be the top recipient of visa applications from foreign countries,  and in some cases, the only destination for these visa applicants.

The list below will reveal all nationalities and foreign nationals of various countries, whose top destination for Schengen visa applications in 2024 was France.

32 Nationalities Filed Most of Their Schengen Visas to France

Out of over 190 countries from which France received visa applications, nationals of the following countries filed the most visa applications to this Schengen state:

1. Chinese nationals filed 1,779,255 applications, and about 458,018 of them (25.7 per cent) were for France.
2. Moroccans filed 606,800 applications, and 282,153 of them (46.5 per cent) were for France.
3. Algerians filed 544,634 applications, and 352,295 of them (64.7 per cent) were for France.
4. Ivorian nationals filed 77,385 applications, and 62,786 of them (81.1 per cent) were for France.
5. Saudis filed 505,455 applications, and 191,388 of them (37.8 per cent) were for France.
6. Tunisians filed 177,951 applications, and 106,617 of them (59.9 per cent) were for France.
7. Nigerians filed 111,201 applications, and 55,833 of them (50.2 per cent) were for France.
8. Sri Lankans filed 25,721 applications, and 9,555 of them (37.1 per cent) were for France.
9. Haitians filed 4,614 applications, and 3,661 of them (79.3 per cent) were for France.
10. Gabonese filed 18,395 applications, and 16,913 of them (91.9 per cent) were for France.
11. Guineans filed 17,887 applications, and 14,000 of them (78.2 per cent) were for France.
12. Qataris filed 105,290 applications, and 24,274 of them (23.1 per cent) were for France.
13. South Africans filed 193,768 applications, and 30,304 of them (15.6 per cent) were for France.
14. Beninese filed 15,148 applications, and 13,801 of them (91.1 per cent) were for France.
15. Togolese filed 9,113 applications, and 8,240 of them (90.4 per cent) were for France.
16. Vietnamese filed 110,093 applications, and 43,999 of them (39.9 per cent) were for France.
17. Cameroonians filed 51,679 applications, and 31,349 of them (60.6 per cent) were for France.
18. Malagasy filed 16,618 applications, and 15,423 of them (92.8 per cent) were for France.
19. Cambodians filed 13,871 applications, and 10,498 of them (75.6 per cent) were for France.
20. Lebanese filed 115,890 applications, and 49,096 of them (42.3 per cent) were for France.
21. Kuwaitis filed 170,754 applications, and 35,023 of them (20.5 per cent) were for France.
22. Senegalese filed 72,412 applications, and 36,323 of them (50.1 per cent) were for France.
23. Zimbabweans filed 8,288 applications, and 2,199 of them (26.5 per cent) were for France.
24. Chadians filed 7,243 applications, and all of them (100 per cent) were for France.
25. Djiboutians filed 5,090 applications, and all of them (100 per cent) were for France.
26. Laotians filed 4,684 applications, and 2,432 of them (51.9 per cent) were for France.
27. Central African Republic nationals filed 2,996 applications, and all of them (100 per cent) were for France.
28. Comorians filed 2,853 applications, and all of them (100 per cent) were for France.
29. Nationals of Vanuatu filed 261 applications, and all of them (100 per cent) were for France.
30. Congolese filed 25,774 applications, and 24,291 of them (94.2 per cent) were for France.
31. Iraqis filed 65,944 applications, and 19,617 of them (29.7 per cent) were for France.
32. Azerbaijanis filed 90,634 applications, and 23,708 of them (26.1 per cent) were for France.

Foreigners in These Countries Submitted the Majority of Their Visa Applications to France in 2024

Unlike other countries already mentioned in this article, the following have a visa-exempt status, and their passport holders do not need to apply for a Schengen visa. However, foreign nationals living in these countries are required to apply for one if they plan to enter the Schengen Area.

Foreign nationals living in the following countries had France as their number one destination for Schengen visa applications in 2024:

1. United Kingdom – applicants from this country filed 470,569 visa applications and 132,469 (28.1 per cent) were for France.
2. Malaysia – applicants from this country filed 6,113 visa applications and 1,741 (28.4 per cent) were for France.
3. Mauritius – applicants from this country filed 838 visa applications and all 838 (100 per cent) were for France.
4. Saint Lucia – applicants from this country filed 207 visa applications and all 207 (100 per cent) were for France.
5. Taiwan – applicants from this country filed 1,540 visa applications and 395 (25.6 per cent) were for France.
6. Spain – applicants from this country filed 367 visa applications and 229 (62.3 per cent) were for France.
7. Japan – applicants from this country filed 14,698 visa applications and 4,003 (27.2 per cent) were for France.
8. Ireland – applicants from this country filed 27,761 visa applications and 5,415 (19.5 per cent) were for France.
9. Singapore – applicants from this country filed 38,188 visa applications and 9,450 (24.7 per cent) were for France.
10. Brazil – applicants from this country filed 2,083 visa applications and 432 (20.7 per cent) were for France.
11. Switzerland – applicants from this country filed 120 visa applications and 34 (28.3 per cent) were for France.
12. Canada – applicants from this country filed 42,265 visa applications and 14,520 (34.3 per cent) were for France.
13. South Korea – applicants from this country filed 4,362 visa applications and 707 (16.2 per cent) were for France.
14. Norway – applicants from this country filed 16 visa applications and 10 (62.5 per cent) were for France.
15. Malta – applicants from this country filed 19 visa applications and 9 (47.3 per cent) were for France.
16. Belgium – applicants from this country filed 89 visa applications and 40 (44.9 per cent) were for France.
17. Romania – applicants from this country filed 1,292 visa applications and 329 (25.4 per cent) were for France.
18. Hong Kong – applicants from this country filed 13,345 visa applications and 3,912 (29.3 per cent) were for France.
19. USA – applicants from this country filed 201,602 visa applications and 61,152 (30.3 per cent) were for France.