The issue of non-refundable visa fees, particularly for applicants from African nations, has been a topic of concern. In 2023, the EU collected approximately €130 million from rejected visa applications, with African countries contributing around €56.3 million of this amount. Similarly, the UK raised about £44 million from visa applications that were ultimately denied.
These non-refundable fees have led to calls for policy changes. For instance, Moroccan lawmakers have urged their government to seek refunds for rejected Schengen visa applications, highlighting the financial burden on applicants.
Africans face significant financial burdens and high rejection rates when applying for overseas visas, particularly for European destinations like the Schengen Area and the UK. Here’s a detailed breakdown based on recent data:
1. Visa Application Costs.
Schengen1 Visa Fees:
The standard fee for a short-stay Schengen visa increased from €80 to €90 (≈$100) in July 2024, with no refunds for rejected applications.
UK Visa Fees:
UK visa fees rose to £127 ($170) in 2024, with similar non-refundable policies.
Additional Costs:
Applicants often incur extra expenses for document preparation, travel to consulates, and non-refundable flight/hotel bookings, further inflating the total cost.
2. Total Financial Losses from Rejections.
Schengen Visa Losses:
In 2024, African applicants lost €60 million ($67.5 million) in non-refundable fees, with Nigeria alone losing €4.5 million ($5 million) from 50,376 rejected applications.
UK Visa Losses:
African applicants paid an estimated £50.7 million ($68.8 million) in 2024 for rejected UK visas, with Nigerians contributing £2 million.
3. Rejection Rates by Country.
African countries face disproportionately high rejection rates, often linked to economic status and systemic bias. Key examples include:
Comoros:
62.8% rejection rate (highest in Africa).
Nigeria:
45.9% rejection rate (50,376 denials in 2024).
Ghana, Senegal, Mali:
Rates between 40–50%.
Cameroon, Guinea-Bissau:
Over 40% rejection rates.
4. Systemic Issues Contributing to Losses.
Reverse Remittances:
The non-refundable fees create a financial flow from low-income African nations to wealthy European countries, termed “reverse remittances”.
Discrimination and Bias:
Rejection rates correlate with applicants’ national income and passport strength, with African applicants twice as likely to be rejected as Asians despite fewer applications.
Visa Leverage Policies:
EU countries use visa accessibility to pressure African nations into migration cooperation, worsening rejection rates.
5. Broader Implications.
Economic and Social Impact:
Rejections hinder business, education, and medical travel, costing opportunities for both individuals and host countries.
Calls for Reform:
African leaders, such as Zambia’s president, demand refunds for rejected applications and reciprocal visa policies.
Summary of Key Figures.
| No. | Region/Country Loss (2024) | Rejection Rates (2024) | Financial Burden |
| 1.0 | Schengen Area (Africa) | 30–62.8% | €60 million |
| 2.0 | Nigeria | 45.9% | €4.5 million ($5 million) |
| 3.0 | UK (Africa) | N/A | €4.5 million ($5 million) |
| 4.0 | Comoros | 62.8% | N/A |
For context, six of the top 10 countries with the highest Schengen rejection rates globally are Africans, underscoring systemic inequities. These issues highlight the urgent need for visa policy reforms to address financial and mobility injustices.
U.S. Visa Fees Collected in Tanzania and Rejection Rates.
1. Visa Fees Collected by the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania.
The U.S. Embassy in Tanzania charges non-refundable visa application fees based on visa type. Key fees include:
Non-petition-based visas (e.g., B1/B2 tourist/business, F/M student visas): $185.
Petition-based visas (e.g., H, L work visas): $205.
Treaty Trader/Investor (E visas): $315.
K fiancé(e)/spouse visas: $265.
Border Crossing Cards:
$185 for applicants aged 15+.
Additional costs like the SEVIS fee ($220–$350 for students/exchange visitors) and L visa fraud prevention fee ($500–$4,500) may apply.
Total Revenue:
While the exact annual revenue from Tanzanian applicants is not disclosed, fees are collected per application and are non-refundable, even if rejected. For example, if 1,000 Tanzanian applicants paid $185 each for B1/B2 visas, the embassy would collect $185,000 from those applicants alone. Such a colossal amount can be collected in less than two weeks every month!
2. Visa Rejection Rates and Financial Impact.
Rejection rates for U.S. visas in Tanzania are not explicitly listed. However, broader insights can be inferred:
Global Trends:
For B1/B2 visas, rejection rates vary widely by country. For instance, neighboring Kenya has a 42.02% denial rate, while Nigeria’s is 25.8%.
Factors Affecting Rejections:
Common reasons include insufficient ties to Tanzania (e.g., lack of employment, property, or family obligations) or perceived immigration intent.
Financial Loss to Applicants:
Since fees are non-refundable, rejected applicants lose the entire application fee. For example, a Tanzanian denied a $185 B1/B2 visa forfeits that amount.
Estimated Rejection Impact:
If Tanzania’s rejection rate aligns with regional averages (e.g., 30–40%), a significant portion of fees collected would stem from rejected applications.
For instance:
If 1,000 applicants paid $185 each ($185,000 total) and 40% were rejected, $74,000 would come from denied cases.
3. Key Observations.
Non-Refundable Policy:
The U.S. retains all visa fees regardless of application outcomes, creating a financial burden for rejected applicants.
Systemic Inequities:
High rejection rates in African countries, driven by stringent documentation requirements and perceived immigration risks, exacerbate losses for applicants.
Lack of Transparency:
Tanzania-specific rejection data is not publicly available, making it difficult to quantify exact losses for Tanzanian applicants.
| No. | Aspect | Details |
| 1.0 | Visa Fees | $185–$315 per application, depending on visa type . | |
| 2.0 | Total Revenue | Depends on applicant volume; all fees retained regardless of outcome. |
| 3.0 | Rejection Rate | Not specified for Tanzania; regional averages range from 25%–60% |
| 4.0 | Financial Loss (Example) | 40% rejection rate = 40% of total fees collected from denied applicants |
Valuable Observations.
The possibility of African countries convincing Western nations to refund visa fees for rejected applicants is complex and faces significant hurdles, but recent advocacy and geopolitical shifts suggest a growing momentum for reform. Here’s a detailed analysis:
1. Current Advocacy Efforts.
Zambia’s Leadership:
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has spearheaded demands for refunds, arguing that non-refundable fees for rejected applications amount to “economic injustice.” This call has gained traction among African leaders and civil society groups, with Cameroon and Nigeria also pushing for reciprocity in visa policies.
African Union Mobilization:
There are increasing calls for a continent-wide strategy through the African Union (AU) to negotiate refund policies and transparency in visa processing.
2. Arguments for Refunds.
Reverse Remittances:
African applicants lost €60 million ($67.5 million) in non-refundable Schengen visa fees in 2024 alone, with rejection rates exceeding 40–50% in countries like Nigeria and Ghana. Critics label this a “hidden tax” on African mobility, where funds flow from low-income nations to wealthy European states without reciprocity.
Ethical and Diplomatic Concerns:
The EU’s visa policies are increasingly seen as discriminatory, undermining its reputation as a development partner. For example, African applicants are twice as likely to be rejected as Asians, despite submitting fewer applications.
Reciprocity Demands:
African nations like Cameroon allow visa-free entry for most Europeans, while their citizens face costly and opaque visa barriers. Proposals to mirror EU policies (e.g., charging Europeans visa fees) are gaining momentum.
3. Challenges to Reform
EU and UK Resistance:
Western countries argue that visa fees cover administrative costs and deter fraud. The EU generated €56 million from rejected African visas in 2023, and the UK made £50.7 million in 2024, creating a lucrative revenue stream they are unlikely to forfeit.
Visa Leverage Tactics:
The EU uses visa accessibility as a bargaining chip to pressure African nations into accepting migrant readmission agreements. This “visa leverage mechanism” ties visa policies to migration control, complicating refund negotiations.
Lack of Transparency:
Rejection reasons are often vague (e.g., “insufficient ties to home country”), and appeal mechanisms are rarely used due to low success rates.
4. Potential Pathways to Success.
Legal Precedents:
A Cameroonian applicant, Jean Mboulé, successfully sued France for wrongful rejection, securing a visa and compensation. Such cases could inspire broader legal challenges.
Diplomatic Pressure:
African nations could leverage their growing economic clout (e.g., as trade partners or critical mineral suppliers) to negotiate visa fairness.
Public and International Advocacy:
Highlighting the hypocrisy of EU aid programs (e.g., €5.4 million flood relief for the Sahel vs. €60 million in visa fees) could galvanize global support.
5. Likelihood of Refunds.
Short Term:
Immediate refunds remain unlikely due to entrenched financial and political interests. However, incremental changes—such as reduced fees for high-rejection countries or post-approval payment models (like Japan’s system)—could emerge.
Long Term:
Sustained advocacy, AU coordination, and reciprocal visa policies may gradually shift norms. For example, if African nations collectively impose visa fees on Europeans, it could force renegotiations.
Valuable Observations.
While systemic change faces resistance, the growing backlash against “reverse remittances” and discriminatory visa regimes has placed the issue on the global agenda. African countries must unite diplomatically, legally, and economically to pressure Western nations toward fairness. The EU’s own admission that its visa policies harm its soft power in Africa suggests that reform is possible—but only through relentless, coordinated effort.
Read more analysis by Rutashubanyuma Nestory
- The Schengen area consists of 29 countries where border controls between them have been abolished, allowing for free movement of people. These countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. ↩︎
