RIYADH: Germany ranks as one of the most generous countries in granting visas to Saudi nationals, according to German Ambassador Dieter W. Haller in Riyadh on Thursday. The diplomat said that the visa refusal rate for Saudi applicants is as low as 0.9 percent, on average.
“The overall rejection rate for visas issued by the German diplomatic missions in the Kingdom is 6.2 percent,” said Haller, while referring to a large number of expatriates who also apply for Schengen visas for business and tourism. The German Embassy issued 74,000 visas to Saudi citizens in 2015, which represents about 25 percent increase in the total number of visas issued a year before.
The embassy in Riyadh issued 60,000 visas, and the consulate in Jeddah granted about 14,000. Some 75 percent of the Schengen visas issued for Saudis were for tourism, while the remaining visas were for mixed purposes, mainly for medical treatment or business. In fact, the total number of visas issued last year represent a fivefold increase over a period of five years.
Asked about the refusal rate, Haller said that the German diplomatic missions take more precautions in handling visa applications of nationals of certain sensitive countries that have been hit hard by political turmoil or terror. “In fact, the 6.2 percent visa refusals reflect cases from a few specific countries, mainly from Syria and Pakistan,” he added.
German visa refusal rate low, says envoy
German visa refusal rate low, says envoy
