Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

Visa 'Extraction Scheme': Africans Lose Over €60M Annually to Denied Western Visas, Sparking Outcry and Reform Demands

POSTED ON May 28, 2025 •   GLOBAL NEWS      BY Suleiman Jimoh
Africans protest visa denials and non-refundable fees

The Brief
•    Africa lost over €56 million in non-refundable Schengen visa fees in 2023 alone.
•    Nearly 700,000 Africans were denied entry   most of them after paying €80–€90 in application fees.
•    The issue has triggered fierce backlash, with critics calling the system a modern extraction scheme and demanding refunds, reform, and continental self-reliance.

ACCRA — A growing storm of criticism is engulfing European and Western visa policies as African nations lose staggering sums to non-refundable visa fees. In 2023 alone, African applicants paid over €56 million to Schengen countries for visa applications that were denied  a figure that jumped to over €60 million in 2024. The United Kingdom also collected an estimated £50.7 million from denied African visa applications. Critics are calling this system a “modern extraction scheme,” prompting demands for reforms, refunds, and a deeper rethink of Africa’s relationship with the West.

A Costly Gate That Rarely Opens

Schengen visa rejection rates in Africa hovered near 50% in 2023, the highest globally. Nigerians, for instance, faced a 45.9% rejection rate in 2024, losing over €4.5 million to Schengen countries and £2 million to the UK in application fees. Comoros had the highest rejection rate on the continent at 62.8%.

Application fees, which rose to €90 for the EU and £127 for the UK in 2024, are non-refundable. These are compounded by indirect costs like document preparation, travel to consulates, and often non-refundable bookings. Applicants carry a heavy burden  and often receive no clear justification when rejected.

Despite embassy arguments that fees cover administrative costs, critics argue the policy is exploitative, especially given the scale of rejection and its disproportionate impact on African nations.

A Broader System of "Reverse Remittance"

The financial toll, dubbed “reverse remittances,” transfers millions from lower-income African nations to wealthy Western treasuries. Visa denials not only drain resources but also hinder opportunities in business, education, healthcare, and diplomacy.

African applicants are reportedly twice as likely to be rejected for Schengen visas as Asian applicants. Some EU nations have been accused of using visa approvals as leverage in migration negotiations with African countries  raising further ethical concerns.

The U.S. visa system has faced similar criticisms. In Tanzania, applicants for tourist and student visas pay up to $185 or more, with additional charges like SEVIS and fraud prevention fees. If rejection rates mirror those in neighbouring Kenya (42%), the embassy still collects substantial revenue from failed applications.

Political and Public Backlash Intensifies

Outrage is surging online and among African leaders. Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has condemned the policy as “economic injustice,” and lawmakers in Cameroon and Nigeria are advocating reciprocal visa policies. Moroccan legislators have demanded refunds for rejected Schengen applications.

Social media platforms like LinkedIn have become battlegrounds for the debate. Commentators decry the system’s moral failures, calling it “scamming on a global scale,” and urge Africa to turn inward, fix governance, and build alternatives.

“Our money moves without borders, but our people face walls,” wrote one commentator. Another added, “The best revenge is to fix Africa.

Others call for radical change  from making visa fees refundable upon denial, to charging only on approval, to instituting visa-free policies for Western travellers into Africa. Cameroon, for example, already allows most Europeans to enter without visas.

Paths to Reform  and Resistance

Change may come incrementally. Proposals include:

  • Transparent rejection reasons.

  • Refund policies.

  • Legal challenges, as in the case of Cameroonian Jean Mboulé, who sued France and won compensation.

  • Diplomatic pressure by African blocs like the African Union.

Still, Western resistance is strong. Visa policies remain key tools in migration control. Countries argue that the fees deter frivolous applications and fund costly security processes.

But public sentiment is shifting. Even some European voices acknowledge that current practices risk eroding diplomatic goodwill and Europe’s “soft power” in Africa.

Beyond Borders: Dignity and Development

At heart, this debate touches more than finances it strikes at dignity and agency. Many see the system as reflective of a world order that continues to extract from the Global South under the guise of policy. In response, calls for continental self-reliance grow louder.

“Create your opportunity at home. Abroad should be a network, not a must,” said one commenter.

With African nations demanding reciprocity and reform, the visa debate could shape a broader shift toward a more balanced, equitable global engagement or further entrench divisions.

 

 

READ ALSO
U.S. Reduces Visa Duration for Nigerians to Three Months
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

The U.S. Department of State has changed its five-year visa policy for Nigerians applying for non-im...

READ ALSO
African Democratic Congress Claims Government Coercion to Weaken Opposition Coalition
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of ta...

READ ALSO
Tinubu Calls for Equitable Global Framework at BRICS Summit
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has advocated for a more equitable global framework regarding climate action,...

READ ALSO
LASG Takes Action, Dismantled  Illegal Checkpoints Along Badagry Expressway
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 7, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - The Lagos State government has dismantled illegal checkpoints along the Lagos&ndash...

READ ALSO
Natasha's Return Plans on Hold as Senate Awaits Court Judgment Copy
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 7, 2025 0

The suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has declared her intention...

READ ALSO
Flood: 27 Lives Lost, Hundreds Displaced Amid Ongoing Rescue Efforts in Kerr County
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 5, 2025 0

At least 27 people have been confirmed dead, with many more displaced due to flash flooding in Kerr...

READ ALSO
UK Govt. Bans Caregiver Jobs Major Changes for Nigerian Applicants
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 3, 2025 0

Nigerians looking to move to the United Kingdom (UK) for better opportunities through caregiver job...

READ ALSO
ECOWAS Pushes for Legal Framework to Boost AI Development in West Africa
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 1, 2025 0

The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hadja Ibrahima, has emphasized the need for a robust legal fra...

OUR CHANNELS:

Reinventing Nigeria’s Fiscal Framework: A Call for Unity and Responsibility
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 9, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has emphasized his government's dedication to allocating sufficient resources...


CBN Mandates Capital Restoration Plans for Banks: A Step Towards Regulatory Compliance
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

The Central Bank of Nigeria has instructed banks to provide a capital restoration plan as part of it...


Nigeria Faces Teacher Shortage: Over 31 Million Learners Rely on Just 915,913 Educators
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 9, 2025 0

According to data from the Universal Basic Education, only 915,913 teachers are available for at lea...


Tinubu Calls for Equitable Global Framework at BRICS Summit
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has advocated for a more equitable global framework regarding climate action,...


Two Men Charged in CBEX Investment Scheme Remain in Custody
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

A Federal High Court in Abuja has placed two businessmen, Aweruso Otorudo and Chukwuebuka Ehirim, in...


LASG Takes Action, Dismantled  Illegal Checkpoints Along Badagry Expressway
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - The Lagos State government has dismantled illegal checkpoints along the Lagos&ndash...


Natasha's Return Plans on Hold as Senate Awaits Court Judgment Copy
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

The suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has declared her intention...


Nigerian States Accumulate N417.7 Billion in Domestic Debt Amid Rising FAAC Revenue
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 8, 2025 0

At least 10 Nigerian states have cumulatively increased their domestic debt by N417.7 billion from t...


Governor Otti Facilitates Release of Inmates After 26 Years
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 9, 2025 0

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State on Saturday welcomed three Nigerians who were released after spendi...


Tinubu Pledges to Eliminate Bureaucratic Hurdles in Agriculture During Bilateral Talks with Brazil
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 9, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu expressed his commitment on Saturday to his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu