Millions of Africans could lose Schengen free movement as calls grow to restrict non-EU travel

A fresh debate over Europe’s border policies could have significant implications for millions of Africans living, working and studying across the continent, after renewed calls emerged to reserve Schengen free movement exclusively for European Union citizens.

• A new debate in Europe proposes restricting Schengen free movement to only EU citizens.
• This follows a surge in irregular migration to Spain, which has reignited discussions about border security.
• Many Africans benefit from mobility within the Schengen zone through legal means, but already face high visa rejection rates.
• Rejected visa applications have cost African applicants nearly €60 million in non-refundable fees in 2024 alone.

The proposal gained momentum following a surge in irregular migration into Spain, where about 49,000 migrants from Morocco reportedly arrived, reigniting political debate over border security and migration across Europe.

Among the most prominent voices is French presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen, who argued that France should immediately strengthen its borders in response to what she described as a surge in migration into Spain.

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In a post on X, she wrote: “Faced with the massive and coordinated influx of migrants into Spain, encouraged by the Spanish government, France must without delay strengthen controls at its borders. And in 2027, we will put an end to this madness by reserving Schengen free movement for EU nationals.”

If such proposals were ever adopted more broadly across Europe, they could significantly affect non-EU nationals, including millions of Africans who legally reside in EU member states and currently benefit from varying degrees of mobility within the Schengen Area through residence permits and other legal arrangements.

Why it matters for Africans

The Schengen Area allows passport-free travel across most participating European countries.

While citizens of non-EU countries generally require visas to enter the bloc, many Africans who hold long-term residence permits, work permits, student status or family reunification rights can travel within the Schengen zone without undergoing repeated border checks.

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For millions of Africans, the debate goes beyond border politics. Access to Europe’s Schengen Area is already becoming increasingly difficult, with African applicants facing some of the world’s highest visa rejection rates.

According to Schengen Visa Statistics, six of the ten countries with the highest Schengen visa rejection rates globally are in Africa. Comoros recorded the highest rejection rate at 61.3%, followed by Guinea-Bissau (51%), Ghana (47.5%), Mali (46.1%), Sudan (42.3%) and Senegal (41.2%).

The financial cost has also been significant. Research by London-based mobility think tank LAGO Collective found that African applicants lost nearly €60 million ($67.5 million) in non-refundable Schengen visa fees in 2024 after their applications were rejected.

The numbers reveal Europe’s importance to African mobility. Morocco alone submitted 591,401 Schengen visa applications in 2023, making it the world’s fourth-largest source of applicants. Algeria followed with 474,032 applications, ranking sixth globally, while South Africa (204,221), Tunisia (159,740) and Nigeria (105,926) also ranked among the world’s largest applicant countries.

Migration from Africa is also expected to continue rising. According to The Conversation, immigration scholar Prof. Mehari Taddele Maru projects that Africa’s cross-border migrant population could reach 11 to 12 million people by 2050, driven by demographic growth, economic disparities, conflict and governance challenges.

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The same report noted that Schengen states generated about $906 million from visa applications in 2023, with roughly $145 million coming from rejected applications alone—figures that have fueled criticism that Europe’s visa system places a disproportionate financial burden on applicants from developing countries, particularly Africa.

Against this backdrop, calls to reserve Schengen free movement exclusively for EU nationals are likely to heighten concerns among African governments, businesses and diaspora communities.

While the proposal remains a political pledge rather than official EU policy, any move to further restrict mobility would affect a continent that already accounts for some of the world’s highest visa rejection rates and one of its largest pools of Schengen applicants.