Planning a getaway to Europe from the UK? Whether you’re flying into France and hopping over to Spain, starting in Germany, then visiting Portugal, or arriving in Croatia and heading to Belgium, your key pass to the continent is the “Schengen visa“. For UK applicants (whether UK citizens or UK residents needing to apply according to their stay in a Schengen country), approval is not guaranteed, and visa denials do happen.
But what many travellers don’t realise? There are certain Schengen countries which consistently show very low rejection rates, making them much smarter choices for your visa application centre. This guide lists the top 10 Schengen countries for UK residents who historically enjoy the easiest chances of getting their visa approved.
For travelers who are looking for the Fastest Schengen visa from UK, SCHENGEN VISA HELP is one of the most preferred ones. There are certain countries, including Estonia, Croatia, etc., that stand out due to their accessibility and offer a Schengen visa quickly. These countries comparatively have a lower visa rejection rate and are ideal for UK travelers who want to go on vacation on time and plan a multiple-country trip.
These countries have easier Schengen visa processes, allows travelers to get their appointment easily. If you are seeking a memorable trip to Europe, then make sure to add any of these listed countries. Below are the top 10 countries for Schengen visa in 2026!
Is European countries require a Schengen visa from UK? Then you must be aware of the Easiest Schengen countries to get a visa from the UK, as they have the highest success rates. These Schengen gems reported significantly lower rejection rates for the Schengen Visa for UK-based Applicants, making it simpler for them.
List of the Easiest Schengen countries to get a visa from the UK
As per Schengen’s common visa policy, a single Schengen visa allows access to multiple European nations, so understanding where to get your Schengen visa can save time and effort. Choosing the right destination with the Highest visa success rate in Europe is very important.
Heading up north Europe from the UK? Iceland stands out as the easiest gateway for Schengen Visa applicants from the UK. It receives comparatively fewer applications than the major tourism gems of Europe. Its visa system is streamlined, and with well-prepared applicants, the approval chances of an Iceland visa from UK are extremely high. For UK applicants, choosing Iceland as the main point of entry often means less scrutiny and fewer delays.
Statistical note:
According to the data for 2024, Iceland received 35,413 visa applications and rejected 6.47% of Schengen visas for UK-based applicants.
Travel tip: Iceland is perfect for winter trips under the 90/180 Day Rule, just combine your Iceland trip with Norway or Denmark for a seamless Nordic itinerary.
Bulgaria has recently become an increasingly popular Schengen zone entry option for UK travellers. Having joined the Schengen visa zone more fully in recent years, the country is carving out a space for UK applicants looking for a smoother Bulgaria visa from UK. With tourism growing and the system adjusting, it now stands among the easiest for UK-based travellers.
Statistical note:
In 2024, Bulgaria handled 122,229 applications, and about 12,246 were rejected, with a 91.06% visa success rate.
Like Bulgaria, Romania also extended its role in the Schengen visa framework. This is now emerging as one of the most favourable destinations for UK applicants seeking the easiest Schengen Visa country from the UK.
Statistical note:
While detailed application numbers for UK applicants specifically are limited, overall Schengen-wide data for Romania places it among the lowest in rejection rate ranking.
Travel Tip: Add Bucharest, Brasov & Transylvania to your Top Cities to Visit in Europe itinerary.
2019: 9.11%
2024: 9.28%
Slovakia offers one of the more accessible entry points into the Schengen zone. Applying for a Slovakia visa from UK is quite accessible. The country’s smaller applicant pool and efficient Schengen Visa Interview process make it an appealing choice for UK travelers.
Statistical note:
Ranked among the top few in the lowest rejection list for Schengen states overall.
Travel Tip: Combine Slovakia with Austria or Hungary to stay within the 90/180 Day Rule window and get an easy entry point into the Schengen popular countries.
Portugal is a very popular travel destination for UK residents due to its city breaks, alluring beaches, historical ties, language-friendly environment, and good tourism infrastructure. With these, it’s straightforward, easy and express visa process and lower rejection rate makes it easy to get a Portugal visa from UK.
Statistical note:
While specific UK-only numbers are scarce, Portugal features in recent “lowest rejection rate” lists and thus is seen as one of the better choices.
Best time to visit Europe? Portugal becomes lively from April to October, so visit this time to get a unique experience.
The Baltic nation of Latvia often flies under the radar, but that’s part of its advantage for Schengen visa seekers from the UK. With fewer high-volume Schengen visa applications and consistent processing standards, it’s often cited as among the easiest Schengen visa countries for UK applicants.
Italy needs little introduction as a dream destination, but when it comes to Italy Schengen visa from UK, it also offers fairly favourable probabilities for UK applicants & smooth visa processing. Whether it’s Rome Holidays or the Amalfi Coast, our experts maintain efficient visa handling for UK residents.
Italy needs little introduction as a dream destination, but when it comes to Italy Schengen visa from UK, it also offers fairly favourable probabilities for UK applicants & smooth visa processing. Whether it’s Rome Holidays or the Amalfi Coast, our experts maintain efficient visa handling for UK residents.
Travel note: Combine Italy with Switzerland or Austria to experience the best holidays in Europe without breaching the 90/180 Day Rule.
Though not an EU member, Switzerland is part of the Schengen zone and maintains strong tourism and business links with the UK. Applying for a Switzerland visa from UK is simple and predictable. It’s recognised as having efficient visa-processing for UK-based applicants and comparatively fewer hurdles than other Schengen countries.
Statistical note:
Featured in the “lowest rejection” lists for 2026 predictions.
Travel tip: Plan Swiss Alps tours in winter or spring during your Switzerland trip — some of the Best time to visit Europe destinations.
Hungary is another Central European option that combines strong tourism appeal with relatively accessible visa possibilities. For UK-based applicants seeking a Schengen entry point beyond the obvious western hotspots, a Hungry visa from UK offers compelling value, decent approval rates and convenient express appointments through SEHENGEN VISA HELP.
Statistical note:
Its rank is slightly below the very top easiest list, but still significantly better than many other Schengen states.
Travel tip: Add Budapest to your Top Cities to Visit in Europe for river cruises & thermal spas.
Norway rounds off the top 10 with a solid visa-success profile and is perfect for those seeking Northern Lights or fjord adventure. Though a non-EU Schengen country, it follows the same rules for short-stay Schengen visas and is considered among the easiest Schengen Visa countries for UK applicants.
Statistical note:
Identified in the lowest-rejection ranking clusters among Schengen states.
In conclusion, choosing the right European country can really impact the visa approval and your travel experience. The Schengen region comprises vibrant countries with countless attractions and opportunities. Among the higher number of visa applications, it is necessary to review the Schengen visa success rate for UK applicants.
While the countries listed above are frequently cited as being among the “easiest Schengen Visa countries for UK applicants”, it’s important to remember: choosing a country doesn’t guarantee approval. Regardless of country, a visa application can still be refused if documentation is incomplete, the Schengen visa application is incomplete, the travel purpose is unclear, or the interviewer has doubts about the return intent.
If you’d like expert support to maximise your chances of approval — from guidance on the 90/180-day rule, advising on the correct country to apply via, helping with the visa interview, and most importantly obtaining express Schengen visa appointments from UK — get in touch with us and let us assist you every step of the way.
In case your visa application is rejected, you can reapply by submitting a new visa application. Apart from reapplying, you even have a choice of appeal.
In 2024, Iceland had the highest Schengen visa approval rate with 91.25%.
In 2024, Malta had the highest Schengen visa rejection rate, with approximately 38.5% of applications being denied.
Absolutely yes. SCHENGEN VISA HELP offers a streamlined visa process where you can submit your Schengen visa application online in just a few minutes. Not only applications submission, but you can also get your appointment booked right from the comfort of your home.
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