Visa Injustice: Africa Demands Refunds as Rejected EU Applications Cost Millions

The report, first published by Business Africa, has reignited urgent debate about fairness, economic justice, and global travel inequality — with Cameroon among the countries hardest hit.

Leading the campaign is Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, who has formally demanded that the European Union and United Kingdom refund visa application fees for all rejected African applicants. He argues that fees should be levied only when a visa is granted — not when applicants are turned away, often without explanation.

“This is a matter of principle. Charging people for a refusal is economic injustice,” Hichilema said, urging other African leaders to back the call.

Cameroon Among High-Rejection Countries

Cameroon, which has long faced visa hurdles with the Schengen zone and UK, saw a rejection rate of over 40% in 2024. According to visa data compiled by the LAGO Collective, Cameroonian applicants alone lost more than $2.5 million (about 1.53 billion FCFA) in rejected Schengen visa fees last year.

• Thousands of Cameroonian students, professionals, and medical patients are impacted annually.

• Applicants pay an average of €90 (~60,000 FCFA) per visa — non-refundable even when denied.

• Opaque rejections and lack of appeal mechanisms are common complaints.

“We applied for a family visa for a medical trip to France — we were rejected without explanation, and we lost over 300,000 FCFA in fees,” said Elise Ngando, a nurse in Yaoundé.

Continent-Wide Losses and Systemic Discrimination

Across Africa, visa rejection patterns suggest discrimination based on economic status. Nigeria lost over $5 million (about 3.06 billion FCFA), with 50,000 short-stay visa rejections. Other countries with the highest rejection rates include Comoros (61.3%), Guinea-Bissau (51%), and Ghana (47.5%).

Marta Foresti, founder of the LAGO Collective, describes the situation as “reverse remittances” — money flowing from poor nations to rich ones without any service delivered.

“The poorer your country, the higher your rejection rate — and you pay for that injustice,” Foresti said.

A study by Henley & Partners confirmed that African applicants are twice as likely to be rejected as Asians, despite submitting fewer applications.

Rising Costs, No Clear Recourse

The Schengen visa fee rose from €80 to €90 in July 2024, increasing financial pressure on applicants. In the UK alone, African applicants lost an estimated £50 million (about 38.2 billion FCFA) to rejected visa applications in 2024.

“It’s a hidden tax on African mobility,” said Cameroonian migration expert Dr. Emile Tagni. “You pay even when you're told ‘no’. This must stop.”

A Call for Reciprocity and Reform

Zambia’s appeal has sparked renewed calls in Cameroon for visa fairness and reciprocal treatment. Cameroon, like many African countries, offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to most European passport holders, but its citizens face costly barriers in return.

“If Europe won’t refund rejected applicants, perhaps Cameroon should begin charging visa fees to EU citizens — and refund them if rejected,” a civil society advocate proposed in Douala.

Observers now believe this could become a continent-wide push at the African Union level for refund policies, transparency, and equal mobility rights.

Should African governments demand refunds for denied visas? Is Cameroon right to reconsider its visa leniency toward Europe? How can the continent enforce mobility justice in a system where Africans pay for closed doors?