Key Takeaways:
- 132,600 non-EU citizens were refused entry at EU external borders in 2025, a 7% increase from 2024.
- Ukrainians, Albanians, Moldovans, and Colombians topped the refusal list, but 1,855 Indians, 1,240 Britons, and 965 Americans were also denied.
- Poland, France, Croatia, and Spain recorded the highest number of refusals.
- The new Entry-Exit System (EES) helped flag 32,000 refusals in its first six months, including 7,000 overstayers.
- Illegal presence dropped 22% to under 720,000, but orders to leave and returns both rose sharply.
Refusals at the Gate: Who's Being Turned Away?
The numbers are clear: Europe's borders are tightening. In 2025, 132,600 non-EU citizens were refused entry at the Schengen area's external frontiers – 7% more than the year before, according to fresh data from Eurostat. The largest groups were Ukrainians (27,000), followed by Albanians, Moldovans, Colombians, Turks, and Serbians. As Eurostat notes, most came from countries sharing land borders with the EU, reflecting a shift in migration patterns.
What might surprise travelers is the inclusion of US, UK, and Indian nationals. Some 1,855 Indians, 1,240 Britons, and 965 Americans were turned away. Britons faced the highest refusal rates in Malta, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, while US citizens were the third-largest group denied entry in Switzerland, with 95 cases.
Where Are the Gates Slamming Shut?
Poland leads the pack with the most refusals, followed by France, Croatia, and Spain. While Denmark and Switzerland saw declines, refusals surged in Spain, France, Italy, Sweden, and Norway. Germany and Austria reported slight increases. Carmine Conte, Senior Legal Policy Analyst at the Migration Policy Group, calls this a “stronger border enforcement implementation across Europe,” particularly noting that over 60% of land-based refusals occurred in Poland, signaling a “less welcoming” stance toward Ukrainians.
Why Are They Being Refused?
The top reason? “Purpose and conditions of stay not justified.” The second most common was overstaying the Schengen 90-day rule – staying more than three months within any six-month period. Other grounds included lacking a valid visa or residence permit, having a police alert, or simply having no valid travel document.
The EES Effect: Digital Gates, Real Consequences
The Entry-Exit System (EES) is now a key player. Though its full rollout began in April 2025 and faces some delays, the EU's 2026 State of Schengen report credits it with 32,000 refusals in the first six months. Among those, nearly 800 were flagged as internal security threats, and almost 7,000 as overstayers. The system registers entries and exits automatically, making it harder for non-EU visitors to slip through.
“Already in the first 6 months of operation, member states registered over 66 million entries and exits and 32,000 people who had no right to enter were refused,” the European Commission stated.
Illegal Presence Down, but Not for Everyone
While the number of people found illegally present in the EU dropped 22% to under 720,000, this isn't uniform. Germany and France accounted for nearly half of all cases, followed by Italy, Greece, and Spain. Algerian citizens topped the list (71,000), then Afghans, Moroccans, and Ukrainians.
Notably, almost 14,000 Indian citizens, 1,125 UK nationals, and 920 US citizens were found illegally present in 2025. Being “illegally present” can mean illegal entry, overstaying the 90-day limit, or holding expired permits.
Orders to Leave and Returns: Enforcement Ramping Up
Illegal presence usually triggers an order to leave. Almost half a million non-EU citizens (491,950) received one in 2025 – a 6% increase. France led with 137,550 orders, followed by Germany and Spain. Orders for Indian nationals jumped to 19,000 (from 8,700 in 2024), and those for UK citizens rose to 1,730 and US nationals to 2,330, with the Netherlands and Sweden issuing many.
Returns to non-EU countries also increased 21%, to 135,460. Germany returned the most (29,300), then France and Sweden. Turks, Georgians, Syrians, Albanians, and Russians were most affected, but nearly 4,000 Indians, 745 Americans, and 625 Britons were also sent back.
What This Means for Travelers
For US, UK, and Indian nationals, these numbers are a wake-up call. Even visa‑waiver travelers must strictly follow the 90/180-day rule and be ready to justify their trip's purpose at the border. The EES means every entry and exit is tracked, and overstaying – even by a day – can now be detected automatically. If you're planning a long stay, consider visa options or keep meticulous records of your travel dates.
As the EU pushes to reduce irregular migration and increase returns, the trend toward tougher enforcement is clear. Understanding the rules is no longer optional.
For the latest on Schengen rules, border checks, and travel updates, keep checking SchengenTracker.