Applying for Schengen Visa after Rejection: Which Embassy is easiest for re-entry?

Schengen Visas
1

Greetings all.

I am writing to inquire about the procedural admissibility of submitting a new Schengen visa application immediately following a refusal.

I recently applied for a tourist visa through the Netherlands Embassy here in Jakarta to visit European museums, but I was informed yesterday that my application was refused. The refusal letter cited “reasonable doubt regarding your intention to leave the territory of the Member States before the expiry of the visa.”

In order to comply with the application requirements, I had submitted my leave approval from the civil service and bank statements, but I suspect the lack of distinct travel history to the zone played a role. I was not effectively allowed to explain my itinerary during the submission.

Could you please advise on the following:

  1. Is there a mandatory “cooling-off” period I must observe, or can I file a new application immediately?
  2. If I reapply specifically to the same embassy, will it automatically result in another rejection without new evidence?

Thank you kindly for your guidance on this matter.

2

Realizing this is often a point of confusion for many first-time applicants, it is important to clarify that this is not a legal ban, but rather an administrative refusal.

3

Here’s the clear, practical answer:

  • There is no mandatory cooling-off period. You’re allowed to reapply immediately under Schengen rules.

  • However, reapplying to the same embassy without new, stronger evidence very often leads to another refusal.

For the refusal reason you got (“reasonable doubt you will leave”):

  • Leave approval + bank statements alone are often not enough, especially with limited or no Schengen travel history.

  • The issue is usually ties and credibility, not paperwork volume.

If you reapply:

  • You must show material changes (e.g. stronger employment proof, clearer travel history elsewhere, simpler itinerary, stronger evidence of ongoing obligations in Indonesia).

  • If nothing meaningfully changes, the embassy will likely reach the same conclusion, not because of an automatic flag, but because the risk assessment hasn’t improved.

You can reapply immediately, but you shouldn’t unless you can clearly strengthen the “intent to return” aspect. Otherwise, waiting and rebuilding your profile is the safer move.

4

Think ahead. A second rejection within two weeks suggests desperation, which only validates their initial suspicion that you intend to overstay.